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The 302(5.0l) V8 engine was around a long time, so you can get starter motor with or without starter RELAY, which I think is what you are talking about
From around 1990 and up most Fords would use a starter relay built into the starter motor, so there would be TWO electrical hook ups on the starter motor
1. Larger cable from Battery Positive terminal
2. Smaller wire from Ignition switch<< this wire has 12volts only when key is turned to START, it activates the Relay inside and the starter motor turns
Prior to this the starter motor would just have the one larger cable from the RELAY on the inner fender.
The smaller wire from ignition switch would connect to this fender mounted RELAY, to close it and activate starter motor
Same setup just different hook up for the smaller wire from ignition switch
When you get into 1999 and up V6 Rangers, Ford added a SECOND Starter Relay, in the engine fuse box.
This was an Anti-Theft Relay, it prevented incorrect keys, or no key, from activating starter motor, Fords PATS(passive anti-theft system)
4cyl Rangers didn't have this until late 2001, switch to 2.3l Duratec engines
The starter motor itself was the same but the smaller wire from ignition switch goes to the ADDED relay in the engine fuse box FIRST, and it must be Closed by the Anti-theft system or starter motor won't be activated
Not that it matters..............................
A Solenoid moves something
A Relay makes an electrical connection
Starter motors, from any year, often have a solenoid on them, when given 12volts this solenoid MOVES the starter gear out to engage the ring gear so starter motor can turn the engine, when 12volts is OFF, solenoid pulls the gear back, this doesn't activate the starter motor it just moves the gear out and in
Some starter motors use a Bendix drive instead of a solenoid, torque operated spring drive to move the gear out and back in, these starter motor are round cylinders no "hump", or smaller cylinder, on one side which is the Solenoid
Starter relay on the fender was often called the starter solenoid, and no reason to change that at this point in time, lol, as long as everyone knows what you are talking about then it really doesn't matter