My 99 Ranger 3.0 will sometimes not start in P but will in N. After driving it and turning off it will not start in P or N. Happens intermittently. Stranded me yesterday and got a ride home. Went back today and it started right up in P. Drive it home. 39 min later tried it and would not start in P or N. Has new starter and battery. Any ideas?

 

Welcome to the forum

Could be a few things
1999 Ranger with V6 engine will have PATS, passive anti-theft system, this will disable starter motor(and engine) if the key doesn't read well or at all
There is a THEFT light on the dash, with key off it should flash every 3 to 5 seconds, that tells you the BULB is OK, also warns off thieves, lol
If no crank is a PATS issue the THEFT light will flash Rapidly with key ON, and it will flash a 2 digit code number after 60 seconds tell you why PATS is the issue

You don't mention a rapid flashing light, so assume the THEFT light does work with key off then we can skip PATS as the issue, if bulb is burnt out then it could be the issue



When you turn the key to START the ignition switch(under steering column above brake pedal) sends out 12volts to Fuse 24 in Cab Fuse box you can test for this with volt meter or test light just to make sure its not an ignition switch issue
Repeat turning key to START several times to make sure fuse 24 contact gets 12volts each time

From Fuse 24 the 12volts goes to the Transmission and the DTR switch, driver's side on the shifter arm, it has a multi-wire connector
The DTR switch has several switches/contacts inside
It turns on Reverse lights, tells computer "what gear" the driver has selected, also passes the 12volts from fuse 24 THRU to starter relay in engine fuse box, but only if DTR is in PARK or NEUTRAL
If DTR is not aligned correctly then PARK and NEUTRAL contacts may not be connected, so no crank

From the DTR switch a wire goes to the engine fuse box and the Starter Relay, PATS Grounds this relay, so PATS can disable START if relay is not grounded
The 12volts activates this relay(if its grounded) and that in turn activates starter motors 12volts

Battery Positive-----------ignition switch(in START)------Fuse 24--------------DTR switch-------------------starter relay(engine fuse box)------------starter motor

Fuse 24 is not blown or it wouldn't start and then not start and then start again, fuse don't self repair, lol

PATS can be intermittent but would have the Flashing Light

DTR switch can be misaligned(or shift cable), so sometimes it makes contact and sometimes it doesn't

Starter Relay would usually fail out right, like a fuse, but it is possible to be intermittent


Google: Ford Ranger loose column shifter cable
This was a VERY COMMON issue on ALL Ford trucks with column shifters
Sometimes an easy fix because of 2 loose screws

 

Thanks a bunch. Will definitely check those screws. Watched a video and seems simple enough. Much appreciated!