The 1968 Mustang uses a solenoid between the battery and the starter motor. Attached to the solenoid are several wires, including a wire from the ignition switch inside the vehicle. When the ignition key is turned, the solenoid directs power from the battery to the starter motor. Once the engine starts and the key is released, the solenoid turns off the power to the starter motor. The Mustang's solenoid is a disposable component, meaning that it cannot be repaired.
Tools Used: Wrench, Clean rag
Install a Solenoid
Slacken the battery cable clamps with a wrench, then lift each cable off the battery.
Remove the nut on the threaded rod on the left side of the solenoid with a wrench, then pull the positive battery cable and the two other wires off of the threaded rod. It is important to note that, in addition to the cable which leads to the battery, one of these wires is yellow and one is black to avoid confusion when installing the new solenoid.
Pull the single wire off of the small threaded rod on the left side of the front of the solenoid. (Note that this wire is red with a blue stripe.)
Pull the single wire off of the small threaded rod on the right side of the front of the solenoid. (Note that this wire is brown.)
Remove the nut on the threaded rod on the right side of the solenoid with a wrench, then pull the heavy black cable off of the rod.
Remove the two bolts located at the back of the solenoid with a wrench, then pull the solenoid out of the engine compartment.
Wipe down the area of the engine compartment that the solenoid attaches to with a clean rag. The solenoid does not have a ground wire, instead relying on the metal bracket at the back of the solenoid to act as a ground against the engine compartment. For this reason, it is important that the solenoid's mounting location be clean.
Bolt the new solenoid to the engine compartment with the solenoid's two securing bolts.
Slide the metal loop on the tip of the heavy black wire onto the threaded rod on the right side of the solenoid, then install and tighten the rod's nut with a wrench.
Press the rubber fitting on the tip of the brown wire onto the small threaded rod on the right side of the front of the solenoid.
Press the rubber fitting on the tip of the red wire with the blue stripe onto the small threaded rod on the left side of the front of the solenoid.
Slide the metal loop on the tip of the yellow wire and the loop on the tip of the black wire onto the threaded rod on the left side of the solenoid, followed by the loop on the tip of the positive battery cable. Install and tighten the rod's nut with a wrench.
Tighten both battery cables onto their respective posts on the battery with a wrench.
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