Spinning starter doesn’t engage?

2004 FORD EXPLORER
125,000 MILES • 4.0L • 6 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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BWSMITH73
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  • 1 POST
The starter spins but doesn’t engage. Found a small tag wire that’s attached to the side of the negative post that was unattached to any wire from the truck. Now I can’t find where this lead goes.
Nov 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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STRAILER
  • AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
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Chances are the starter motor has gone bad but if you upload a short video of the starter making the noise from under the hood I can tell for sure, there is a chance the flex plate is broken or the teeth on the flexplace are bad, so when the starter is not I would look a that. Here is how to change the starter out on a similar ford car. The procedure is the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iySmMQM5OLE

That small tag wire goes to the vehicles chassis near the battery, it acts as a ground for the rest of the car besides the engine. I would reconnect it, I don't think it will effect the starter but you never know. Let us know how it goes
Nov 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
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