I have been having this recurring problem with my 07 ranger. Every once and awhile I will shut off my truck and when I go to start it up, nothing happens. The battery has just but I turn the key and nothing happens. After a period of time has past ( could be 5 minutes could be 5 hours) It will seemingly randomly start up. No unusual light on the dash when I try to start it. and after it starts it will generally start again. So I changed the starter one day after I got fed u with I happening more frequently. That seemed to solve the problem for awhile, as the starter was going bad. However I just happened again. I had my volt meter and a screwdriver so I tested to see if I was getting power to the smaller terminal on the starter solenoid I had no power there and likewise no power to the larger terminal on the output side, I do have power to the larger terminal on the battery side. I then jumped with a scewdriver from the terminal with power to the small terminal. This made the engine turn over but It seems I do not have any gas/ spark because it will not start. Any Ideas on what could Be wrong? (I should also note when I was doing these tests I had someone turning the key with the clutch pushed in) Any help would be appreciated.

 

Welcome to the forum

Read like battery cable issue
Loosen and retighten the Battery Ground cables, loose or corroded Ground wire is the same as loose or corroded 12volt cable, stops power from flowing.

I have a 2006 diagram that shows Two positive battery cables, one to the starter and one to the engine fuse box

It reads like the one to the engine fuse box would be the issue.
i.e. when it doesn't start there are no dash lights, dash lights and starter motor activation(small wire on starter) are both powered by Fuse box battery cable.
So if fuse box lost power no lights and no starter motor