My buddies ranger has a good battery and the starter engages when you touch it straight to the battery. do these have a saftey switch so it only starts in p or n? Tried a new relay as well but not luck, even wacked the starter a couple of times with no results either.

 

Getting power to trigger starter? There is a relay and a trans sensor..must be in park or neutral.

 

No, when you go to start it, it doesnt turn over, but unhooked and wired to the battery it will.

 

But have you acutally checked to see if the trigger has power? And like I said there is a relay and the range sensor

 

The is power going to the starter, where is the park/neutral switch at?

 

should be in the steering column

 

Incorrect. It's on the drivers side of the transmission. You have power to the trigger wire when turning the key to on? I think you're talking about the positive cable to the starter.

There is also a fuse and that relay you should check.