Damn thieves
 

I have a 1995 Ranger, over the Thanksgiving day weekend sometime broke into my truck, they totally trashed the. Door lock on the door resulting in body damage and the ignition switch was trashed too..they broke off the outer trim of the switch and there was a broken screwdriver blade stuck in there, I guess by twisting…I fished the broken piece out and the switch seems to work when the key is inserted, all idiot lights on the dash light up, but when I turn the key to start, nothing happens, no clicking of the starter, everything seems to come on, headlights etc…I bought a new ignition switch lock..I removed the shroud from around the column, turned the key to the ‘on’ position, inserted an Allen wrench in the hole to release the switch but I can’t get the switch to pop out, my question is, does the outer trim piece have anything to do with the switch removal…the part I’m talking about looks like a ‘fish tail…there’s an orange piece on the left side of the switch…this is a switch I bought from a Ford dealer and has worked great with no issues, I’ve had cheaper knockoffs for less than twenty bucks, they seemed to work BUT if the lever to turn the key to the lock position isn’t pushed..oh..this is a 2.3l with 5 speed transmission…the lock switch breaks and the key will come right out with the engine running..that orange piece has some movement to it up n down, side to side..in the photo you can see the broken off screwdriver which I fished out with a fille and a magnet….when I turn the key to start, nothing happens, not even a clicking from the solenoid, I checked the starter and it’s connected, the battery is new…
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...f86c9b957.jpeg
This is the switch with the fish tail like thing is broken off

I’ve replaced the ignition switch, was an easy task, I used a magnet to fish the broken screwdriver, next I used my key to try n start it, all the dash lights lit up but no crank, that orange thing in the photo makes contact with a circuit just above it….before I replaced the switch and turning the key there was no action at the starter, no clicking of the solenoid…

I’ve called around to have the drivers door lock replaced and some body work around the key hole, seems most body shops won’t touch it, one place I stopped by told me they don’t work on older vehicles, but there was a ‘49 Mercury being repaired of body damage…wtf…. So I have to enter from the passenger door…I’ll take care of the door this spring…a few whacks with a hammer should fix it.

Assuming 1995 Ranger from your 95WackyRanger name

Does the 1995 have keyless entry, i.e. Fobs, if so it may also have an alarm system which can disable startup from a tamper switch in the key slot

The orange bit may be it OR it may just be the 1 wire "key in ignition" ground that causes a chime to sound if key is in ignition when drivers door is opened, so you don't lock keys in the car, can't prevent startup, just makes noise, lol

Looks like a manual trans
Check fuse 24 in cab fuse box, it powers START thru clutch pedal switch, also check that "they" didn't mess with clutch pedal switch