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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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starter motor dragging for 4 seconds???

  • Thread starter Thread starter bsedwebt70-5.0
  • Start date Start date Jul 1, 2004
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bsedwebt70-5.0

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Jul 1, 2004
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Charlottesville, VA
Jul 1, 2004
#1
  • Jul 1, 2004
  • #1
I am a newby to this site - Please empower me with your wisdom oh mighty 5.0 gearheads!!!! I have a 1970 f/b mustang with a 1993 5.0 gt FI engine and a 1989 5spd in it - it is now up and running but there is a problem with the starter - it seems to hang up for a few seconds after the engine is started and it sounds terrible for that time - as if the starter is still engaged but the engine is running then it finally kicks back. The engine SUPPOSEDLY came from a 1993 junk yard 5.0 HO GT mustang w/ a 5 spd but I had to buy another transmission as the original was sold before I got to it. Who knows what the junk yard people did to this motor before I got it - they said it had 93k miles etc... I was able to get all the wires, computer, accessories, etc... when it was delivered. The engine runs great and the started that came on the junk yard motor started it fine but has always hung up - I have changed the started with one from the auto parts store for a 93 gt but it still has the same problem. I have added shims, lubed the drive, test lighted all the solinoid wires to the starter, ignition switch, etc... and the test light goes on when the key is in the start mode and immediatly goes out when the key is released (I had heard somwhere that when you retrofit and use the 93 solinoid instead of the 1970 solinoid on the apron panel that you have to switch a wire around so the starter does not do this but I cannot figure it out) I have also heard that there are 2 different flywheels 164tooth for a/t and 157tooth for a 5spd and there are different starters as well for 1992up and 1991down - could I actually have a 1991 or older motor and be using the newer starter or vice versa and causing this problem? (who knows if the junk yard told me the truth about the year) PLEASE HELP!!!!
 

GREG91GT

Member
Jun 3, 2004
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0
17
MISSOURI
Jul 1, 2004
#2
  • Jul 1, 2004
  • #2
have you tryed changing the solinoid
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
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129
Jul 2, 2004
#3
  • Jul 2, 2004
  • #3
i dont think the solenoid is at fault, Greg. he says the test light goes dark when the key is released, so i would guess the solenoid is alright and that there is an issue with the starter hanging up (bendix) or some other mechanical issue (not electrical).

im not sure, but i think the late model starters are a bolt in replacement (often used since they are a higher torque mini starter compared to the older model starters).

to be sure, you could take the starter cable off the solenoid and manually touch it to the battery cable. if no more hanging up, it is an issue with what you bypassed.

if it still hangs, i might pull the starter and bench test it. see if it hangs up (probably not, since it will not be meshing with anything). i dont know what to tell ya about the number of teeth on the ring gear - that could be it (enough to make it 'stick') - i just dont know.

my two cents worth. good luck.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Jul 2, 2004
#4
  • Jul 2, 2004
  • #4
one more question: when you did the solenoid test, did you have the light on the starter wire cable or the trigger wire? if the former, then i dont think the solenoid is at fault. if the latter, the solenoid could be hanging up (even when the trigger is released).
 
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bsedwebt70-5.0

New Member
Jul 1, 2004
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Charlottesville, VA
Jul 2, 2004
#5
  • Jul 2, 2004
  • #5
methinks I have been blessed with the solution from a fellow Fordahaulic - I have been advised that the 93 mini starter has a built in solinoid that requires the heavy guage wire to go to the battery hot side of the apron mounted solinoid and the skinny wire from the starter needs to run to the "switched" side of the solinoid otherwise this dragging will result. He futher stated that the 91 and older starter would be a direct bolt in that would not have the built in solinoid and I could just use the heavy guage wire on the "switched" terminal on the apron mounted solinoid. I will have to check this out to let you know in another post after I have a chance to get to it.
 
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bsedwebt70-5.0

New Member
Jul 1, 2004
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Charlottesville, VA
Jul 2, 2004
#6
  • Jul 2, 2004
  • #6
I did the thick/thin wire switch on the solinoid and it now it works perfectly! - I'm told this is a common problem when people install new solinoids because it does not make sense to install the heavy wire on the same side as the positive battery cable connection ....
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Jul 3, 2004
#7
  • Jul 3, 2004
  • #7
glad to hear that you got it. im not super conversant with the retrofit - though i will use the later starter on my 88 when the time comes.

nice work.
 
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