I replaced my starter on my 85 lic.town car and also the silanod last week and now the silnoild works but the starter wont work. the starter wants to stay on all the time? when i took the starter off and wired it straight to the batt. it works fine

Immobiliser?
Reading the vehicle handbook could be enlightening.

Manually energising the starter solenoid to check the engine cranks would prove the battery and starter is good.

replace the cable between battery and starter
check the ignition and circuit wire to the solenoid

a battery can have 12.83 volts and no cranking amps

what is the alternator input

Will not start how intermittently ? The engine won't turn over or engine does turn but won't start . Starter relay , lose connection . Checking power an grounds would be the first place to start , voltage drop test the main electrical circuits . Voltage Drop Testing the Starter

The starter circuit control is achieved by the starter motor relay ! It is located in the under hood fuse/ relay box or as Chrysler calls it ,integrated power module ! If you pull out the relay an look on the bottom where the pins stick out you will see four sets of numbers .30,87 an 85,86 ! 30 is B+ voltage . 87 is to the starter solenoid . If you jumped those two spots where the relay plugs into the starter would crank the engine over . The last two 85 an 86 are the control side .If you checked with a volt meter where 86 plugged into ,with key on it would show B+ voltage . The last pin is from the PCM - engine computer . When turning the key to start a signal is sent to the PCM to let it know crank has been requested , in return the PCM supplies a ground to pin 85 energizing the starter motor relay sending B+ voltage to the starter motor cranking over the engine . Here is another video on test from the relay base (where relay plugs into ) This is for a horn circuit but same thing . VEHICLE RELAYS Testing from the relay base The relay could be going bad , you never know .Replacing the relay mite not be a bad idea . Good luck , hope this helps !

Have you had the vehicle scanned for codes?

Lincoln town car paper clip code trick1

Lincoln town car paper clip code trick2

Once you have the codes, you can look them up on the web. Just do a search ' 94 Lincoln town car code.....' Just plug in the code(s) number.

If the heat shield is between the exhaust and starter its there for a reason and will help protect the starter from excessive heat. If the heat shield doesn't protect anything else like wiring and plugs ect. it wont make much difference short term but my experience is usually that manufacturers put things like that on for a reason and its best to put back when possible.

the small wire attaches to the small solenoid lug and the two large battery cables in red connect to the one large stud on the solenoid

I am getting ready to replace my bendics gear this week. This is also your problem. Replace it.

Most likely your cable is loose or needs replacing

Sounds like the starter solenoid or the starter itself - probably needs replacing but check the wiring at the starter first (loose connection, frayed wires, etc.).

Check the neutral position switch. this may need to be replaced or adjusted.