HELP! Car won't start...

[Ozsum2]

I can only assume that your talking about the starter solenoid with the above quote. Go back and check your wiring. Might be helpful to get a shop manual for your ride.

I was actually talking about the battery. I disconnected the pos. cable from the battery first and then I disconnected the neg. cable from the battery, which killed the engine.

I think I reconnected the pos cable to the battery and then accidentally touched the neg cable to the battery, which is when the car started by itself (no key in the ignition)

I'll doublecheck the I and S wires tomorrow.

On my solenoid the post closest to the battery is connected to the pos terminal and the post furthest from the battery is connected to the starter. Am I missing something here?


When the car turned on I'm not sure which position my key was at. I was a little panicked and surprised at that point.

Thanks for your help guys...
Keep those tips coming!!

Did you know that an engine will run with no battery in it at all? It will die when you pull on the light switch.

 

[BoostedmaxPSI]

On my solenoid the post closest to the battery is connected to the pos terminal and the post furthest from the battery is connected to the starter. Am I missing something here?

On your solenoid the post closest to the battery should be your POS post and post on the opposite site will be for NEG.

That's what I was saying...

 

[Ozsum2]

On your solenoid the post closest to the battery should be your POS post and post on the opposite site will be for NEG.

 

[BoostedmaxPSI]

I see my mistake here. Your right, not NEG however, I meant starter. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Ozsum2]

I see my mistake here. Your right, not NEG however, I meant starter. Sorry for the confusion.

Confusion is the root of all screw ups.

 

[67GTA-FB429]

get the plug from summitt

 

[DarkBuddha]

Man, I got confused reading all of that... It's really a pretty straight forward deal, but one wrong word can kill everything. My suggestion is to get and always have a Haynes/Chilton book with you. This has saved my ass many times, and when you need a diagram or step-by-step instructions, you've got them.

BTW, my first instinct from your very first post was that it was the solenoid. Those damn things get hot or get water on them and go bad all the time. I used to have to replace mine every 3-6 months because of the damn Florida heat and rain.

Good luck!

 

[iamadonut]

I actually have a Haynes but it says zippo about the solenoid.

I'll try getting another solenoid and starter tonight. sigh...

 

[Ozsum2]

I actually have a Haynes but it says zippo about the solenoid.

I'll try getting another solenoid and starter tonight. sigh...

I prefer the Ford Shop Manual.