Hello, I have a 2005 Ford Ranger 2.5L Diesel. When you try to turn the ignition on, nothing happens just the lights come up on the dashboard but it doesn't turn over. If you leave the key in position 2 (just before turning the engine over) for about 10 seconds then turn the engine on it comes up straight away.

Any ideas what may be causing this? Im thinking it must be electrical as it doesn't turn over.

Cheers

 

Not familiar with your specific diesel engine,
but generally diesels don't have "Spark Plugs", they have "Glow Plugs".
They're needed for starting a cold diesel to preheat\vaporize the thick diesel fuel for a few seconds.
Restarting a warmed up diesel, the glow plug start delay usually is not required.
The colder the weather, the longer the glow plug cold start delay.
Your engine controls may have an automated delay, that prevents cranking until it times out.

 

Welcome to the forum

+1 to above, on cold start Diesel engines/cylinders need to be pre-heated, so they have "glow plugs" that heat the cylinders, and depending on outside temp it can take 5-45 seconds for minimum start temp to be reached inside the cylinders, and then the starter motor will work
There was often a light on the dash that came on if "glow plugs" were being used, and then light would go off when it was OK to start, if you have auto start then there may or may not be that type of light, starter will just not work until minimum temp is reached

We are in North America and could never buy the T6 model Rangers here, you have a T6 Ranger
Our Rangers were smaller and no diesel engines after 1985

Try this Australian forum: https://www.fordforums.com.au/forumdisplay.php?f=371