1998 Ford Explorer Starter Circuit Diagram
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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
According to the Haynes manual for Ford Exporers, the starter relay on Explorers through 2000 is located next to the battery on the fender wall and is rather large, round thing with three lugs with wires attached. Unless my 1998 XLT is ahead of its time, the starter relay in the relay/fuse box in the engine compartment. The relay is located just before the "blower" relay. Just thought you would like to know.
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manuals
" Oh , it's a Ford ! It's gotta have that remote solenoid ! " . My '99 XLT OHC did not want to crank at all or did so reluctantly , did all the standard tests then finally got a lod tester connected to the starter end of the cable and my + cable had turned into a big resistor . I made up new + and ground cables from heavier wire and even the starter still turned it wasn't happy so I swapped it out . Getting the starter out of that thing is a monumental pain in the ass .
What does Hayne's say ? " Remove the starter motor . " Oh. A picture would be nice . Directions ? What ? It's not what they have in them , it's what has been left out that is so irritating . Don't get me going about wiring diagrams either .
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I forgot to add that all the relays in the main fuse box are the same . If you have lots of juice in your battery and nothing happens at all there may be a bad relay . Get someone to turn the key switch repeatedly and you can feel if one relay is not clicking inside . You can take one of the other relays and replace it . If it starts , that's all that it was . Plus relays are cheap !
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Discussion Starter · #4 ·
The engine is a 5.0 Litre V-8 and really fills the engine compartment. Anyway, I did all the checks of wiring, voltage, etc. and determined it had to be the starter after running a jumper wire from the battery to the solenoid. So, I decided to pull the starter. Little did I know what a PITA!! that turned out to be! Besides the bolts being Metric (?), all my ratchet extensions were either too short or too long! If anyone is planning to replace a starter on one of these, make sure you get the front jacked up high enough or you'll end up how to get your hands and arms close to where you need to work. Just sayin'. LOL
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According to the Haynes manual for Ford Exporers, the starter relay on Explorers through 2000 is located next to the battery on the fender wall and is rather large, round thing with three lugs with wires attached. Unless my 1998 XLT is ahead of its time, the starter relay in the relay/fuse box in the engine compartment. The relay is located just before the "blower" relay. Just thought you would like to know.
The relay you are looking at is most likely the RAP or PATS relay. It is a pass through relay meaning that it sits idly by, letting the starter operate normally unless or until the anti theft system thinks someone is trying to steal the vehicle. Starter current does not flow through this relay, only the signal from the key to the starter solonoid on the fender behind the battery does. If you pull this relay, the starter will not turn. If you engage this relay, the starter will not turn. It can be bypassed with a jumper wire but that is a different topic.
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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
Thanks for the update. Been away from the forum for awhile; but, I like to keep current.
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relay
On my 1998 xlt explorer the starter relay solenoid is on the starter.
If the pats system is working the ignition relay in the junction box works and powers up computer etc. And the relay in the junction box for the starter works.
Then check power to the wires going to the starter with key on. --You can just jump ahead to this. With key on. Jump s terminal with main starter power wire.
If starter cranks and truck starts. Starter solenoid on starter is bad.
If you dont have 130.00 dollars to buy a new starter . Because no body sells the replacement solenoid. Call look local bone yards. I bought used starter 30.00 dollars.
Buy a fender mount style starter relay solenoid run. Hook up to starter main power and S terminal wire.
Hook batt power into selenoid. Hook S power wire to selenoid. Start ya engine.
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Check S terminal on starter .
Hook pos test light wire probe to S terminal. Hook clamp - to metal ground.
Turn ignition key all the way to crank.
Test light lights then there is power to starter crank over S = start wire.
Check main power to starter lug battery wire . Jump S to main starter power wire key on run positon. If starter cranks engine starts.
Starter solenoid on starter is bad.
You can allso check for power with a voltage meter to make sure there is 12 or more volts to starter. I just stating the fast easy way with test light. If your stranded just jump terminal s on starter with key on. It might get ya home . Allways start with cleaning the batt connections first.
Posted by: jaimeembury.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.explorertalk.com/threads/starter-relay-location-98-xlt.46484/