New starter has only 1 prong?

[BigHairyMonkey]

My starter went bad on my 93 and when i pulled the old one out it had 2 wires connected to it. 1 was the 12v, and another little mystery wire ( i have no idea what it does). My friend gave me a powermaster starter that he said he had on his mustang and this starter only has 1 post (obviously for the 12v lead). So what should i do about the other smaller wire? more over, what is its purpose? thanks

 

[Fett]

Sounds like your car was converted over to a 95 starter, but the one your friend gave you is designed for a Fox.

A lot of people convert over to the 95 starter to avoid sticking fender solenoids, as the 95 starter has a built it solenoid. When you do this you move the starter wire from the front post on the fender solenoid to the rear post, and run a small trigger wire from the front post on the fender solenoid to the small male spade connector on the starter. You can just reverse this and move the big 4 gauge wire back to the front fender solenoid post and eliminate the smaller trigger wire.

Or go get a 95 starter and hook it up the way yours was.

 

[stang&2Birds]

New sn95 style on the left, Fox on the right:

New sn95 style hookup on an FRPP mini starter:

Fox starter:

SN95 style starter:

 

[Shakerhood]

I believe that 1992 was the 1st year that Ford started using the Mini Starters on the Mustang.

 

[BigHairyMonkey]

so if i just go get a starter from autozone etc. that is meant for a 95+ mustang then it should fit no worries and wire just the way it was?

 

[Maryland Stang]

I believe that 1992 was the 1st year that Ford started using the Mini Starters on the Mustang.

Yes, my 92 has the mini starter.

Just so there is no confusion. The mini starter still needs the fender mounted solenoid. That is the starter drive you're seeing on the side of the starter. The older style starters had the starter drive in that bump on the side of the starter.

The FRPP and SN-95 starter is a totally different starter and is wired up differently.

 

[Fett]

so if i just go get a starter from autozone etc. that is meant for a 95+ mustang then it should fit no worries and wire just the way it was?

If my assumption is correct, then yes get a 95 starter and hook it up exactly how the one you took out was hooked up. There is only one reason I know of to run a small wire to the starter and that is when it is updated to the 95 style. So if you get that one you should be good to go.

Just ask for a 95 5.0 starter.

You might want to double check the wiring first, make sure the 4 gauge wire from the starter is hooked up to the same lug on the fender solenoid as the battery cable, and make sure that smaller wire on the starter is hooked up to the other lug on the fender solenoid. That way you will be 100% sure that you have been running a 95 starter.

 

[Maryland Stang]

There is only one reason I know of to run a small wire to the starter and that is when it is updated to the 95 style. So if you get that one you should be good to go.

Just ask for a 95 5.0 starter.

The 92/93 takes a different starter. It uses a fender mount solenoid like the earlier starters. He will have to rewire to use the SN-95 starter.

Here's the 92/93 starter...

 

[jrichker]

Starter solenoid wiring for 86-91 Mustang

Starter solenoid wiring 92-93 Mustang or upgraded high torque mini starter.

 

[Maryland Stang]

Okay, I hate not knowing so I went and looked it up. Either starter is correct starting in 1991. I was wrong. My starter is the "SN-95" style starter which, as it turns out, is a late Fox style starter since it first appeared on them starting in 1991.

Now the big question is....

Why does my car have both solenoids and why are they are both wired up and working? The previous owner of my car only let the Ford dealer he bought it from work on it. It also already has the steel bearing retainer on it so I suspect they were having trouble with the clutch at some point.

 

[Maryland Stang]

Okay again, jrichker just posted the wiring while I was writing my reply and now I think I understand. The reason Ford continued to use the fender mounted solenoid was for wiring purposes. Rather than build an all new harness (the new Mustang was on the books at that time) to accomodate the new style starter they simply left the old solenoid in place to act as a distibution center for the many 12 volt connections there.