HI guys:

Check this out: Truck has been driving fine. Its a 2004 Ranger, "Edge" with the 3.0 engine. We stopped at Blockbuster and when we came out, Ranger would not fire. The only symbol showing was the Passive Anti-Theft Symbol along with a faded Front Air Bag symbol and....a faded Battery symbol. If this was the old days, I'd suspect the battery but now, I don't know. The radio works, inside light works but no start, no headlights.

We tried a jump; still no go. I don't know if the key somehow lost its code or what. I'm worried because this smells of one of those things that you get raped at the dealer with when all it takes is a battery disconnect/reconnect or something to reset the computer. I just don't know.

Does anyone have an idea about this?

Thanks guys.

 

You have an electrical fault. PATS doesn't affect the headlights.

Disconnect the battery for 15 minutes just for jollies.

When turn on the headlights do other things stop working? If so, it's the battery or connection and it can't supply enough juice for high amperage drains, but low drain devices can still work.

You haven't said anything about running down the fuses?

Take off the battery connections and clean them. If that's your original battery it's time for it to go anyway.

 

OK, you're tracking on kinda what I'm thinking. Thanks for the reply!

First, the headlights don't work or effect anything else.

It's dark here now so in the morning I'll disco the battery and see if the computer resets. I agree that it's time for a new battery anyhow so we'll do that no matter what- thanks for that suggestion.

You got me on the fuses; I'm an idiot for not checking them first but who would think a 15 or 20 amp fuse would be involved in a caper like this.? LOL

One other thing I left out is that within a 30 minute period of trying to turn the car over a few times---twice the cluster did light up as if it wanted to start but quickly died- which to me could either be the batter or the passive security.

I can't imagine how the key would lose its code. I'm hoping that isn't the case and I'm hoping the alternator isn't involved. I just think its odd that this happened with no prior signs of trouble brewing. I'm also not even 100% sure we have passive security as this version of the truck doesn't even have electric doors, locks or mirrors (girlfriend went against advice on that screwup- LOL) and the key looks pretty basic to me.

Anyhow, thanks for the support on this!

 

Passive security ONLY affects the ability of the vehicle to start.

Some auxilliary power is controlled by relays whose coils get their power from fairly small fuses.

I don't think it's the alternator per-se. Your intermittent symptoms and the headlights not working when other things do point to a bad power distribution or ground scenario to me. That could happen for a number of reasons including a problem in the battery junction box and/or the bulkhead connector that goes through the firewall into the cab.