I have a 2000 ranger , previously had a 3.0, but I replaced the old motor, transmission and ecm with everything from a wrecked 1998 4.0. When I went to test fire I kept blowing my 50a main fuse. As suspected I had a short in the solenoid and promptly replaced the starter with a remanufactured. Then everything worked and ran great for about a week.

Shortly after i stopped to get gas and when I went to start, I got nothing but a click from the starter. It was like it wanted to go but wasn't getting enough juice or something from the battery. Tested battery, removed and retightened wires from starter. Inspected all grounds. Than boom started working again for about a month.

Then it did it to me again, fuel pump primes, all lights on, batter voltage good but only click coming from the starter but no start. So on a stint of hope I climbed under and and tried to arc the solenoid with a long screw driver to see what would happen.(Manuel transmission so I knew it wouldn't actually start until I turned the key)Low in behold I climbed in pushed the clutch and turned the key and it started .

Then 2 days later, same thing. Click no start. I thought maybe I'm not getting enough cold crank amps or dirty ground. Replaced battery, terminal cables, removed all grounds and cleaned thoroughly and it started working again.

This is a re-occuring issue and I'm kind of lost at this point. I really don't want to think my starter is bad however it could be. I suspect a number of things.

Grounding issue still?? I've inspected all grounds but was thinking maybe Add another ground cable from the starter to block, maybe somehow I'm not completing the circuit somehow?

Maybe starter has a sweet spot it seizes at and just needs replaced?
I don't see this being a power issue as I have a brand new battery with proper cc amps. Today I will remove the grounds and clean again, add another ground cable from the starter and try arcing the solenoid again.

any ideas would be appreceated.

 

Welcome to the forum

You are under a misconception on the power path of the START circuit so BE CAREFUL jumping starter motor, it WILL crank with clutch pedal up, you are bypassing that safety switch
Ignition switch(in START)----------Fuse 24 in cab-----------clutch switch------------------------------------------Start Relay in engine fuse box-----------starter motor "S" post

So if you jump it at starter relay in engine fuse box OR at the starter motor, starter will turn ON, so be careful, make sure it is in Neutral

2000 Ranger V6(3.0l or 4.0l) had a PATS(passive anti-theft system) module, above glove box, this PATS module GROUNDED the starter relay in engine fuse box, when Key number matched PATS saved numbers in memory
The 1998 4.0l Computer didn't need PATS confirmation to work like the 2000 3.0l computer did, so 1998 computer will start fuel pump and open injectors without PATS working

So did you remove the PATS module?
And did you GROUND the starter relay in the engine fuse box?
What may be happening is that PATS module is grounding the starter relay "most of the time" if you are using 2000 transponder keys, but every now and then it doesn't so no crank

What you want to do is to Ground the Pink/orange stripe wire(can also be a dark Blue/orange wire) found at the PATS module, that's the starter relay's ground wire, just ground it in the cab to a bolt or to the Black/white stripe wire also at PATS module

Wiring for module below, 16 pin connector, unplug it, pin1 wire is the ground for starter relay, pin 7 is a full time ground, so cut, strip and twist these 2 wires together

 

@ron d
thank you, I ended up running a ground cable from starter to main harness ground on engine block.. seems to have solved the problem. For now.... I was just informed of the pats system the day I posted this when I went to go have a spare key made and that would explain why my theft light is constantly flashing.
after my motor and ecm swap does that mean I can use a spare key without the chip inside it? I've dealt with enough problems on this turd, I definitely don't feel like dealing with any anti theft issues now that I can finally drive my truck again before I try using a spare.

 

You need to unplug the PATS module and Ground the starter relay wire, then you can use any key cut for the lock

 

Awesome thanks Ron, you're the best as always!