My 1998 ford had small fire on front drivers side. it just seemed to damage the battery cables. i replaced both cables gave the battery a jump and it started right up. as soon as I pushed the brakes they went all the way to the floor. i drove home with no power to the brakes push all the way to the floor and it would stop very slowly. what could have been damaged?

limited info generic answer --this is small block 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 with number one being front passenger side and number 5 being front driver side

This sounds a lot like a hard short-circuit somewhere. Check for signs of burnt or heat-damaged areas by discolorations or smells. DO not re-connect battery, fire or explosion hazard. If you cannot find short, tow to repair shop , .

Its ether your starter solenoid or a bad cable or connection between battery and starter. Since you replaced the solenoid I would replace the cable and the crimped connectors. Clean both the battery and starter connections when replacing.

Try putting it in neutral and starting it. If it starts, it is the neutral safety switch. If not, look under dash at the brake peddle arm. There is a switch on it for the brake lights and safety when starting. Make sure it ismaking good contact.. Make sure the battery cables are not caroded where they connect to the solenoid. The solenoid is under the hood by the battery. Tha hot cable connects to it on one side, and then a cable that goes to the starter is on the other side. Take the hot side loose and clean it with sandpaper. If it is covered with a white powder, coke or pepsi removes it real well. Reconnect it and try to start it. If it doesn't start, check the small wire on the solenoid. It connects to the front most small post on the side. You can take it loose, and with the switch on, you can take a screwdriver and touch the battery cable you just cleaned and the post at the same time and the engine should turn over and start. If it does start, then youre ignition switch is bad. You can hook a push button starter or replace switch.

battery cable goeas to the right side of the solenoid, starter cable to the other, and ignition wire goes on the left small stud sticking out of the front of the solenoid

first you disconnect the negative cable on the battery. then jack it up use something to keep it from coming down on you. starter is located under the engine on the passenger side next to the transmission under the exhaust manifold might be easier to remove the right front tire. three bolts hold it on, one small wire and one large cable.

google "ford explorer firing order"

4.0L OHV Firing Order Firing order for the 4.0 liter OHV V6 is

• 1-4-2-5-3-6

http://autorepair.about.com/od/enginefiringorders1/ 4.0L SOHV Firing Order Firing order for the 4.0 liter SOHV V6 is

• 1-4-2-5-3-6

http://autorepair.about.com/od/enginefiringorders1/ 5.0L Firing Order Firing order for the 5.0 liter V8 is

• 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8

http://autorepair.about.com/od/enginefiringorders1/ How to Find the Cylinder Order V6 When standing in the front of the vehicle the cylinders are numbered 1-3 up the passenger's side and 4-6 up the driver's side. How to Find the Cylinder Order V8 When standing in the front of the vehicle the cylinders are numbered 1-4 up the passenger's side and 5-8 up the driver's side.

Firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 Passenger side of engine starting at front and going back is 1-2-3-4 Driver's side starting at front going back is 5-6-7-8.




Hope this help (remember rated trhis help).

The starter solenoid, it's usually mounted on the inner fender well. The positive cable is connected to one side of it, and on the other side the cable runs down to the starter. To make sure, use a screw driver or a piece of wire and jump the circuit from the small wire connected on the solenoid to the positive cable connection, if it starts, the solenoid is bad.

Firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 Passenger side of engine starting at front and going back is 1-2-3-4 Driver's side starting at front going back is 5-6-7-8.