Copy and paste from the Ford 1996 Service CD;
Starter
The starter motor (11002) is a 12-volt unit that has the starter solenoid (11390) mounted on the drive end housing and functions as follows:
l The starter solenoid is energized when the ignition switch is closed.
l This engages the starter drive (11350) with the flywheel ring gear and starts the engine.
l An overrunning clutch in the starter drive protects the starter motor from excessive speed when the engine starts.
l The current flows through the solenoid energizing coil until the solenoid plunger is at the end of its travel.
l The plunger then closes a set of contacts that bypass the energizing coil.
l This lets the holding coil keep the starter drive engaged, passing starting current to the starter motor.
Sequence of Operation
1. The ignition switch is turned to the START position.
2. Voltage is provided to the starter solenoid (11390). The starter solenoid is energized, creating a magnetic field in the solenoid coil.
3. The iron plunger core is drawn into the solenoid coil.
4. A lever connected to the starter drive (11350) engages the drive pinion gear to the flywheel ring gear.
5. When the iron plunger core is all the way into the coil, its contact disc closes the circuit between the battery (10653) and the starter motor terminals.
6. The current flows to the motor and the drive pinion gear cranks the flywheel (6375) and the engine crankshaft (6303).
7. As current flows to the motor, the solenoid pull-in coil is bypassed.
8. The hold-in coil keeps the starter drive engaged with the flywheel.
9. The starter drive remains engaged until the ignition switch is released from the START position.
An overrunning clutch in the starter drive protects the starter motor (11002) from excessive speeds during the brief period before the driver releases the ignition switch from the START position (as the engine starts).
