General Technical & Electrical General technical and electrical discussion for the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

HELP...TRUCK wont start....

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Old Jul 23, 2005
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HELP...TRUCK wont start....

OK....well...I drove around all day today....with no problems. I went to the car wash....washed it....then went to my friends....We went to the movies....

When I got back...It wouldn't start. I guess its something to do with the electrical system...maybe the battery....Since my friends pushed me off...my HeadUnit was RESET....and the overhead light keeps goin on and off at random....(Only with the door open)...

I really need HELP here....im gonna look at it in the morning....I just really dont know what to look for/at......
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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you got a system right...

alternator maybe...

you said that they jumped you and it worked?

kinda sounds like the alternator isnt charngin the battery..

i dunno im not a mechanic..but thats my 2 cents..
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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Well they didnt jump me....they pushed me.....but I guess it does the same thing in a Manual. Yeah I got a system...
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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how big is your amp?
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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From: Pickens,SC
250w
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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that shouldnt of killed it...

so your truck wont start by itself, lights dim..

you got anythin else added that would draw from the battery?
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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I got the CB....but its spliced into switched power....behind the radio....

I dont know whats the matter....OH GOD....I hope I figure it out....
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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when you try to start it wats it do..

you got AIM hit me up at oOWeinerSnitchOo
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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When you go to start it, does it wanna crank, or sit there and click? Also, when/if it clicks, turn you're headlights on. If they are bright and do not dim, it's not the battery/alternator...but you already said the radio was reset and junk...hmm.

You don't need a starter to pop the clutch...

Sounds electrical, does you're starter turn?
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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get a big stick, hammer, pry bar, somethin kinda strong..get a friend...get him to hit the starter..like poke it..and u try to start..if it starts then your starter is bad..theres a little like fly wheel in there and sometimes they get bad spots and if it stops on it it wont start but you tap it and it starts it kinda moved that wheel..

try that then holla..you might be in for the night but tomorrow do it EVAN..lol

nice name BTW
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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Yes it clicks kinda....it actually makes more of a humming sound....and my headlights dont even come on while its just sittin there.....After my friends pushed me off they suddenly came on....

If I turn the key like im gonna start it...the dash lights start to come on but are very dim....it takes them a couple seconds to get bright....

Edit: Ok where is the starter...lol....seriously
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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battery i think..humming..man i dunno...well no lights..thats power problem..thats battery..i think..

like i said b4 i aint no mechanic..
or an English teacher...
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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It could be the Battery, my 99 sable battery never gave me any hint of being bad, pulled into a store, came out and it wouldn't even ding the door chime. Deader then a doornail, instantly, but it still had a green eye...hmmm. That was at the 4 year mark
Wouldnt take a charge, if it was the Original equip battey, Fords batteries go like that.
, fired right up on a boost, got home and dead again...So I bought a new Ranger
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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lol....well...thats what happened.....Ill try and firgure it out tomorrow.
 
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Old Jul 23, 2005
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Most likely battery.. but possibly it failed from other power issues..
Id go to autozone.. or a similar store .. they normally do free load testing on alternators and batteries....

Rand
 
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Old Jul 24, 2005
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go get a new battery. i was offroading and myt ruck just shut off, 12 miles up on the trail. the truck woudlnt start, everything was dim and when i tried to start it, i got some ticking (not the starter). put the new batt and it was great, then i took it to autozone to make sure the charging system was working and it all tested out ok
 
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Old Jul 24, 2005
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Yeah...I think thats what im gonna do.....THANKS Everyone....
 
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Old Jul 24, 2005
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if it doesnt turn over at all but has full power to like electronics start looking at the starter relay you can take a crappy long screw driver with a rubber handle and jump the two terminals and if it turns over then its the starter relay
 
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Old Jul 24, 2005
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It has little if any power to electronics......

Like some dash lights come on but are dim........My CD player will NOT come on....neither will my headlights.....and my door chime thing works half the time.....
 
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Old Jul 24, 2005
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Originally Posted by yumcheetos
It has little if any power to electronics......

Like some dash lights come on but are dim........My CD player will NOT come on....neither will my headlights.....and my door chime thing works half the time.....
ya go to pepboys and get a new die hard....
 
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Old Jul 24, 2005
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well...I've never seen a "Pepboys"....around where I live....So i'll prob go to AutoZone....lol
 
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Old Jul 24, 2005
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Originally Posted by yumcheetos
well...I've never seen a "Pepboys"....around where I live....So i'll prob go to AutoZone....lol
i jsut sayed pepboys becuase its one of those univeral part stores. I acully wont go to those stores we have a local part shop/mechine shop and thats where i get my stuff so i cant say "hey go down to mid-5 auto and pick up..." you get the piont
 
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Old Jul 24, 2005
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From: Coal Region, MTC to be exact...heart of the coal region.
ford motorcraft batteries are tough, i now have a diesel battery and it works like a charm.

IMO, optimas are overpriced for what they are and die-hard is average. when u get to the parts store get them to test the charging system.
 
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Old Jul 25, 2005
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Before you buy a new battery, have yours tested at a reputable independent service shop to see if there's anything wrong with it. If its tests out ok, ask them what they think might be wrong with the truck. If you can't solve the problem, you'll have to pay someone to do it for you.
 
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Old Jul 25, 2005
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Sounds like the battery to me. If you turned it over and the headlights turned on, that means the alternator is charging the battery.
 
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