Remote starter solenoid, Good, bad or ugly? |
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Remote starter solenoid, Good, bad or ugly? |
Jesco Reient |
Jul 26 2012, 10:26 AM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 135 Joined: 18-July 12 From: Western Washington Member No.: 14,690 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Ok so I've spent another lovely day working on the 914, The harness from the relay has some bad wiring in it. So I'm taking it out to replace it. I get to the starter and there is a Ford starter solenoid remote mounted where it is fairly easy to reach from underneath the car. Now I know this is not factory, but is this a common modification that some people think is a good idea? or is this a band aid fix for something worse?
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SirAndy |
Jul 26 2012, 11:00 AM
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#2
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,625 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
or is this a band aid fix for something worse? I'd go with that one. While adding a relay to that circuit by itself is not a bad idea, it's commonly used as a band-aid because someone was too lazy to find the real problem. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) |
TheCabinetmaker |
Jul 26 2012, 11:01 AM
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#3
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I drive my car everyday Group: Members Posts: 8,300 Joined: 8-May 03 From: Tulsa, Ok. Member No.: 666 |
Its a band aid for dirty grounds, corroded wires, and bad connections. That said, its sometimes the quicker, easier, cheaper fix. Cleaning those grounds and finding the real problem can be both time consuming, and expensive if your paying some one to do it. Its not a bad fix. The ford solenoid works with much less voltage than the bosch.
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Bartlett 914 |
Jul 26 2012, 11:42 AM
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#4
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,215 Joined: 30-August 05 From: South Elgin IL Member No.: 4,707 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
A solenoid pulls a lot of current. This can put a strain on the ignition switch. Adding another solenoid doesn't really solve this. You can use a small relay with contacts that can handle the stock solenoid. These are commonly available at your FLAPS. These will have low current coils (good for the ignition switch) and contacts that will work your solenoid. Should the relay fail, it is very easy to go back to stock. While true that there may be other problems, I use a relay as a preventative measure.
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Tom |
Jul 26 2012, 12:56 PM
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#5
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,139 Joined: 21-August 05 From: Port Orchard, WA 98367 Member No.: 4,626 Region Association: None |
The 914 has a long start circuit with many connections. Any one of them that deteriorates causes a loss of current flow, resulting in low voltage to the solenoid and resultant low current flow to the solenoid. A fix is to install a starter relay near the starter solenoid that uses less current to operate.
One might wonder why starter relays were designed in the first place and why VW and Porsche ( among others) decided one was not necessary. Did you ever hook up a starter and manually activate the starter solenoid? See the spark from the arc across where you made the connection? That produces carbon which over time builds up on the contacts until, guess what, yes, another voltage drop. Carbon is the main ingredient in small resistors. The stock solenoid on a 914 pulls 35 amps initially until the contacts inside the solenoid close. I'd say that was considerable current. Installing a relay that only pulls 150 mili-amps is a HUGH improvement to the start circuit and will save the ignition switch from the destructive arc. Where in western Washington are you? There are a good number of us Teener owners around here. Tom in Port orchard,Wa. |
TheCabinetmaker |
Jul 26 2012, 01:38 PM
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#6
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I drive my car everyday Group: Members Posts: 8,300 Joined: 8-May 03 From: Tulsa, Ok. Member No.: 666 |
Yep, I used the wrong terminolgy. Should have said relay.
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Jesco Reient |
Jul 26 2012, 03:57 PM
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#7
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Member Group: Members Posts: 135 Joined: 18-July 12 From: Western Washington Member No.: 14,690 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
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Jesco Reient |
Jul 26 2012, 03:59 PM
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#8
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Member Group: Members Posts: 135 Joined: 18-July 12 From: Western Washington Member No.: 14,690 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Thank you to everybody, I have removed the starter and all the related from the relay board as well, and am now inspecting the wiring, Yeah, not good but atleast there are wiring harnesses available!
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Tom |
Jul 26 2012, 05:11 PM
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#9
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,139 Joined: 21-August 05 From: Port Orchard, WA 98367 Member No.: 4,626 Region Association: None |
If your 12 pin harness is bad, someone local may have one to replace it. Also lots of guys are willing to lend a hand sorting out the problem for beer and BBQ!!,
or just Teener talk! Tom |
lester7410 |
Oct 1 2012, 05:52 PM
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#10
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 1-October 12 From: District of Columbia Member No.: 14,990 Region Association: North East States |
I have been told to install a ford starter relay to increase the voltage to the starter. My new starter "clunks", but does not turn the engine. Can someone tell me how to install this into the wiring ? What wires/cable connect to where? Could really use your help.
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SLITS |
Oct 1 2012, 06:04 PM
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#11
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"This Utah shit is HARSH!" Group: Benefactors Posts: 13,602 Joined: 22-February 04 From: SoCal Mountains ... Member No.: 1,696 Region Association: None |
Depends on which Ford solenoid you got. If it has two small terminals, proceed as follows:
1.) Battery cable and alternator cable that was on starter to one large terminal. 2.) Short battery cable from other large terminal on Ford solenoid to original post on starter solenoid (top terminal). 3.) Yellow wire that was attached to solenoid goes to one of the small terminals on the Ford solenoid. I hooked up a battery to the Ford solenoid (+ to large terminal, - is the mounting plate. I hooked up a wire from the + battery connection and touched the smaller terminals ... one of which will make it click ... that's where the yellow wire goes. 4.) From the other small terminal, you can run a wire to the spade terminal the yellow wire was originally attached to on the starter or You can run a jumper from the solenoid battery terminal (top one - the one you hooked the short battery cable from the Ford solenoid) to the spade terminal where the yellow wire was attached. 5.) All that's left is to mount the Ford solenoid to the body or a good ground. Oh, and disconnect the positive lead on the battery before doing any of this! |
PanelBilly |
Oct 1 2012, 06:49 PM
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#12
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,804 Joined: 23-July 06 From: Kent, Wa Member No.: 6,488 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
I'm always willing to come by and drink your beer and walk around the car with a dazed look on my face. Check over all the wires and connections at the starter. It means pulling the starter off and doing some inspection on the bench. Jeff Bowlsby ( sorry Jeff if I spelled your name wrong, I've already started drinking tonight) has correct replacement wires for making everything new again. No reason to add a "fix" when the issue is just wires that have broken down over time.
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JeffBowlsby |
Oct 1 2012, 06:54 PM
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#13
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914 Wiring Harnesses Group: Members Posts: 8,492 Joined: 7-January 03 From: San Ramon CA Member No.: 104 Region Association: None |
Keep knockin' 'em back Billy if thats what it takes, you are one of the few that spelled it right!
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KELTY360 |
Oct 1 2012, 07:03 PM
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#14
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914 Neferati Group: Members Posts: 5,031 Joined: 31-December 05 From: Pt. Townsend, WA Member No.: 5,344 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Ford Starter solenoid wiring
Read this thread for the info you need. It's been two years since I did this fix and it's been flawless. |
lester7410 |
Oct 1 2012, 10:09 PM
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#15
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 1-October 12 From: District of Columbia Member No.: 14,990 Region Association: North East States |
Depends on which Ford solenoid you got. If it has two small terminals, proceed as follows: 1.) Battery cable and alternator cable that was on starter to one large terminal. 2.) Short battery cable from other large terminal on Ford solenoid to original post on starter solenoid (top terminal). 3.) Yellow wire that was attached to solenoid goes to one of the small terminals on the Ford solenoid. I hooked up a battery to the Ford solenoid (+ to large terminal, - is the mounting plate. I hooked up a wire from the + battery connection and touched the smaller terminals ... one of which will make it click ... that's where the yellow wire goes. 4.) From the other small terminal, you can run a wire to the spade terminal the yellow wire was originally attached to on the starter or You can run a jumper from the solenoid battery terminal (top one - the one you hooked the short battery cable from the Ford solenoid) to the spade terminal where the yellow wire was attached. 5.) All that's left is to mount the Ford solenoid to the body or a good ground. Oh, and disconnect the positive lead on the battery before doing any of this! |
ClayPerrine |
Oct 2 2012, 06:22 PM
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#16
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Life's been good to me so far..... Group: Admin Posts: 15,442 Joined: 11-September 03 From: Hurst, TX. Member No.: 1,143 Region Association: NineFourteenerVille |
Oh, and disconnect the positive lead on the battery before doing any of this! If you disconnect the NEGATIVE lead on the battery you get the exact same effect, and you don't get sparks if your wrench happens to hit ground while loosening up the nut on the cable. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) |
76-914 |
Oct 2 2012, 06:53 PM
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#17
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Repeat Offender & Resident Subaru Antagonist Group: Members Posts: 13,495 Joined: 23-January 09 From: Temecula, CA Member No.: 9,964 Region Association: Southern California |
Check out this thread. Mark has a hand drawn wiring diagram here that helps. Scroll down about half way. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...c=37683&hl=
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