I’m hoping for some experienced advice as I’m a mechanic trying to figure out why my 1997 Ford Explorer 5.0L won’t start. It just makes a click sound but doesn’t crank. The starter solenoid seems to be on the driver’s side fender under the hood. There’s also another solenoid on the starter itself. The solenoid under the hood has power going to it. How can I quickly figure out if the issue is with that solenoid or the one on the starter, or if it’s something else entirely? Any tips on how to diagnose it more efficiently?
If you’ve confirmed power is reaching the starter but it’s not turning, it’s likely either the starter or the solenoid is bad. If you hear a click, that usually means the solenoid is working, so I would guess the starter is bad. Fortunately, both parts usually come together and aren’t too expensive.
Hmm… I doubt there’s a second solenoid on the driver side fender. It could be an EVAP purge valve you’re seeing. I’ve looked through the wiring diagram, and it doesn’t show a second solenoid. There’s a starter motor relay, though, and that might be in the fuse box under the air filter, or in the main power distribution box under the hood. If it’s clicking, it could be the solenoid, starter, weak battery, or corrosion on the battery cables. You could check the voltage drop when trying to start it. If the voltage drops too much, it could mean a bad power delivery. Otherwise, it’s likely a bad solenoid or starter motor.
@Zoey
Actually, my 91 4.0L OHV and my 95 5.0L both had two solenoids – one on the fender and one on the starter.
EcoBoostEmissary said:
@Zoey
Actually, my 91 4.0L OHV and my 95 5.0L both had two solenoids – one on the fender and one on the starter.
Good to know! My '98 doesn’t have two. Do you have a wiring diagram showing both solenoids? I found one but it only shows one for my '98 model. Maybe the vehicle you’re working on isn’t really a 1997 or it could be a different model built with an older design?
@Zoey
I’ve worked on a few different models, including a '97 4.6L and a '97 5.0L. They all had slightly different wiring, so the solenoid setup might not match yours exactly.
EcoBoostEmissary said:
@Zoey
I’ve worked on a few different models, including a '97 4.6L and a '97 5.0L. They all had slightly different wiring, so the solenoid setup might not match yours exactly.
The 97 4.6L I worked on was from California, so I’m not sure what happened there. But in the mid-90s, special models were all over the place, and I remember some strange setups!
@EcoBoostEmissary
That’s interesting, but there’s no way a '97 Explorer came with a 4.6L engine stock. The 4.6L didn’t come in Explorers until 2002. Are you sure the vehicle had a 4.6L and not something swapped in afterward?
@Zoey
I guess we could’ve worked on a modified one then. I know what I worked on, and I’ve seen some pretty crazy stuff around the mid-90s. Special Vehicle Team made some pretty unique cars and trucks that didn’t always follow the usual setups.
@EcoBoostEmissary
Just trying to keep the info accurate. The 4.6L wasn’t offered in the '97 Explorer. I think it had to be swapped in afterward.
@Zoey
Thanks for the insight! Do you know any good places online to find the wiring diagram? I could really use a clearer idea of what’s going on here.
Elizabeth said:
@Zoey
Thanks for the insight! Do you know any good places online to find the wiring diagram? I could really use a clearer idea of what’s going on here.
You might try this forum. Someone might have posted it there or might be able to help you out:
https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/forums/stock-1995-2001-explorers.100/
I haven’t seen a diagram with two solenoids, but I’d recommend using a multimeter to figure out where the power is cutting off. You’ll likely see it stop at the solenoid in the engine bay before reaching the starter.
Sounds like the issue might be the starter or the starter solenoid. You could test the solenoid with a test light or voltmeter. Have someone hold the key while you check if power is coming from the solenoid to the starter. If you’re not sure, you could try jumping the solenoid, but be cautious and make sure it’s not in gear before you do. Bypassing the safety features isn’t recommended.