Hope someone who sees this may have an idea what is going on. I just purchased an 1987 Ford Ranger for a project. My first priority is to get it running. I put a battery in it and it will only a few things work. The interior light, the heater fan, and the headlights work. The engine will also turn over but does not start. None of the gauges or instrument lights work nor does the fuel pump gets any current to it. It is a 2.3 gas if it matters. Just was hoping someone might have an idea what may be causing this. Thanks.

 

Welcome to the forum

Yes, engine size always matters

1987 used TWO fuel pumps, lift pump in the gas tank, and a high pressure pump for fuel injection in the frame rail under drivers seat area

If neither can be heard, they ONLY RUN FOR 2 SECONDS with key on, then you will need to check the 12 volt power path

But first I would turn Fuel Pump relay on full time key on instead of just the 2 seconds
In the engine bay passenger side you will see some relays, and you see the VIP/OBD connector on the main wiring harness

Look at the second drawing here: https://therangerstation.com/tech_library/OBD_I.shtml
It shows what the connector looks like, it could have a cover on it, says EEC

On the drawing you can see the Fuel Pump slot labelled, this slot is the GROUND to activate the Fuel pump relay, when Key is ON
So use a jumper wire and Ground that slot
If key was already ON you should hear a "click" of the fuel pump relay closing when you ground that slot
Relay is there on the passenger side inner fender

If not look for the relay with the GREEN base/plugin, thats the fuse pump relay
BROWN base is the computer relay, EEC relay

If relay "clicks" then turn off the key, pull relay out and test each slot for 12volts, test light is fine but volt meter is better
This 12volts you are checking for is from the Battery, thru a fuse or fusible link connected to Starter Relay(solenoid) stud along with battery positive cable

So 12v path is
Battery+ -----------Fuse-----------fuel pump relay----------inertia switch-------------------------high pressure pump-----------low pressure pump------ground

Inertia switch is in the passenger side cab mounted to the firewall just above carpet behind glove box
Small black box with RED button on the top, it "pops" up and cuts power to the fuel pump in an accident, it can be pushed back down but will "pop" up again if you hit a bump hard

All the 12v power for the vehicle comes from that one post on the starter relay(mentioned above), the one with the battery cable on it, thats the power distribution point
This is where fusible links are attached, a fusible link is a short wire that acts like an inline fuse, it will separate if a short occurs
And alternator is attached here as well


One heads up on the 2.3l Lima engine, it uses a timing BELT, and it can break, so no start, it won't cause engine damage, but still a no start
So just make sure cam is turning when cranking engine over



That should get you started

 

Thanks. I will definitely check that out. Would you have any idea why nothing on the instrument cluster works?

 

Because it has no power, same as fuel pumps, check the starter relay post thats where all the 12v comes from

Also make sure battery negative cable has a good connection, no ground is exactly the same as no 12v

In 1987 there is ONE yellow wire that runs from starter relay post to the ignition switch, it powers pretty much everything in the cab, it has a fusible link on the starter relay post, usually Orange color