I just bought a '96 ranger 5 speed and it is ragged out pretty bad. They have removed the key cylinder from the steering column and you can turn it on but it will not crank without roll starting it. I was told it has new starter and cillinoid. With a screw driver you turn this half ring like switch inside the hole where the lock cylinder goes to the on position but when you turn it any farther it doesn't crank. Is this because it has an electrical component that only the actual lock cylinder has so it's not sending message to the starter without the lock cylinder or should it start anyways and it's got something to do with the starter?

 

Welcome to the forum

1996 Ranger manual trans will have a switch on the Clutch Pedal pushrod(in the cab) it must be closed for the starter motor to get the 12volt from the ignition switch in START position
Clutch pedal must be pushed down all the way to close this switch

Drawing of the switch here: https://www.2carpros.com/forum/autom...2217_CPP_1.jpg

Wiring at switch here: https://ww2-secure.justanswer.com/up..._193046_1a.gif

#5(pink wire) and #6(red/blue stripe wire) need to be connected to pass the 12v from ignition switch to starter motor(starter relay)


The actual ignition switch is under the steering column, above brake pedal.
The Key setup has a gear that pushes and pulls a Rod that runs down the steering column
The ignition switch is a Slider type switch, the rod moves it into its 4 positions, ACC, OFF, RUN, START
I don't think this is your problem, the actuator rod and ignition switch seems to be working if you can turn systems on and off

Picture here gives you an idea of how this works: http://i.fixya.net/uploads/images/10...0_08_36_pm.gif
Also shows how locking steering wheel works

When key cylinders were moved to the steering column they were now non-electrical, they used mechanical motion to control the electrics
Dash mounted key switches did have the electrics inside

 

I'm gonna go look at it this weekend and I'll get back with what I find.