starter relay

[Angus76]

Hi boys. I need to know what the amperage of the starter relay is on my 98 explorer I have blown one starting my rebuilt motor. It started ok the first start but blew on the second start. I have a relay I can get at Repco here 30-40 amp but can't find the amperage in my book. thanks.

 

[410Fortune]

It’s a normal 20 amp mini relay I believe
What year is your truck? Assuming 98-01 since you are referencing a relay and not a solenoid

 

[Angus76]

It’s a normal 20 amp mini relay I believe
What year is your truck? Assuming 98-01 since you are referencing a relay and not a solenoid

Thanks for your reply. It is a 98 model SOHC motor, Solenoid is on the starter motor. I have replaced the starter motor, the old one was getting a bit worn & I didn't want any trouble with things going wrong around the motor.

 

[Angus76]

The motor started & run ok, but the second start it made a loud crack & stoped & now I cant get it to turn over with key. I bypassed the wiring & hooked a push button switch up to the starter motor & it turned the motor over no trouble so it's not the starter motor. If I leave the wire to the solenoid hooked to the solenoid with the push button nothing happens until I take the wire to the solenoid of & leave the switch wire to the push button on by its self bypassing the wire running down with the main positive battery wire. any ideas what is going wrong. in the meantime I will keep looking. Thanks

 

[410Fortune]

sounds like there is a short somewhere in the smaller wire leading to the starter
or the relay has shorted out?

So basically our starters have two relays
in 98 it has a 5 prong mini relay in the power junction box (PJB) under the hood
And as you already stated, the starter has its own solenoid
The big red wire is power feed direct from battery
The small red wire is solenoid "start" wire from the starter relay in the PJB
Something is going haywire with your small red wire since as you described even the push button will not activate the solenoid with it hooked up
Sounds like a dead short. You need to do a full inspection of the small red wire

Some of these v6 trucks also require a ground wire from the bellhousing stud
If you have the double stud on one of your starter mounting bolts then you should also have a ground wire there

 

[Angus76]

I have the negative wire running from the battery to the starter motor bolt with the double thread & nut in the center of the bolt which screws into the transmission leaving the other thread end to mount the earth wire to, So that will be earthed well. I was leaning inside the wagon & heard the loud crack from where ever that noise came from, My wife was leaning over the left guard with the camera when it happened to take picture of the motor when it started, But jumped back when it made the noise, she said it sounded like an electrical noise but could't se where it come from, There was no smoke. I will have to keep looking & checking the wiring as I go. I removed the starter relay & it looked ok, I thought it may have blowen between the to points bent towards the center, but on further inspection the other relays are the same so I will keep looking