hey guys
i own a 2000 3.0 2wd ford ranger with a automatic trans. I went away on vacation to find my truck would not start. At that moment i assumed the battery was dead, but i have a brand new battery from napa. My headlights, radio everything thats electrical works. so at this point when i turn my key to start my truck, there is 2 clicks from the relays but not start. i end up replacing my starter since that would be the most logical answer. when i replaced the starter, it was pretty F'ing dirty under there, so i clean the area and the terminals that connect to the new starter. once the new starter went in, still two relay clicks but no start.......im lost guys, could use some of your knowledge

 

Have you checked for power to the starter cable? Use a test light or a multimeter to make sure you're actually getting power to the starter before you throw any more parts at it. If there's no power at the starter, work your way back to the battery and make sure all of the terminals are clean and free of corrosion.

You say the battery is new, but how new is new? Have you actually had it tested? You said you went on vacation, how long was the vacation?

 

Yes, +1 ^^^^

You need a voltmeter
Key off battery voltage should be 12.8v for new battery
12.2v or less is a dead battery

12volts is ONLY 12volts when connected with 0volts, a GROUND
So the Negative(ground, 0 volts) from the battery also needs a good connection to starter motor to pass the high AMPS required for starter motor to engage
Check that Ground cable from battery to engine/starter motor
It is often connected to engine using starter motor bolt to bell housing, did this get reconnected?
Head lights and even heater fan only need about 8-10amps.
Starter Motor needs 60-80AMPs to engage engine, so BOTH larger Positive and Negative battery cables need to be in good working order with clean dry connections


After about 1985 all vehicle were required to have a "Neutral safety switch" so they can not be started "in gear"
With a 2000 Ranger automatic this would be the DTR sensor on the transmission, it must be on Park or Neutral or starter motor will not engage
Because the column shifters on all Ford Trucks could get loose, DTR sensor may not be "in" PARK even though transmission is in fact in Park, so try shifting to Neutral and starting engine

2000 Ranger V6 also has PATS, rapidly flashing "THEFT" light on the dash with key on means starter and engine are disabled by anti-theft system(PATS)