Starter?

Well how to explain the problem...

Was off roading earlier today in a deep muddy / bumpy farm land. Drove fine the whole time and fine on the way back. All guages worked and nothing seemed wrong. Later that night i tried to start it and i get nothing. All Lights work and everything seems fine but when i turn the key nothing. It seems i ripped the 4x4 wire out. Its comming out from the transfercase/transmission region. Not sure thats the problem or what. Checked the distributer and no power is getting there. Not sure whats wrong really any ideas?


1990 Ford Bronco Full size
302 5.0L

well pulled the starter today in hopes that was it and it was. had it bench tested at an advanced auto and didnt do a thing. so gana replace and hope that solves anything. but can someone confirm that the cable hanging otu of my transfercase is def for 4x4.

It might be the neutral start switch. There is an interlock that prevents Starting in gears other than P and N. (AT and MT). If your wires are hanging on the left (driver's) side of the Transmission, in front of the TC, that's probably it. (Look and see if you see the Neutral Start Mechanism, which is a semi-circular "thingy" bolted to the Transmission. The bundle of wires should lead right into it. If you have the device, and it's missing the bundle of wires, you have found your problem.

(i replaced the part for about $80 a few years ago, I had a mechanic install it-I don't know if it's much of a D-I-Y project.)

will it still start with it not hooked in?.. i am getting a new starter this weekend as that was broke aswell but will the vehicle still start with that wire not hooked in

That's great, it's not the Neutral Start, then. If it were, you'd have to jump it off the solenoid.

I'll do some checking, and see if I can't see what you're talking about....Auto or Man? (C-4,c-6, E4OD, 5-sp?)

its an Auto. Im not sure what that wire is i havnt put my starter in yet so im not sure what that cable is really. My question is when i get that starter will the car start wtih out that wire hooked in it if is the Neutral Start cable?. I also thought maybe it might be my 4x4 cable but that would just be a complete guess

uhh i think its 3 + overdrive also

still need to know what that cable is for if anyone has a idea

ok well with the starter in it wont start so the answer to this is yes its the neutral start thing. FYI

Try "bumping" the Solenoid by leaving the truck in N, open the hood, then short the solenoid by crossing the terminals with a screwdriver. (Insulated handle, of course!) The start solenoid is the one off of the RED (+) battery lead, on the firewall. Your NS Switch cuts the voltage to this when You are in gear. (Leave it OUT of gear, because if you bump it while in gear, you WILL ROLL!-and not many people need to run themselves over in their own vehicle...as I have done.)

I had to do this for my truck for about it's lifetime. I didn't feel like changing the NS swtich in that beast.

no way to by pass it is there? like rig it so that it will still key start?

whats the price on a new NS?

I think the one i did replace ran from 60-80. I got a mechanic to install it. There is no way to jury-rig it-aside from just popping the hood everytime you stop. I called it an "Anti-theft Device" (I have 2 Big-Horses-one was worth it, the other wasn't.)

humm ok thanks for all ur help

is the replacement hard to do?

I'll have to check the Unit I have to really see. I'll let you know what it looks like.