How well did you look at the wires ? Make sure there's not any broken and hiding on yuh - should look like this under there. -

 

I don't know what your mechanical abilities are but a starter change is fairly simple. You can pull the starter out and have an auto parts store test it for you. I would suggest that you change the starter and solenoid as one unit.
I don't know if you can buy them separtely anymore. Anyway's, RockAuto.com has them starting @ $89.00 for a new one.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...,parttype,4152

I used my truck year but the above link will give you a good idea of what you will pay.
I just put a new Beck/Arnley starter motor in for $140.00 from Advanced Auto Parts with a lifetime warranty and did the whole job in 2 1/2 hours. That includes pulling the passanger tire off for easy access to the top and side bolt's on the starter. If you do the work yourself, make sure you use anti-seize on the 3 bolts before you put them back in.

 

Thanks for the great picture. The braded wire coming from the cellinoid and going into the starter. This wire on mine is completely wiped out. I could barely make out that it was once a wire at all, until I reached in and pinched it between my fingers, and brought it out to see little peices of wire.

Seeing as how I am in no great big hurry for the truck, I think I will go ahead and put in a new starter. So just putting on a new cellinoid is out? I use to put them on my cars back in the 70's, with great success but that was a chevy. And there were no computer on board then either. I see two bolts to get the starter off, is this correct? Thanks again.

 

There's 3 bolts, that braided wire runs from the solenoid to the top post , like this -





Sounds like your wires are all deteriorated. If the braided wire is still connected to solenoid and IF you can manage to loosen the nuts where the other wires connect, you may be able to save it.

Chances are, it's to far gone - soon as you stick a 10mm on that little nut, you'll break the post off.

There easy to change as TjK explains.

 

Make sure you have good sockets, you do not want to strip the heads on the starter bolts. I replaced mine with new from NAPA. They will be 8mm x 1.25 x 30mm, (wow, not bad, good memory). Good luck with the installation. It's easier than you think.

 

Part number 1M1090 This is the part number I found for the solenoid at Rock Auto.Com

 

Careful - Is that the solenoid that piggy backs the starter or the one on the firewall ? We have two.

Huh, I can't find that @ Rock?

Never-mind , I found it. It's $33.79 for a 98 model.

 

I can't find the link, as I thought I had it bookmarked. But you can download the owners manual for free. Just do a search for the right one.

 

I found it on Rock Auto and it's the solenoid that is on the fenderwell.

 

This is what I get when I put the part number you gave 1M1090.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/catalog.php

Here is a pic of it
http://info.rockauto.com/Airtex/Detail.html?1M1090.jpg

Be sure your buying the right part.

 

I found them all last night - both solenoids - I mean they even have pictures, you can't go wrong.

Hell I even found what tjk installed on his truck the other day -



I likes mine better

 

I have only found the one I listed, I see now that it was the one for the fire wall.

Jbrew did you say you found the one for the solenoid? If so could you post the part
number and company from which it belongs?

Plus, I was also thinking, that it looks like the braided wire that disentigrated on, is part
of the starter. So I guess if I get a new solenoid I will still not have the wire coming from the starter. Maybe I could go into the starter, attach a new solid wire ( because I would know where to get a braided one) and wire it to my present solenoid, and not have to buy anything.

 

I think someone mentioned soldering the wires. Just for the record I'm not sure about using resin flux or resin core on the connecters. If you do, clean it well with baking soda and water afterward.

 

My wires are non-existant.

 

Someone is in a good mood today.

Now stop staring at your truck and get it done. I still need pic's of your intake assembly.