• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Electrical Wiring power from trunk to front

  • Thread starter Thread starter roldy
  • Start date Start date Jul 5, 2022
  • Tags Tags
    starter relay wiring
R

roldy

New Member
Jul 22, 2020
25
0
1
Missouri
Jul 5, 2022
#1
  • Jul 5, 2022
  • #1
I've posted this question before on another forum but I think the approval system is bugged as I'm still waiting for my post to be posted.

I would like to relocate the starter relay terminal to the trunk where my battery is in my 88 mustang. I have also been doing a fresh installation of all the interior wiring. I've been doing some research and put together a graphic of what I think I need the routing to look like. I have a removable key cut off switch that will be mounted under the dash somewhere for an additional theft deterrent. The starter is a mini starter that is already installed on the engine. Is there anything that I'm missing and should include? Does my routing look good and safe?

 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions
Mar 10, 2000
27,512
2,813
234
Dublin GA
Jul 6, 2022
#2
  • Jul 6, 2022
  • #2
Rear mounted battery wiring recommendations

For a battery cut off switch, see https://www.moroso.com/catalog/pro...rnator-disconnect-switch74108/category/3114/
is the switch
https://www.moroso.com/pub/media/instructions/74108_instweb.pdf is the installation instructions.

Switch picture...

Use the super duty switch and the following tech note to wire it and you will be good to go.

Use the Moroso plan for the alternator wiring and you risk a fire. The 10 gauge wire they recommend is even less adequate that the stock Mustang wiring.

There is a solution, but it will require about 40' of 18 gauge green wire.

Wire the battery to the two 1/2" posts as shown in the diagram.

The alternator requires a different approach. On the small alternator plug there is a green wire. It is the sense lead that turns the regulator on when the ignition switch is in the run position. Cut the green wire and solder the 40' of green wire between the two pieces. Use some heat shrink to cover the splices. See http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=7 for some excellent help on soldering & using heat shrink tubing.

Run the green wire back to the Moroso switch and cut off the excess wire. Try to run the green wire inside the car and protect it from getting cut or chaffed. Crimp a 18 gauge ring terminal (red is 18 gauge color code for the crimp on terminals) on each wire. Bolt one ring terminal to each of the 3/16" studs. Do not add the jumper between the 1/2" stud and the 3/16" stud as shown it the
Moroso diagram.

How it works:
The green wire is the ignition on sense feed to the regulator. It supplies a turn on signal to the regulator when the ignition switch is in the Run position. Turn the Moroso switch to off, and the sense voltage goes away, the voltage regulator shuts off and the alternator quits making power.

The fuse & wiring in the following diagram are for a 3G alternator. The stock alternator uses a dark green fuse link wire that connects to 2 black/orange wires. Always leave them connected to the starter solenoid even if you have a 3G alternator.



Rear mounted battery ground wiring. Follow this plan and you will have zero ground problems.

One 1 gauge or 1/0 gauge wire from battery negative post to a clean shiny spot on the chassis near the battery. Use a 5/16” bolt and bolt it down to make the rear ground. Use a 1 gauge or 1/0 gauge wire from the rear ground bolt to a clean shiny spot on the block.

One 4 gauge wire from the block where you connected the battery ground wire to the chassis ground where the battery was mounted up front. Use a 5/16” bolt and bolt down the 4 gauge engine to chassis ground, make sure that it the metal around the bolt is clean & shiny. This is the alternator power ground.




The computer has a dedicated power ground wire with a cylindrical quick connect (about 2 ½”long by 1” diameter. It comes out of the wiring harness near the ignition coil & starter solenoid (or relay). Be sure to bolt it to the chassis ground in the same place as you bolted the alternator power ground. This is an absolute don’t overlook it item for EFI cars
Note: The quick disconnect may have fallen victim to damage or removal by a previous owner. However, it is still of utmost importance that the black/green wires have a high quality ground..

Picture courtesy timewarped1972


Crimp or even better, solder the lugs on the all the wire. The local auto stereo shop will have them if the auto parts store doesn't. Use some heat shrink tubing to cover the lugs and make things look nice.
 

Attachments

  • Common chassis ground point.webp
    40.9 KB · Views: 324
Last edited: Jul 6, 2022
R

roldy

New Member
Jul 22, 2020
25
0
1
Missouri
Jul 6, 2022
#3
  • Jul 6, 2022
  • #3
jrichker said:
Rear mounted battery wiring recommendations

For a battery cut off switch
, see https://www.moroso.com/catalog/product/view/id/8487/s/battery-and-alternator-disconnect-switch74108/category/3114/
is the switch
https://www.moroso.com/pub/media/instructions/74108_instweb.pdf is the installation instructions.

Switch picture...

Use the super duty switch and the following tech note to wire it and you will be good to go.

Use the Moroso plan for the alternator wiring and you risk a fire. The 10 gauge wire they recommend is even less adequate that the stock Mustang wiring.

There is a solution, but it will require about 40' of 18 gauge green wire.

Wire the battery to the two 1/2" posts as shown in the diagram.

The alternator requires a different approach. On the small alternator plug there is a green wire. It is the sense lead that turns the regulator on when the ignition switch is in the run position. Cut the green wire and solder the 40' of green wire between the two pieces. Use some heat shrink to cover the splices. See http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=7 for some excellent help on soldering & using heat shrink tubing.

Run the green wire back to the Moroso switch and cut off the excess wire. Try to run the green wire inside the car and protect it from getting cut or chaffed. Crimp a 18 gauge ring terminal (red is 18 gauge color code for the crimp on terminals) on each wire. Bolt one ring terminal to each of the 3/16" studs. Do not add the jumper between the 1/2" stud and the 3/16" stud as shown it the
Moroso diagram.

How it works:
The green wire is the ignition on sense feed to the regulator. It supplies a turn on signal to the regulator when the ignition switch is in the Run position. Turn the Moroso switch to off, and the sense voltage goes away, the voltage regulator shuts off and the alternator quits making power.

The fuse & wiring in the following diagram are for a 3G alternator. The stock alternator uses a dark green fuse link wire that connects to 2 black/orange wires. Always leave them connected to the starter solenoid even if you have a 3G alternator.




Rear mounted battery ground wiring. Follow this plan and you will have zero
ground problems.


One 1 gauge or 1/0 gauge wire from battery negative post to a clean shiny spot on the chassis near the battery. Use a 5/16” bolt and bolt it down to make the rear ground. Use a 1 gauge or 1/0 gauge wire from the rear ground bolt to a clean shiny spot on the block.

the lugs and make things look nice.
Click to expand...
I meant to include the PDF page from the wiring kit that had instructions for wiring the power. I did a little merging of the wiring kit with relocation wiring diagrams and that's how I came up with my diagram. When I get serious about drag racing I will install the Moroso cutoff switch but right now I just want an added power cutoff hidden with a removable key. The base wiring diagram I used was the solenoid relocation diagram.
 

Attachments

  • power wiring.webp
    41.1 KB · Views: 902
  • solenoid relocation.webp
    61 KB · Views: 412
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

3
Electrical Starter solenoid out of space?
  • 387lx
  • Jan 22, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
322
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jan 23, 2026
387lx
3
Electrical Mini-Starter Wiring
  • RekeHavoc
  • Jul 25, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Aug 24, 2025
Mustang5L5
C
Electrical HELP! 1989 5.0 Stick, Voltage Bleed onto Ignition Trigger wire
  • ChickenDeluxe
  • May 14, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
199
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 24, 2026
ChickenDeluxe
C
F
Electrical From scratch: alternator wiring
  • fox racer v2
  • Jun 23, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
557
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 23, 2025
fox racer v2
F
K
Resolved Weird sound coming from a freshly rebuilt 5.0L
  • karhoot
  • Jun 24, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
152
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 27, 2026
Mac131
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?