Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Ford starter relay

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 11, 2023 | 09:32 AM
  #1  
ls2 bait's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 5
From: in your closet
Default Ford starter relay

I’ve had a constant issue with my car since relocating the battery to the trunk. It’s very weak at start up and I can’t find a reason why. 4 gauge from the alternator to the battery. 0 gauge from the battery to the power distribution block up front. 2 gauge from that block to the starter, and 2 gauge to the fuse boxes. It charges fine and runs fine, just very weak at start up. Tried 3 different starters and all the same. So now I was thinking about putting in the ford starter relay. Will the one attached work? And if so, which wire would go to “I” and which wire to “S”? In my head the signal from the ignition goes to “I” and the purple wire to the starter solenoid goes to “S”


Reply
Old Nov 12, 2023 | 09:54 AM
  #2  
Project GatTagO's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,615
Likes: 1,883
From: Little Austin
Default

The battery negative needs to go directly to the block. Do you have that?

Andrew
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2023 | 10:02 AM
  #3  
TrendSetter's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,177
Likes: 627
From: Florida
Default

Agree with Andrew, it sounds like a ground issue to me.
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2023 | 11:00 AM
  #4  
64post's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 228
From: Sonoma Co. Ca.
Default

If a better ground doesn’t help what about going directly to the starter from the battery then power your pos buss off the starter poll, this is how I have my car wired and there’s no issue of dreaded slow start. I don’t think you want your main power going somewhere else before the starter….just my 2 cents.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2023 | 07:06 AM
  #5  
Jimbo1367's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,032
Likes: 661
Default

Positive buss?

Reply
Old Nov 14, 2023 | 04:01 PM
  #6  
LS1 TJ's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 526
Default

On my 73 Camaro with a trunk mounted battery I ran a short pos and neg cable to pass thru connectors. Then ran both pos and neg cables to the front along the frame rails and the sub-frame connector. Pos cable going to the main stud on the starter. The neg cable bolted to the engine block. Then ground cables from the engine to the sub frame. Ground cables from the sub-frame to the rad support.
Main pos and neg cables 01 welding cable. Never had a starting issue.

Reply
Old Nov 15, 2023 | 02:09 PM
  #7  
Jimbo1367's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,032
Likes: 661
Default

  • LS1TJ,
  • thanks for sharing. Did any of your 2nd gens LS swaps run a 4L80s? If so, where did you have to clearance the floor/tunnel? Just for the ECU/TCM?
  • thanks,
  • jimbo
Reply
Old Nov 15, 2023 | 03:37 PM
  #8  
LS1 TJ's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 526
Default

Jimbo,
I have only run 4L60E's on my Camaro LS swaps. On my current 80 Camaro LS3/4L60E swap I had to dimple the tunnel where the cooler lines come out of the trans. I'm running -6 cooler lines. No clearance issues where the trans harness plugs in.
In regards to the ECM/TCM my LS3 is a 2012 so I needed a ECM for the engine and a TCM for the trans. I mounted them using super sticky velcro right to the stock non-ac heater box. Kind of down and to the left of the glove box.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 18, 2023 | 10:17 AM
  #9  
64post's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 228
From: Sonoma Co. Ca.
Default

Originally Posted by Jimbo1367
Positive buss?
yes, a place to get 12V of power, a bus bar.
Reply
Old Nov 18, 2023 | 02:15 PM
  #10  
Jimbo1367's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,032
Likes: 661
Default

Ok thanks
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2023 | 06:51 AM
  #11  
Doug G's Avatar
10 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,465
Likes: 192
From: Harford Co. Maryland
Default

Had similar issue, and yes, have a F*rd solenoid in it...went with 00ga. welding cable...cranks fine.

Thing I like using the solenoid was that wire is only hot during cranking.
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2023 | 04:55 PM
  #12  
ls2 bait's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 5
From: in your closet
Default

Originally Posted by Doug G
Had similar issue, and yes, have a F*rd solenoid in it...went with 00ga. welding cable...cranks fine.

Thing I like using the solenoid was that wire is only hot during cranking.
Same relay pictured? How did you wire it?
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2023 | 06:09 PM
  #13  
ls2 bait's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 5
From: in your closet
Default

Originally Posted by Project GatTagO
The battery negative needs to go directly to the block. Do you have that?

Andrew
Originally Posted by TrendSetter
Agree with Andrew, it sounds like a ground issue to me.
Ran a 0 gauge cable from the battery to the bolt on the starter/ block today and no difference. I also have a ground from the battery directly to the frame, and 3 0 gauge grounds on the block to the frame.
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2023 | 06:39 PM
  #14  
Doug G's Avatar
10 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,465
Likes: 192
From: Harford Co. Maryland
Default

Originally Posted by ls2 bait
Same relay pictured? How did you wire it?
Not the same noid, but is a ford one.
Wire is on S terminal.
Also, what size shot ? 175-200 ?



Last edited by Doug G; Dec 4, 2023 at 06:47 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2023 | 06:17 PM
  #15  
ls2 bait's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 5
From: in your closet
Default

Originally Posted by Doug G
Not the same noid, but is a ford one.
Wire is on S terminal.
Also, what size shot ? 175-200 ?


Hard to tell what wire is what in that pic. Battery lead on the left, starter and solenoid wire on the right? Signal wire on S?

Also I haven’t ran a bottle through it in years but it’s set up for a 250 shot.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2023 | 06:27 PM
  #16  
Doug G's Avatar
10 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,465
Likes: 192
From: Harford Co. Maryland
Default

Originally Posted by ls2 bait
Hard to tell what wire is what in that pic. Battery lead on the left, starter and solenoid wire on the right? Signal wire on S?

Also I haven’t ran a bottle through it in years but it’s set up for a 250 shot.
Battery to noid and noid to battery are 00ga, orange is from my alternator is 8ga, and black on S terminal was from old starter wire on S terminal on starter.

Also remember making a bracket the went on starter lugs...



Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:47 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE