Slow Cranking with Skytech LS
 

This has all been covered before, but wanted to add my experience. 1865 hour RV-9A with O-320 started cranking slowly on our trip to chase the Great Eclipse. PC680 was 6 years old, so we replaced that, no real change.

Original firewall master and starter solenoids - OK they owe me nothing at this point - 'bout time to replace those and clean up all the wiring contacts.......no real change in starting, cranks slow, but always starts. Wife comments that I had better fix that.....

Trip up to Lake Superior for lunch, starter spins, but does not engage engine, but fires up on second try. Dim bulb goes off in dim guy's head that there is another solenoid on the starter that not only engages the flywheel, but also connects the motor to the BA current. It was all here for me to read, but now I got it.

The solenoid on the Skytec starter is off a 2005 Ford Crown Vic(thanks to VAF for that gem!) Picked one up ($20 on sale no less!) and did a 20 min install. She now engages and spins like a champ again.

My 1987 Suzuki Samurai Alternator and 2005 Crown Vic Solenoid are now best buddies on the front of my engine and have lifetime warranties!

tldr - Don't be like Pete, be smart. There are 3 solenoids, know about them all.....

Solenoid part number?
 

Pete do you know if the solenoid is common to any other cars? I may need to do the same thing but we don't have the Ford Crown in Australia. Hoping the solenoid is generic.

I am not Pete but I have stayed in a Holiday Inn Express.

This post has the part number needed.

Copy / Paste from above link.
"The part number: BWD S5613 stands for Borg Warner, part number S5613."


I would assume that your location "down under" would have the same part number. I find it hard to believe that Ford Motor Company would only use the same basic engine in only one vehicle.

The equivalent NAPA solenoid ECH ST421 lists these vehicles as applicable:

Ford Crown Victoria 2001 - 2005
Ford Marauder 2003 - 2004
Ford Mustang 2001 - 2001
Ford Truck E150 1/2 Ton Econoline - Van 2001 - 2001
Ford Truck E250 3/4 Ton Econoline - Van 2001 - 2001
Ford Truck Excursion 2000 - 2001
Ford Truck F150 1/2 Ton - Pickup 1995 - 1996
Ford Truck F150 1/2 Ton - Pickup 1999 - 2001
Ford Truck F250 3/4 Ton - Pickup 1995 - 1995
Ford Truck F250 3/4 Ton - Pickup 1999 - 1999
Ford Truck F250 Super Duty 3/4 Ton - Pickup 1999 - 2001
Ford Truck F350 Super Duty 1 Ton - Pickup 1999 - 2001
Ford Truck F53 1995 - 1996
Lincoln Town Car 1998 - 2001
Mercury Marauder 2003 - 2004

Thanks for the responses but it appears I can't get the solenoid in Aus, may need to have one shipped in, but will do a little more research before commiting to that option.

Just BTW, for decades Ford Australia manufactured it's own unique cars and engines in this country and none of the cars Mike listed were sold here.

A quick search on Rockauto shows the 2005 Crown Vic starter solenoid is about $36US delivered to me across the Tasman, must be similar to Sydney.

Thank you Craig! Rockauto didn't appear in my google searches so I appreciate the suggestion. Same quote to have it delivered to Sydney which is a good deal so I have placed an order.