I have a 92 Ranger 2.3L and it drains my fully charged batteries in 3 days if i do not drive it. when i connect cables to the battery with out the key in. my fuel pump kicks on and my starter selonoid clicks. I have just put a new ignition switch in but cannot figure out why it is do this. It was doing this before the new ignition switch.

 

Reads like the EEC relay might be stuck closed.

Best way to track down a drain is to remove one battery cable, then connect a 12volt test light between that cable and it's battery post, if power is flowing test light will come on.
There are some "normal" power draws, like the radio, it needs power to hold presets and correct time.
But this will only cause the test light to glow not light up.

With test light on remove 1 fuse at a time, when light dims you found a power drain, see what circuit that fuse feeds.

EEC relay has it's own fuse.
EEC relay turns on the computer(EEC), fuel pump relay, injectors and coil, so would be quite a draw.
When EEC relay is closed computer powers up and turns on fuel pump for 2 seconds
EEC relay is normally turned on and off with the key.

On the '92 I believe the EEC, fuel pump and WOT relays are under the Fuse box in the engine bay.
You have to unbolt the fuse box and lift it up.
Brown is EEC
Green is Fuel
Black is WOT

WOT = wide open throttle, this relay will turn off A/C when gas pedal is to the floor to give extra power

 

that sounds like it. i cant take the battery cable off and put it back on and it causes the fuel pump to come on for the 2 seconds you mentioned

 

Relays are held open by a spring, when given 12volts the electro-magentic force over rides the spring tension and relay closes, power is passed.
If spring breaks............

But it could also be a short, relay is getting 12volts all the time, so relay is fine wiring FOR the relay is shorted.
If you pull the relay out you will see 4 contacts.
1 is a Ground
1 has 12volts all the time(thats the power that goes to computer, fuel pump relay, ect....when EEC relay closes), this 12volts is from a 30amp fuse in power box.
1 will show high ohms, thats the wire to the computer, fuel pump relay, ect......

1 will have 12volts when key is on and 0 volts when key is off, that's the one that may have the short, the 12volts comes from the ignition switch, should be a Red/light green wire

 

well i unplugged the relay and plugged it back in and it no longer kicks the fuel pump on with the key off. but the battery light now stays on.

 

Battery light is on the circuit that turns ON the alternator.

A light bulb works(lights up) because power on each connection at the bulb is a different voltage, common example would be 12volts and 0volts(ground).
But -5volt to 0volts would cause a bulb to light up, if electricity is flowing a bulb lights up

An alternator will drain the battery if it is left on.
So to turn the alternator on, 12volts must be sent to the voltage regulator.
This is done with the key switch.

Pathway
Battery(12v)------------key switch-----------Battery Light------------alternator(regulator)

So when key is turned on the battery light comes on because alternator is 0 volts, so 12volts is flowing thru the bulb.
When engine starts alternator starts producing voltage, usually 13.5 to 14.5volts and that goes to the battery, and the rest of the vehicle, so power is now 13.5volts at the key switch and bulb and at the alternator.
13.5v-------bulb-------13.5v = bulb is off

If alternator is not producing at least 12volts then battery light will flicker.
12.5v(battery)------bulb-------less than 12v(alternator) = flickering battery light, the lower the alternator voltage the brighter the battery light.

So battery light may be on because alternator wiring is loose, or alternator is not producing enough power.
Check battery voltage with engine off, then with engine idling, then with engine at 2,000RPMs approx.
Engine off - 12.3-12.8volts
Engine idling = 13.4-14.7volts
engine at 2,000rpms = 13.6-14.8volts

At minimum an alternator should produce 1 volt more that battery voltage with engine off.

 

the battery light was on due the negative cable not grounding so i put it back where is was originally and the light went off. Thanks for the help RonD