'87 won't start & unknown wires

[NascarLady]

I have an '87 escort that will not start. 1.9L
About a week and a half ago the car started acting up, it was harder to start. I would have to turn the key over 7-10 times and then it would fire right up like nothing was wrong. After it started I had no problems while driving. The other day I went out to leave in the car and it kept making a clicking noise. So I had the battery cables changed. Next we changed the solenoid, and finally the starter. The car is still doing the same clicking sound. It don't appear that any current is getting to the starter, I believe its the solenoid thats clicking but I am not 100% sure. Also, today I noticed a set of wires, one orange, one yellow with green stripe, and a ground that are not connected to anything. The wires have a electrical washer type connection on the end but I have no clue where its suppose to be attached. or if these wires have always been just laying where I found them. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[Jet-Lee]

Check to make sure your leads are securely connected to your clean (if not, clean them) battery terminals. That's first place I go when I hear a click instead of a start, and its always been my problem.

[amature]

For the starting problem I would check the condition of your spark plugs and wires. Give your fuel pump about five seconds to pressurise the line before you crank the engine and perhaps check your battery connection (as above).
The clicking noise - does it do it when the engine is shut off or when it is turned on or when you are cranking over the engine? It could be a loose starter (starter bolts are loose), it could be your fan blade hitting the casing, it could be your fuel lines (which usually isn't problematic). Where are the loose wires in the engine compartment?

[NascarLady]

ok I need more help, I re-checked the things that I had put on. After looking at the solenoid, I noticed that the new one was broke. (screw broke in two while I was removing it) so after putting on a new solenoid again, I put in a diff. battery and the car tried to start without the key.

So I immediately unhooked the battery. I must have crossed wires somewhere but now im clueless as to where.
Can i pull my hair out now?

Can someone reply with the correct way to install the solenoid. Where the wires go..

the other wires i was speaking of in the original post are located lookin in at the engine on the right side the one end almost looks like a freeze plug adapter or something,?? connected to the block and the other end is what i am wondering where it is suppose to be attached. Two wires, one orange the other is yellow w/ green stripe. The wires have a washer type connection on the end like its suppose to be screwed into something.. but where i have no idea.
no offense.. but I think I'm having a blonde moment
again any help or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks Again

[amature]

Did you buy a new solenoid or a used one? If the solenoid was shorting out it would react as you said. If you attached the battery wire to your solenoid it would do as what you are saying also. I don't think you could do this though because the terminal is too big for the solenoid. There should be a large wire that runs to your starter terminal. A small wire should run from the ignition to your solenoid. Some solenoids have two terminals. If the solenoid is on the firewall then I am afraid I cannot help you because I have never seen that set-up. Perhaps mightymoose will repsond and know more presicely. Good luck!

[NascarLady]

yes the solenoid is on the firewall, after lookin things over I did have it set up wrong I had the neg that should have went to the block hooked up to the solenoid.. big oops...
so after fixing that mistake, i went and bought a brand new battery.. put it in the car and she fired right up...
so i did some much needed errands and came back home. I was home for about 4 hrs went to the gas station, filled up my tank and guess what..

CLICK CLICK CLICK the car wouldnt start again! after making sure the battery terminals were hooked up and tight.. still clicking.. so i got in, turned the key on, got out, put the screw driver to the solenoid and she fired up again... drove home, turned the car off, and then back on and click click click again...
why would it be doing this... the solenoid i bought was new.. in fact i have put two on this week alone both new. would there be something that causes them to go out so fast, and is it out if it starts with the screw driver? just wondering what else i can do...before i go crazy
do you think maybe its the ignition switch?
Much thanks for the replies that I have gotten.

[amature]

I replaced my ignition switch when my car wouldn't start but when it wouldn't start I couldn't even get a click out of it. It sound like you have power going to your starter, the solenoid seems like it is working. You could have a bad ignition switch. I tried to determine that for my car but I couldn't figure out how to test it. Apparently you can buy ignition testers but how many times in the life of the car will you even use it to make it worth the purchase. Have you tried to see if the car will start in neutral? Try this so you can rule out the neutral position switch. It sounds like your battery should be good. Does the click come from the starter or does it come from a relay on the passenger side under the hood near the firewall? Sometimes you can get a click if the battery is low. You could have the battery tested to rule that out.

[Ado]

Had a similiar problem with my '87 Escort. After replacing
plugs, wiring, cap & rotor, and still no fix, I finally went to a junkyard & bought a complete used distributor just to get a different engine control module, popped in the used distributor & it ran great.