So I’m working on a ford 200. It’s in a 65 wrapper but I think the engine may be newer. The alternator died so I decided to replace it. The wiring is horrible so I bought a new harness too. All as I think it should be, lights come on, etc, but the motor doesn’t crank with the key. If you jump the solenoid it spins. Am I missing something or do I have something wrong? It’s been messed with over the years so who knows I know very little about alternators. Bonus is I slipped messing with it, and have broken ribs.
Could be the harness is miswired; the alternator won't have anything to do with it. Check the start wire from the ign switch to the solenoid and see if it's energized when the key is in the start position.
What all did the harness you changed encomp***? Is it possible you disturbed other wires or firewall connectors while installing the alternator or harness.
If it's a standard '65-up Ford product (factory equipped with an alternator), you probably got the wires to the 'S' and 'I' terminals on the solenoid switched. All of the wires on the alternator go to the regulator only except for the output wire (the one big wire), that goes the battery side of the solenoid. One wire comes off the regulator (the 'I' terminal) to power the idiot light unless the car has full factory gauges in which case it's not used.
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