I am a new Ranger owner. 1990 4wd its a better with a heater. I thought the starter relay was bad. I jump from battery to the other side of the relay and the truck starts. I replaced the relay but still have to use the relay jump method to get it to start. Looking for some advice. Cheers Scott

 

Welcome to the forum

Inner fender starter relay will have a smaller post with a red/blue wire, this wire activates the realy
So if you unhook this wire and apply 12volts to the smaller post starter should activate, this confirms starter relay is OK

Now the red/blue wire gets 12volts from the ignition switch(under the steering column), when key is turned to START, but......................

There is a safety switch to prevent "starting in gear" between ignition switch and starter relay

Ignition switch(in START)----(pink wire)-----------neutral switch------------(red/blue wire)-----------------starter relay

On a manual transmission this is a Clutch pedal switch, in the cab on clutch pedals push rod, when clutch pedal is down all the way switch is closed and passes the 12v to starter relay
Google: Ford Ranger clutch switch
They are the same setup in all years, 1983 thru 2011

On an automatic its on the drivers side of transmission above the shift arm, when shifter is in Park or Neutral switch closes and passes 12v to start relay
With an automatic try starting in Neutral, if that works then column shifter, in the cab, may be loose, so its not going all the way into Park at transmission end of cable

And it can be the ignition switch itself, just worn out and not sending out 12v with key turned to START

Diagram can be hard to follow but its all there

 

I was missing the wire from the ignition switch. All good now. You guys helped a lot thanks