I have 3.0 V6 2001 Ranger that has just began struggling to start. It tries to turnover but doesn't quite get all the way. I took the battery to O'reily's and the battery was good but just needing charged. They charged it for an hour and a half and it was still struggling to start. Plenty of fuel, changed spark plugs last year, changed starter less than a year ago.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

Struggling to start is not very clear??

With starter motor engaged does engine seem to be turning slower?

If so then starter could be drawing too many amps, this can be caused by the starter motor itself or corroded battery cables, including negative cable.

If you can get a volt meter, hook it up to the battery
Battery should show 12.3 volts or higher
Have some one try to start engine while you watch volt meter, if voltage drops below 9.8volts then something is causing too many amps to be used, or battery is bad.

New battery will be 12.7volts
5 year old battery 12.4 volts
When a battery gets to 12.2 volts it won't start engine on a cold morning.

Your truck is 15 years old, newer batteries tend to last 6 to 7 years, so you could be at the end of life of second battery, or if there were problem or less expensive batteries were used you could be end of life of 3rd battery.

 

fully charged battery 13 volts. when down to 12.5 volts you are at 50% charge and needs replacement. battery capacity should test out at 500 cca. lower will be a problem in cold weather. all shops have the testers. even walmart.

 

Drove around fine all day then stopped at the mail box on my way home and now I'm getting nothing. Seemed to start fine this morning but as the day goes on it's been harder to start, taking a little long to turnover.

Battery is less than a year old. Got a feeling it could be the starter again.

 

OK, engine should be easier to start when warmer.
Driving around will drain the battery if alternator isn't working like it should.
Making starter turn slower.

Get a volt meter, test battery voltage, engine off, say it is 12.5volts
Test battery voltage engine running, should be at least 2 volts higher when engine is first started, say 14.5volts
After 5 minutes it should read 13.5volts and go no lower than that if alternator is working.

If you see 12.5v to 13.2v with engine running then alternator is not working as it should

 

What if the engine won't start?

 

Tested battery without key in ignition and it was 12.33

 

Very low for a 1 or even 2 year old battery.

Leave meter connected and see if it stays at 12.33v for a few minutes, if voltage is dropping battery has an internal short.

You need to start engine to test alternator system, so................??

 

Took the started to O'Reily's, turns out to be a bad solenoid. Just put in the new starter so should be good to go!

 

how long since you replaced the alternator to battery positive and negative cables

if the solenoid was bad it would not cause a slow turning over engine , the engine would not turn over at all