I have a 88 Ranger that starts easily 1st try if being jump started. But will only start occasionally by itself. When it does start by itself it definitely sounds like it's struggling. Usually the first time you turn key it just makes the clicking sound so i turn key off then try it again and it clicks like 2x then slowly turns over and it will start however it definitely sounds like it's struggling. But it starts. I have had the battery tested and it seems to be fine. I replaced the alternator due to this issue thinking it was the alternator but it was not. I could easily just replace the starter, ignition switch, ignition coil, distributor cap, distributor rotor. Etc. But my goal is to save $ and I don't want to end up replacing everything and it end up being the last thing I replace being the original problem when I could have saved time and $ and fix the actual problem from the start. Has anybody
else had this same issue? Any suggestions from anybody? Thank you!!!!

 

Sounds like loose and/or dirty connections of the battery cables.

 

I do have new terminals but I can go ahead and check them out again. Thank you

 

Test battery voltage after it has sat 6 hours or over night

12.8volts is a new battery
12.5v is a 3 year old battery
12.3v is a 5 to 6 year old battery and time to find a battery sale

12.2v or less is a done battery, not going to be reliable, and can be self draining as well

BOTH larger battery cables need to pass 60-75 amps to the starter motor when its trying to turn the engine, that's why the positive AND negative cables are so big, its a DC system so both both cables have to pass the same amps
Its why both battery terminals need to have a good connection, not just positive

The vehicle electrics only need maybe 30amps with EVERYTHING turned on, so those wires don't need to be as big