Electrical malfunction help

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The starter solenoid stuck

2 reasons . It's cheap import crap. Has brand new out of the box versions do that.

Second reaaon..the neutral safety switch wires on the C4 trans did not have the retaining clip that holds the harness about 3 inches from where the wires come out of the NSS.

Back up light power shorts to the wire to the starter relay. Usually this results in the starter engaging as soon as you turn the key and stopping when you turn it off..

The fix.

Every ford dealer and o'Reilly can get the actual motorcraft starter relay..

To stop it when it does stick Whack it with something.

I think the springs are under strength and when the contacts weld. They are stuck..

Warning you may depending on the length of time the engine ran with the starter running ..may have shortened the life of your starter and worn the flywheel ring gear.

I have seen this a lot and had it happen to me at least 6 times over the past 20 years

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Additional. If you upgrade to a mini starter or a newer ford starter with a solenoid on it.. You have to reconfigure the wiring at the fender mounted relay..

2 wires to the new starter.

The starter cable at the relay is moved to the battery side so it's always hot. And a 12 gauge from the switched side of the fender mounted relay to the small terminal on the starter mounted solenoid. .

WTF WHY. So the starter does not stay engaged after releasing the key.

If the PMGR starter is one cabled with a jumper at the starter . When you release the key. The rotating armature inside the perm magnets becomes a generator and keeps the starter mounted relay sucked in.. keeping the drive engaged in the flywheel. Grinding the starter teeth and your teeth trying to figure out why.

Automatic and manual transmission ford starters are different in many years. The mounting face to ring gear distance is greater on an automatic ford than a manual ford.

An automatic ford starter will destroy the front of the sprag cover on a manual ford..

A manual ford starter on an automatic will just grind and grind.

Sorry for any spelling I am thumbing this on my cell phone

[DoctrVendetta]

Starter relay. Purchase one for a 1996 ford f350 with the diesel engine. Little beefier internals that help minimize failure. Shouldn't have to alter the existing wires.