Thread: 302 wont fire PLZ HELP

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Ok, now we have something to go on. Fords are wired through a starter solenoid that is remotely mounted from the starter (unlike Chevy who puts the solenoid on the starter). It is a black plastic affair that has two large terminals on it (one in from battery + and another cable to the one post on the starter.

There are two other little terminals on the solenoid. One is the one that you put juice to to get the solenoid to kick in, and the other one is "I" for ignition. Run a wire from that terminal to the + side of your coil. Put your test light on it after that and you should have 12 volts to the coil. Bet it starts then.

BTW, starting fluid if used sparingly is ok, you just don't want to use too much of it. Lots of controversy about that, but I have used it for years and it has gotten me out of some jams.

With your Holley carb you should be able to look down the throat while pumping the gas and watch it squirt though. (engine off )

Don

but i think that the solenoid is in the starter on this specific starter,would i still be able to pull that off?

Not unless there is something specific to this one that I don't know about....virtually every Ford I have seen has no solenoid on the starter, it is mounted on the passenger side fender well generally. Anything is possible, but I don't think so.

In any event, simply track your fat positive battery cable from the battery. Where does it go on your car? Have you been able to turn the key to start and get it to crank? If possible, post some good pictures, but if not, we can still get through this.

Don

i might be able to post pics tomorrow.it cranks but no smoke,cough or backfire at all,the positive cable on my battery is hooked up to the starter and everything else electric runs off the same cable going up to the starter.the person who did all the wireing is obviously wasnt a professional,there are so manydead end wires that i cant tell what goes to what...if i hook up the coil to the battery do i risk shorting anything?

Well, I guess there is a Ford starter I am not familiar with. It seems yours has a solenoid on the starter, especially if you can crank it.

No, you should be able to go directly from the battery + post to the + side of the coil with no problems, except your key switch will only control the cranking function until you solve the wiring issues. In some careers, this is called "hot wiring" (not that an upstanding citizen like me has any personal knowledge of such activities ) Maybe go to the not so nice part of your home town.........any 14 year old kid should be able to fire that 302 up in about 20 seconds for you!!

Don