1984 Ford Tempo Ford Tempo Diesel Starting problem.

sounds like a wiring problem. do you jump at the battery or put the ground or hot jump cables somewhere else? how many wires come off the starter?

I have to hot Jump cables becuase the battery is in the trunk. Two wires come off the starter. The starter is good.

so there's no room for a battery under the hood? i'd put the battery there! get a battery holder from gas car in bone yard! the trunk is to far for juice to travel! your wires may have deteriorated/failed over time, that's an old car! they probably didn't run the ground wire all the way to front. it's more likely just bolted to frame/body. this is where to check for possible bad connections front and back. but like i said, why not put the battery up front somewhere? or use a dual setup for extra reliablity?