What might be the best starter to upgrade to on a 1995 Ranger, 2.3L?
Was looking on Rockauto for starters.

Also, what is a gear reduction starter?

 

Revision to my original post. Taping the starter with a hammer not working on the new starter.
on this model I believe there is a starter solenoid mounted to the wall in the engine compartment near the battery. That seems to be what I hear “click” when trying to start the truck. What is its function? And why have another solenoid on the starter?

 

Its proper forum etiquette to create a new thread instead of replying to someone else's. And if your replying to your orginal post, probably best to reply to that orginal post.

Ford in the 80/90's had 2 solenoids for the starting system for a while before they phased out the fender soleniod. Some say it spreads the current load better using this design. Makes for a hair pulling time in troubleshooting starting issues eh?

 

Gear reduction starters are rated at higher torque. They are usually used on high compression engines. Should not be needed for a stock Ranger.

 

Actually there is only ever one solenoid if there is a start motor solenoid at all
Relays and Solenoids work the same way, apply power to a coil of wire wrapped around a metal core and it changes that metal core into a magnet, electro-magnet

Solenoids were invented first, they provided movement of valves or any physical movement of anything really, remotely using electricity
Relays came later, a relay provides a higher amp electrical connection, there is movement inside the relay, so it can be called a solenoid, and was for many years, but not any more
If it moves something its a solenoind
If it turns electricity on to another device its a relay

The device on the inner fender is the starter RELAY, but in the past it was called starter solenoid and the name stuck
Starter relay connects the starter motor to Battery Positive to active the starter, electrical connection........................a relay

On really really old starters there was a foot pedal
You pushed the pedal down which moved the starter motor gear out to engage the ring gear, when pedal was down all the way it pushed 2 contacts together which connected starter motor to battery positive and activated the motor

On older starter motors there was a Bendix drive in the starter motor assembly, it would push the starter gear out as motor was activated to engage the ring gear, could cause some grinding of gears, wear and tear
On later models a starter solenoid was added, smaller tube on the top of starter motor, the solenoid would push the starter gear out to engage ring gear BEFORE activating starter motor, less wear and tear........................it's a solenoid because it moves the starter gear, but it also acts as a relay when full activated as it then connects motor to Battery Positive


The inner fender starter relay also doubled as the 12volt distribution point for the whole vehicle
One of the larger posts on the relay has battery positive cable and several other wires attached, wires to ignition switch, fuse box and from alternator
So this starter relay stayed around for many years because it didn't hurt anything and all 12volt wiring was already setup to use that one post