The wire from the battery to solenoid is corroded & should be replaced.
bad starter or starter solenoid.
The starter solenoid is attached to the starter. Follow the positive battery cable from the battery, it will lead you to the starter solenoid. The starter would have to be removed to replace the starter solenoid.
It is mounted on the starter motor itself. When you get another starter, it will have the solenoid mounted on it already. If it is bad, just replace the starter, I would not change just the solenoid.
The large one from the positive side of the battery attaches to the large post mounted on the starter solenoid and a smaller purple wire that attaches to the small post on the starter solenoid marked "S". The small post on the starter solenoid marked "R" is not used with that vehicle. Any accessory power wires would also attach to the large post on the starter solenoid.
I DO BELIEVE THE SOLENOID IS MOUNTED ON THE STARTER AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE STARTER TO REPLACE THE SOLENOID remove the starter and take it down to your local auto parts store. they can bench test the starter and give you the proper solenoid if it needs to be replaced.
No a solenoid switch (full name) does not control a cars electrical system. The solenoid is an electrically operated switch that sends power to the starter motor which in turn cranks the car's engine to start it. The reason a second (electrical) switch is needed to crank the starter motor, is that the starter motor requires such high voltage that the key would melt if all that power were to run through it. In other words; When you turn the key you are sending a small amount of power to the solenoid switch which in turn sends a large amount of power to the starter motor.
There could be a wire break causing the loss of power to the solenoid. Or there could be a problem with the neutral safety switch, if the switch is bad there will not be any power to the solenoid.
I would like to buy a starter without a solenoid.
I would check the power right at the starter. Either the solenoid on the starter is defective or the connections/ battery are poor.
Possibly the neutral switch is at fault.
What do you mean it will start up half way? If the car will start then it can't possibly be a problem with your solenoid. If the solenoid is bad then the car would not start at all. If you hear just a clicking noise then that means your solenoid is fine but that the starter itself is malfunctioning or that there is not ample power to turn the starter over once the solenoid has engaged. One other problem could be high resistance in the wire that connects direct battery power over to the starter.
All of the late-model Ford Rangers have a starter with a solenoid, and the older models have a remote starter solenoid. Both are covered. The remote starter solenoid is located on the passenger-side fenderwell. This means that a small-sized starter can fit in tighter locations. It also allows for a cheaper repair if just the solenoid goes bad.