How Do You Know if You Have a Bad Starter on a 98 Ford Explorer

April 15, 2011 Updated: January fourteen, 2022 Past: Abraham Torres-Arredondo Article ID: 97

This tutorial will show you how to test the starter motor on your 4.0L Ford Explorer (Aerostar or Mercury Mountaineer) to encounter if it's the i responsible for your engine'south no-crank problem.

The starter motor test is a pretty easy test that requires but a multimeter and a helper. Y'all'll find all of the test instructions explained in a footstep-by-stride fashion.

Notation: You'll notice that the photos I'g using are of the starter motor off of the vehicle. I've washed this to make it easier to prove y'all where to make your examination connections. You don't need to remove the starter motor from your iv.0L Ford Ranger (Mazda B4000) to follow the examination instructions in this tutorial.

Ford Ranger: Yous can find the 4.0L Ford Ranger (Mazda B4000) starter motor test tutorial here:

• How To Examination The Starter Motor (iv.0L Ford Ranger And Mazda B4000) (at: easyautodiagnostics.com).

APPLIES TO: This tutorial applies to the following vehicles:

• iv.0L V6 Ford Aerostar: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997.
• four.0L V6 Ford Explorer: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.
• 4.0L V6 Mercury Backwoodsman: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.

You can find this tutorial in Spanish here: Cómo Probar El Motor De Arranque (four.0L Ford) (at: autotecnico-online.com).

Important Testing Tips

The post-obit testing tips will assistance you test the starter motor without complications:

TIP 1: The battery must have a full charge before starting any of the tests in this tutorial.

TIP 2: The bombardment cable terminals and the battery posts should be make clean and corrosion-free earlier starting the tests.

TIP 3: Read the entire commodity first to familiarize yourself with the tests.

TIP four: Use jack stands for prophylactic. Don't trust the jack solitary to continue your vehicle up in the air while you're underneath it!

TIP five: Accept all necessary safety precautions. Use safety glasses while working underneath the vehicle. Be alert and call back safe all of the time.

Symptoms Of A Bad Starter Motor

By and large, the engine volition not turn over when the starter motor fails (when you plough the key to showtime information technology).

Unfortunately, in some cases, the starter motor fails intermittently. When this happens, the starter motor functions almost of the fourth dimension, merely now so, it doesn't.

If your 4.0L Ford Explorer (Aerostar or Mercury Mountaineer) is experiencing an intermittent starter motor failure, you'll need to wait till the starter motor isn't cranking the engine to test it.

Tools Needed To Test The Starter Motor

The starter motor examination doesn't require expensive or exotic testing equipment. Most of the tools you'll need you tin find inexpensively at your local motorcar-parts store or online.

Here'southward a list of what y'all'll need:

• Jack.
  • You'll need to raise your vehicle to gain access to the starter motor.
• Jack stands.
• A remote starter switch.
  • If you'd like to see what a remote starter switch looks like, you lot can follow this link: Actron CP7853 Remote Starter Switch For 6V And 12V Automotive Starting Systems
  • You can either buy this tool online or you can buy it at your local auto parts store (AutoZone, O'Reilly Automobile Parts, Pepboys, etc.).
• A multimeter or a 12 Volt automotive exam light.
  • If you don't take a multimeter or demand to upgrade yours, check out my recommendation here: Buying A Digital Multimeter For Automotive Diagnostic Testing (at: easyautodiagnostics.com).
• A wire piercing probe.
  • This tool is non an 'accented must-accept tool' simply I tin tell you lot from experience that information technology makes information technology a whole lot easier to probe the 'Southward' concluding wire for the Beginning Signal.
  • If you'd like to run across what this tool looks like, you find out more about it here: Wire Piercing Probe Tool Review (Power Probe PWPPPPP01).
• A helper.

TEST 1: Applying 12 Volts To The 'Southward' terminal

The first test yous'll perform is to see if the starter motor activates (and cranks the engine) when you lot apply 12 Volts to its solenoid's 'S' terminal.

If the starter motor comes to life and cranks the engine, y'all tin conclude that the starter motor itself is functioning correctly and that some other issue is keeping it from cranking the engine. Your next footstep will be to go to TEST 2.

If the starter motor does non crank the engine, you tin mostly conclude the starter motor is fried.

Of import: Remove the cardinal from the ignition switch for this test.

OK, let's get testing:

1. 1

   Heighten your Ford Ranger (Mazda B4000) and identify on it jack stands. Remember, the simply manner to gain access to the starter motor is from underneath the vehicle.

2. 2

   Disconnect the battery negative (-) concluding.

   You'll reconnect it dorsum in one of the post-obit steps, for at present, it's a prophylactic precaution as you ready the test.

3. 3

   Attach one end of the remote starter switch to the bombardment positive (+) post.

4. 4

   Attach the other cease of the remote starter switch to the 'S' terminal of the starter motor solenoid.

   This is easier said than washed, and so take your time and make certain the connection is on the 'South' terminal of the starter motor solenoid.

   Also, in example you're wondering, you tin can get out the starter motor solenoid's 'South' terminal wire connected to the engine's wiring harness connector or not, the test will work either way.

5. 5

   Reconnect the battery negative (-) cablevision to the battery negative postal service.

6. vi

   Utilize 12 Volts to the 'Due south' terminal wire of the starter motor starter solenoid with your remote starter switch.

7. vii

   You'll go i of two results:

   1.) The starter will activate and will turn over the engine.

   2.) The starter motor won't practice a thing.

Let'due south take a look at what your test results mean:

Example 1: The starter motor cranked the engine. This is the correct and expected test consequence.

You can conclude that the starter motor itself is OK. The next step is to see if the starter motor is getting the 12 Volt Start signal on the 'Southward' concluding wire. Become to: Examination two: Verifying The 12 Volt Start Signal.

CASE ii: The starter motor DID Non creepo the engine. This usually means that your starter motor is bad and needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

I advise yous perform 2 more tests. Commencement, make certain the starter motor is getting its 12 Volt Start signal. 2d, voltage drop test the battery cablevision (that attaches to the starter motor solenoid).

• Go to: TEST 2: Verifying The 12 Volt Showtime Signal.
• Get to: Exam 3: Voltage Drop Testing The Battery Cable.

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Source: https://troubleshootmyvehicle.com/ford/4.0L/how-to-test-the-starter-motor-1