1998 Winstar 3.8L starter just makes a click sound!!! HELP!

[Ronniezap]

Help!!! My wives 1998 Winstar 3.8L stalled on the highway Friday evening. Paid ($75.00) to have her and it towed home. When I got home and tried to start it the starter just made a CLICK sound. I assumed it was the battery. Had the battery checked at Pep-Boys and sure enough the report came back that the battery was bad. So I replaced the battery ($75.00) and still “CLICK, CLICK”. I then replaced the starter ($175.00). Still “CLICK, CLICK”.

I called the Ford dealership and asked the service rep if there was a starter solenoid, he said that the 3.8L did not have one (except the one on the starter itself). Does anyone have any ideas that might help me?
Thanks
Ronnie

[sahib]

It's possible that you may have gotten a funky starter from the shelf. If you pull the starter and test it or have it tested by the store from which you purchased and it tests ok then you will have to see if the motor will turn over by hand. You can do this with a screwdriver by prying against the housing and a tooth on the ring gear. Did you determine why the car stalled? The engine may be set and the starter will not turn it over for that reason. Hope that is not the case. May be more options but those are the ones I'd try. Good luck.

[baruche]

have your starter tested either by yourself or professionally. if your starter runs ok on 12vdc..you may have serious problems with the engine. better get a second opinion from a trusted mechanic.