Same old problem
 

Hi all, I’m helping a friend fix their 2001 ranger. The problem... it won’t start. ;) battery is rich and full. It’s been sitting for 4 days now. Open the door and there is instantly the familiar clicking from the f57b-14b192-aa relay. I pull it and the clicking stops. Swap It for another one... you guessed it the clicking continues. I don’t have the manual to dive in deeper but my gut is telling me it’s a worn out ignition switch. Before I send my friend on a financial fools errand I wanted to ask y’all if my hunch is correct.

maybe there is a break or arching in the wire? But then the battery wouldn’t be tip top. So... thoughts?

There's probably 10 relays on the truck with that part number, so that's not any help.

What's the location of the relay ? Under the hood ? under the dash ? what slot number ?

If opening the door starts it clicking, I'd guess something to do with the dome light.

Welcome to the forum

Assuming V6 engine???
manual or automatic???
2WD or 4x4???

"2001 Ranger" covers alot of "models" of Rangers, lol


Does the starter motor work, does it turn the engine over?
If not, with key on, do the dash lights come on, BULB TEST, and is there a Flashing THEFT Light, this means PATS(passive anti-theft system) is preventing startup
The THEFT light should come ON and then go OFF, if no THEFT light at all then bulb may be burn out
This ONLY applies to V6 engines, 4cyl didn't have PATS until 2002

Rangers all have a "neutral switch", this prevents the starter motor from working if transmission is "in gear"
On an automatic this switch is on the drivers side of transmission, try shifting transmission to Neutral and see if the starter motor works, if so then Column shifter in cab is loose, and not moving the switch fully to its PARK position, trans is in Park but not the switch

If manual trans then the Neutral switch is on the clutch pedal in the cab, switch is compressed when clutch pedal is all the way down
For either manual or auto, check Fuse 24 in cab fuse box, it pass starter motor activation volts, if its blown then no starter motor


If starter motor works, but engine doesn't start then do 50/50 test
Spray fuel, gasoline or ether, into the engine
Then try to start
If its starts and dies then spark is working but there is a fuel delivery issue
If it doesn't start/fire, then its a spark issue
50/50 instant results

If it starts and dies then most likely issue is the fuel pump in the gas tank has failed, one day they work, the next day they don't, no warning

Thanks for the input both of you. I will look into the PATS as these are the closest symptoms to the vehicles problem. I'll report back with my findings. The relay box I am pulling from is the one under the dash consol just above and to the right side of the gas pedal.

Called Relay box 1

Nothing in that box could cause a no start

There is no set lay out for relays in this box as it depends on options

But general idea seen in below drawing
drawing is sideways and has 5 SLOTS for each relay shown, for testing, not whole relays

Other layout here: https://www.2carpros.com/images/ques...5/original.jpg