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

Loses power when put into park. Locks and dash lights go crazy

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Old May 31, 2022
  #1  
Erikbuzzard's Avatar
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From: Columbia
Loses power when put into park. Locks and dash lights go crazy

This problem just started happening today. I get off work, hop in my truck, drive a half mile down the road to the gas station. I precede to put the truck in park and the engine dies and the anti theft light comes on immediately and the airbag and battery lights are very faint. So I turn the key to the off position and turn it forward again. All of the dash lights begin to go crazy and the key insert indicator beeps irraticly. So turn it off and wait a few moments, then turn the key forward again and everything is normal. Fast forward a bit. I get home. Turned the truck on and off several times to ensure the problem has sorted itself out. Worked great, no problems. Welp I forgot to stop by the store otw home so I hop back in and got to the store about a half mile away. Drove great, rode smoothly. It didn't die when I got there so I thought everything was fine. Got what I needed and hopped back in the truck and it cranked up fine! Now when I get home, put the truck in park, the damn thing does the same thing as before but now the "power lock relay" (that's what im calling it) is clicking like crazy but its not even locking/unlocking the doors. and the anti theft light on the dash is going in unison. Clicking the buttons on the key fob only exacerbate the problem. While this is happening im unable to start the truck.And then, all of a sudden, everything stops and everything works fine. I feel like I'm going crazy!!! Please any help would be awesome. I'm even willing to FaceTime with someone if your down. Also, newish battery, replaced in December of last year. Unsure of the key fob battery. Please help! SOS lol
 
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Old May 31, 2022
  #2  
Ranger480's Avatar
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From: Midwest
Kinda sounds like a bad battery or loose (read: high-resistance or intermittent) electrical connection.
 
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Old Jun 1, 2022
  #3  
RonD's Avatar
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From: Vancouver, BC
Welcome to the forum

+1 ^^^ on the battery cables, remove, clean and reconnect

You mention "shifting into Park" twice
The ignition switch is under the steering column, above brake pedal, so could be effected by moving the shift rod in the column if something is loose

The key just moves a rod in the column that slides the ignition switch into its 4 positions, but its the ignition switch that provides the power or lack of it to all the systems
 
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