I searched the forums briefly to see if someone else had a similar problem and had a few hits, but decided to post anyway.

Today after work, I went to start my manual 1997 Ranger XLT 2.3L 4x2 (200,600 miles). It turned over like normal, but as soon as I left off the ignition, it died and all of the electric went out. After a few seconds, it came back on and I was able to start it like normal. When it did come back on, I noticed my radio had reset as if I had disconnected the battery.

On the way home, I watched the gauge. It usually sits about midway, over the battery picture. If I gave it a little more gas, it would slowly rise to about the top 3/4 of the gauge and drop back to normal at idle. At idle, it would bump up and down a few millimeters.

When I was almost home, it died on the road, but as before, the electric came back up after a few seconds. Then it happened again as I was parking. I checked the voltage at the battery with my Fluke 87 when the truck was off and got 12.6V and 14.5V when it was running. I checked all the fuses and they are all good.

Does anyone have any idea what could be going on or have any thing I should check to narrow down the problem? Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is my daily driver.

 

Could be a couple of things.
First thing to check would the battery cables, at both ends, + and -

My guess, from you description is that the + cables on the starter relay, on inner fender, are loose or corroded.
The battery power and alternator power are there, so if that connection was opening, then all power would be cut off.


Next would be ignition switch under the steering column.
The key switch turns and it pushes a rod that runs down the steering column to the ignition switch.
This rod slides the ignition switch in to its various positions.
Start engine and wiggle the key, see if power cuts off