My '89 ranger has been difficult to start lately (if he starts at all)


Admittedly he did sit for a few months due to medical and financial problems and I know that was terrible and I should have been going out and starting him occasionally

I had him running a week ago and drove laps in the yard, but a few days ago I tried again and he wouldn't start.

When I turned the key he lost all power, then I tried Jumping him but that didn't work. I ended up getting him started after cleaning some corrosion off the battery cables, but also had to stand on the excelerator and revv the engine to get him to actually turn over and start. He also made some weird ticking noise. I took him for a test drive around the block and stopped at the gas station but he did not want to restart from there either and the battery was completely dead again. That time he restarted after a jump and tightening the battery cables and we made it home, but he hasn't started since then.


I am going to replace the positive battery cable because it has needed a new one for a bit, but I think I may also be having issues with the starter.


It could be the alternator, but he doesn't lose power when driving.

 

Welcome to the forum

How long was it sitting, gasoline goes bad(water settles to bottom of tank) after a few months

You need a Volt meter to test battery
12.8volts is a new battery
12.5v is a 3 year old battery
12.3v is a 5/6 year old battery and time to shop Battery Sales

12.2v or less is a done battery, or severely drained, replace it

When starter motor is turning engine over battery voltage will DROP 2 volts, if battery is old AND gasoline is questionable then spark is not HOT enough to ignite the old/watery gasoline
So double whammy

Try starting fluid(ether) in the intake, it ignites at much lower spark temp, its the 50/50 test
If engine does start and then dies Spark is OK but fuel is not
If engine doesn't start then spark is not working, in 1989 that's a TFI module issue usually

Fuel filter could also be clogged up now

 

Thank you again, Ron.

It sat for about 3 months mainly due to medical issues and not having money or ability to work in it admittedly I could have at least gone out at cranked it more often and I feel bad about that, but I can't change it now. Just have to do better in the future.

It was nearly on empty when I first parked it. A couple weeks ago when I originally restarted it I ran all of that fuel out of it doing laps up to the pasture and back to the driveway also trying to determine what else it might need before we braved the open road again.

The morning it refused to start I actually had to take a jug up to the gas station and bring fuel back to the house for it.

I usually run it on Non Ethanol

​​​​​​​I replaced the positive wires that go to the battery and it now it doesn't lose power when it starts and has started up since then, but a little rough once or twice.

I was actually able to drive it a few miles stop it in the driveway a while and restart it which excited me.

I will definitely invest in a voltage tester for the future and it probably does need a fuel filter change too.