Starter Solenoid Help

[benzofuran]

So I've been having nothing but trouble with my 2000 Explorer (V6 EFI) 2WD - the latest debacle started last night, when I went out to go get some dinner. While I had driven her without trouble earlier in the day, when I went to start her nothing happened. The internal lights and headlights worked, along with all the dash displays, but here was nothing from the engine compartment - no clicking, nothing. So after trying to jump her, just to be sure the battery wasn't too low, to no avail, I finally busted out the troubleshooting guides I could find in here, and it's pointing me right now towards the solenoid starter switch. Now I understand that in order to test the switch, I should just short the contacts on it. However, I can't find the damned thing. I know what it looks like, but I just can't find it. Can anybody help direct me to where I should be looking under the hood to find and test out this thing before I go nuts?
Thanks in advance!

 

[sn0border88]

pass side fender, right under the strip where the fender bolts on, infront of the fuse box. Little rounds thingy with diamond shaped mounting plate. 2-3 wires coming off of it,

 

[EBInterceptor]

That's where it is on a first gen., easy to find, but it's not in the same place on the second gens. I haven't looked for it, so I couldn't really tell you.

 

[sn0border88]

nahah, im sorry man its been a long day. Cant help you with sencond gens.

 

[CDW6212R]

The starter solenoid on 95-01 models is on the starter.

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

Benzo, you might try loosening, cleaning, and re-tightening the negative battery cable where it attaches to the starter bolt. For some reason this is a problem area on Fords; probably because of corrosion. (The lights have a separate ground circuit, which would explain why they still work.)

Welcome to the Explorer Forum,

ROE

 

[benzofuran]

Thanks for all the help guys, I'm in the middle of it right now. I figure first step is to try they jumper bypass (use the jumper cables to make sure the starter's still good), and then I'll just take the starter off and head up to Advance or autozone and get another solenoid and give that a shot. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[benzofuran]

Thanks again for all the help guys; I got the new starter and solenoid unit in and it's running like a champ!

 

[410Fortune]

the 96 explorer's I have have two starter solenopids, just like my 93 4.0L drivtrain.
The second gen (95-01) starter solenoid is on the drivers side, mid inner fender, just forward of the large underhood fuse box.

There is also a solenoid built into the Ford gear reduction starter.
this is why your starter gets two feeds, one large feed directly from the + battery terminal and the small feed from the starter solenoid.

You turn the key the red/blue wire goes through the clutch position switch, then through the trans neautral safety, then to the starter solenoid on the fender. This solenoid then sends 12V to the solenoid built into the starter, and thats when the starter kicks over.


I have had intermittant no start problems caused by:
old keyswitch and relay in the steering colum (on my 88 the relay is on the column)
Bad alarm relay (aftermarket, shotty wiring!)
bad + wiring from battery
bad - cable to the engine block (starter gets its - from the engine block)

never had the actual solenoid on the fender go out, but I have replaced a couple iof them trying to fix my problems hahaha

 

[moonraider]

OK, the first person in this post (benzofuran) has the same problem I do. 2000 Ford Explorer V6 SOHC. The problem is intermittent. Happens only 1 out of 10 starts. Looks like power is good. I checked battery cables. Lights are bright. Just won't start or click or anything. I was told the Solenoid was probably going bad. I went to the auto parts store and bought a new one for $15. The only thing is....i can't find the darn thing. The Auto parts store told me it was on the fender. You would think that knowing that, and knowing what it looks like, I could find it. Help!

 

[CDW6212R]

The later Fords no longer have the fender solenoids, it's on the starter like GM crap now. I think that began with the Explorer in 1995.