What is the brand/part-number for the firewall mounted Starter Solenoid on 05 PT

[Mike Shumack]

Can anyone tell me the manufacture and part-number for the "firewall mounted" Starter Solenoid on the 2005 Patriot Thunder C13.

Mine is acting up now - and I'd prefer to replace it with the same part (to avoid any mismatch in mounting bracket hole spacing or wire lengths).

While I'm waiting for a response (if there is one), I'll check Cole Hersey website and some truck parts websites.

[Mike Shumack]

Well, that didn't take too long - it looks like this Cole Hersee solenoid (although the housing's mounting to base plate is a little different).

[Mike Shumack]

I ordered the Cole Hersee solenoid ($15 from Amazon) - but upon closer inspection it is not the same. The terminals are parallel to the mounting bracket (opposite what I have now). But I'll use it anyways. There is enough wire slack so I wont have a problem. Hopefully the mounting holes are the same distance apart.

One odd thing is that there are "two wires" on the heavy stud terminal (power In side) and the wire diagrams only show one wire is used - which is a direct feed coming from the starter battery cable terminal on the starter. I'm not sure if someone just used that terminal on the solenoid for battery power to something - or if it is something Monaco/Beaver did.

Also, on the wiring diagram it looks like there is a diode across the coil terminals. I don't have that on my solenoid now. Does anyone have a diode there?

[Gerald Farris]

Mike,
A diode is commonly used on the field coil terminals of a solenoid that has any sensitive electronics tied to the input circuit. The reason for the diode is that when the solenoid is deenergized, the dropping plunger inside the coil can create a back spike into the input circuit that can cause issues with sensitive electronics. There is no downside to using a diode on the coil terminals, but be sure that you install it the same way because reversing its polarity will cause a short circuit around the field coil.

Gerald