Ford Explorer- starter is good but not working

[insightful]

@George_San_Jose1

…uses that solenoid arrangement, rather than placing the solenoid in the starter motor like most cars.

Careful, it seems like ford has repurposed the old solenoid as a starter relay to energize the “real” solenoid on the starter (unless everywhere I looked is showing the wrong starter).

[George_San_Jose1]

@insightful

ford has repurposed the old solenoid as a starter relay to energize the “real” solenoid on the starter

2010 Explorerer’s wiring diagram agrees. There’s two wires going to the starter, one directly from the battery, and one from the engine compartment starter solenoid.

Edit: Confirmed the starter on my own 70’s Ford truck is a one wire affair, the switched 12 volts directly from the battery via the starter solenoid. There’s no separate “s” terminal.