1993 Cobra Registry

Trying to get my teal car rolling. Can't get power to the starter. The solenoid clicks and there is power to it. Replaced it and didn't fix the problem. Replaced the positive cable, no dice. Is there any chance that the starter cable has a short in it? I'm at a loss and have tried to think of anything else but I've been working on it for 3 days and haven't solved anything.

Any ideas?

Oh yeah and I took the starter back out, had it checked and it's fine.

1. the battery is too weak
2. the engine is either locked-up or very hard to turn over.

try to turn the engine over by hand , using the crank pulley or flywheel

1993cobra wrote:1. the battery is too weak
2. the engine is either locked-up or very hard to turn over.

try to turn the engine over by hand , using the crank pulley or flywheel

yep

Nope, brand new battery and the engine is free. Took a voltmeter and I have power to the solenoid but not the the starter.

Did you actually turn the engine since this problem? to be sure? A friend of mine had the same problem , He said his was also fine, So I tied to turn it using a 1/2 breaker on the crank and it was a no go, he was shocked to say the least. He had bought the engine used and never tried it , just assumed if someone sold it , it must be good. But if your battery is good and the starter is good it has to start. Get a voltmeter and check for batt. voltage going to the solenoid and then check the starter side while you turn the ignition switch to start, see if you are getting battery voltage, if yes check the same at the starter itself. is the soleniod hooked up properly? can you get a pic of it and post it?

Isn't there a clutch-mounted switch that must be closed before power goes to the starter? Have you checked that out??

Best Regards,
Bob S.

P.S. Sorry, I just noticed you said that the solenoid is getting voltage and clicks......please disregards my post. I was in too much of a hurry, and should have read this thread more carefully before replying.

black93svt wrote:Nope, brand new battery and the engine is free. Took a voltmeter and I have power to the solenoid but not the the starter.

Try checking the wire from the solenoid to the starter, and see where the voltage is lost. It might be broken some where.

You need to check the ground terminal on the battery and the block.

Thanks for the replies guys. I ordered a new starter cable from Ford. Picking it up tomorrow and we'll see what happens. If that doesn't work I don't know what's wrong.

This car has an alarm on it. Could that have anything to do with it?

1993cobra wrote:Did you actually turn the engine since this problem? to be sure? A friend of mine had the same problem , He said his was also fine, So I tied to turn it using a 1/2 breaker on the crank and it was a no go, he was shocked to say the least. He had bought the engine used and never tried it , just assumed if someone sold it , it must be good. But if your battery is good and the starter is good it has to start. Get a voltmeter and check for batt. voltage going to the solenoid and then check the starter side while you turn the ignition switch to start, see if you are getting battery voltage, if yes check the same at the starter itself. is the soleniod hooked up properly? can you get a pic of it and post it?

The only thing that should be hooked to the one side of the solenoid is the small ground wire running to the starter correct? The main cable should be on the hot side?

there is no ground wire going to the solenoid. the small push-on wire comes from the ignition swicth, one side has the battery cable along with some other power feed wires, the other side is the cable going to the starter.

1993cobra wrote:there is no ground wire going to the solenoid. the small push-on wire comes from the ignition swicth, one side has the battery cable along with some other power feed wires, the other side is the cable going to the starter.

Hes right

OK, my bad. I looked at my 92 GT yesterday which has the same starter and figured out that the previous owner of this teal car had the cable on the wrong side of the solenoid. Problem fixed right? Nope!! I switched the cable over onto the correct side and still no luck. This is getting very frustrating!!

Ok, disconnect everything from the solenoid. Then connect the battery cable to one side, connect the starter cable to the other side. Now use a screw driver and jump across from the small stud over to the side with the battery cable . What happens? (the engine should turn over) let me know what happens, what sounds etc. lastly you could use a set of jumper cable , use both red clamps, connect one to the battery side of solenoid, and with the other red clamp , quickly and firmly hold it it to the starter side ( it will probably make a arc , but hold it and see if the engine tries to turn?

maybe these diagrams will help. I am not an artist so no comments please.