1996 Ford Taurus STARTER

TOMDUSICK

MEMBER
1996 FORD TAURUS
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
97,000 MILES

I believe the starter on my 96 Taurus has gone out. In the process of monkeying around with it, I tried something I had heard and "whacked" the starter with a wrench. After a few hits, I noticed a wire plug had become disconnected. It is not the terminal that connects back the battery; it appears to lead up to the spark plugs/distributor(?). What is this wire, where does it plug back in, and would the disconnection cause the car not to start again? Thank you so much.

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,262 POSTS

That is a tough one to answer without seeing what it is. Is there any way for you to upload a picture for me to see it? Also, a plug wire it rather large with a rubber boot on the end. Is that what you have?

Let me know.
Joe

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Thursday, September 9th, 2010 AT 7:08 AM

TOMDUSICK

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Yes, that is it. Someone said it was the starter solenoid trigger wire that comes from the ignition switch, and that it gets plugged into the starter at the "s" terminal. Can't get inside deep enough to reach it though.

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Thursday, September 9th, 2010 AT 11:40 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,262 POSTS

Does it have a large rubber boot on it? If not, try this. Have a helper turn the key to the run position. Using a test light, see if there is any power to the wire. If there isn't turn the key to the start position. If there is power then, it is the starter wire. If there is still no power, it sounds like a plug wire.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

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Friday, September 10th, 2010 AT 7:23 AM