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Old 09-23-2018, 12:52 PM
93_Rarity 93_Rarity is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 211
Default Starter Engaging After Startup

Long story short-
Rebuilt the 4.0l in my 1997 Ranger over the past few months, finally got it put in a few weeks ago. It runs good when it runs, but after about a half minute of idling, the starter will engage. I'm terrible with electrical, and have been trying to figure it out, but I'm at a loss, and hopefully some of y'all can help me out.

I've replaced the starter solenoid (New) and power wires (parts truck), and the starter (original, parts trucks', and a new one I had lying around I forgot I had), starter relay (swapped with the A/C relay, since it's been removed), as well as scrubbed all grounds and connections. Flexplate doesn't seem to be damaged, teeth or otherwise. Guess the only thing I haven't replaced yet is the ignition. The original wasn't shimmed.

I've checked all the wires running to the solenoid and starter.
I'm no electrician, so I don't have exact numbers, but I know this much.

Battery>Solenoid- Constantly powered.
Battery>Starter- Constantly powered.
Ignition>Solenoid- Only powered with key in Start.
Solenoid>Starter- Only powered with key in Start.
Starter Ground>Battery- Connected, completing circuit.

I can try to provide any other information as needed.
Thank you for your time.
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"The New Guy" 1997 Ford Ranger 4x4
*4.0- Auto- Throttle Cable Mod- 3" PA Body Lift- 31s- Custom Snorkel- Custom Front Bumper- Custom Windgate- Explorer Running Boards- Midland CB w/ Firestik II Antenna- Dumped Glasspack- 6" Halogen Grill Lights-

Yuki 2003 Ford Ranger- 2.3- 302 Project (sold)
"Rarity". 1993 2.3 Ford Ranger XLT (scrapped)
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  #2  
Old 09-23-2018, 06:51 PM
crowdpleazer crowdpleazer is offline
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Posts: 533
Default Re: Starter Engaging After Startup

could be the ignition switch/key is wore enough to turn on its own
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1998 ranger extended cab, 2wd, 4.0 ohv, 5 speed, sony xploid 52 4 way watt radio, 2 pair of pioneer 240 watt speakers, Cobra 29 LX LCD CB radio pushing 100 watts, k&n air filter, 15 inch exploder wheels, dual exhaust with 4 inch stainless tips, 2 12 inch subs with a 1000 watt amp just for the hell of it!

new project: dirt track modified racing at the local saturday night track.
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  #3  
Old 09-26-2018, 05:18 PM
93_Rarity 93_Rarity is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 211
Default Re: Starter Engaging After Startup

Quote:
Originally Posted by crowdpleazer View Post
could be the ignition switch/key is wore enough to turn on its own
Sorry, been away for a bit. I appreciate the suggestion. I went ahead and bought an ignition switch when I went to get a new starter since it was cheap (like $21 for a lifetime). Installed it and the new starter, gave it a shot. Fired right up, ran like normal. No grinding, which is better. After a few minutes, smoke started pouring out from the drivers' side of the compartment. Shut it down, looked around. Sure enough, the solenoid on the starter was burning. Literally. Small fire on the ignition wire down there, just blew it out. Removed starter and all wires. The ignition wire had its first few inches of rubber burned off, but the wire itself is still intact. Tore apart the conduit to ensure that the power wires inside weren't damaged/exposed, and they sure aren't.

So now I've got a new warranteed starter I picked up earlier and I don't really wanna install it until I'm certain I'm not gonna blow it up. I went ahead and replaced the burned bit of wire with the nice new lead from the new starter, but other than that I don't know what to check. I got a crash-course in multi-meter reading from one of my friends at the auto store and actually tested the connections running to the starter solenoid and the wires from it. The constant power wire straight from the battery is carrying 11.70v, and when the key is turned to the "start" position, the ignition wire carries the same, and dies after it hits the "run" position.

The ground wire is properly grounded to the lower starter mounting bolt, as it has been since I've owned the truck. the ground wire runs back to the battery, where it makes a clean connection to the terminal end, along with the body ground. It also has the chassis ground in the middle running towards the battery.

I don't think there's anything else to the system. Having to deal with electrical systems really ticks me off, especially when it was working flawlessly a few months ago. About half-tempted to just get rid of it, but I probably wouldn't get a quarter of what I've put in it the past six months. I've got proof it runs though, so that's worth something? lol
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"The New Guy" 1997 Ford Ranger 4x4
*4.0- Auto- Throttle Cable Mod- 3" PA Body Lift- 31s- Custom Snorkel- Custom Front Bumper- Custom Windgate- Explorer Running Boards- Midland CB w/ Firestik II Antenna- Dumped Glasspack- 6" Halogen Grill Lights-

Yuki 2003 Ford Ranger- 2.3- 302 Project (sold)
"Rarity". 1993 2.3 Ford Ranger XLT (scrapped)
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