I bought a 1998 ranger that wouldn't start. I replaced all spark plugs and wires, starter replaced all spent fuses. It still just clicks when I try to start it. It has a brand new battery as well and I don't have a lot of time to make it start when I want. Personal life makes it complicated as my wife needs the other vehicle and I need this one to rely on daily tasks. Any advice or thoughts on the issue?

 

Welcome to the forum

Engine model would be helpful
1998-2000 Rangers used
2.5l 4cyl
3.0l V6
4.0l V6

Also manual or automatic?
This is important since each type has a different "Starter interrupt"/Neutral switch, that prevents starting in gear, which can fail so no crank

If any vehicle "just clicks" when key is turned to START then most likely issue is one of the battery cables is not making good contact or unhooked
In a 1998 Ranger the larger Positive battery cable will run directly to the starter motor's larger post on its solenoid(smaller tube on top of starter motor)

Larger battery Negative cable will run to a starter motor's bolt that holds starter motor to the bell housing, main ground

If either end of these two larger cables is dirty then no crank, just a "click"
New battery helps but if a cable is bad then new battery volts can't get to or come back from starter

 

2.5 4cl in it and it is a manual. Been having to bump start it since I bought it, push the truck pop the clutch and I really don't want to do that anymore because I have a feeling it's going mess up the clutch

 

You can get your 1998 Owners Manual here, it has fuse box layouts: https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...1-models-3747/


Manual trans so clutch pedal switch
Push clutch pedal down all the way and turn key to START
And you hear a "click" from engine bay

Pull out Fuse 24 in Cab fuse box, 7.5amp
Turn key to START, clutch pedal down
Do you still hear the Relay in engine bay "click"
If not then wiring from Ignition switch to clutch pedal switch and to engine fuse box is OK, put back in Fuse 24, and "click" should be back

If you still hear a Relay "click" then something else is going on, that wasn't Starter Relay that's "clicking"

But lets go with "click" is gone with fuse 24 out, and now its back in
In the engine bay fuse box is the Starter relay, #6, pull it out
Its base should look like this: https://www.gtsparkplugs.com/images/...iring-840x.jpg
87A might be missing

Make sure transmission is in NEUTRAL and tire(s) are blocked and KEY IS IN YOUR POCKET, you are going to jump starter motor

Slots 30 and 87 activate the starter motor when they are connected together
So use a short jumper wire and put one end in slot 30 and touch other end to slot 87, starter motor should activate
If starter motor makes a "click" noise but doesn't spin then larger battery cables are the issue
If starter motor does NOT make a "click" noise then its bad or miswired
New starters can be bad out of the box

Starters have 2 wires, the larger cable from battery positive and the smaller wire from Starter relay, smaller wire goes to the "S" post on starter solenoid(small tube on top of starter motor)
"S" post activates the starter motor when it has 12volts
Starter relay sends the "S" post that 12volts