Hello,
2003 Ranger 4x4 4.0 automatic won't crank. I did the following checks gleaned from several threads here: Battery good, fuse #11 good, relay good (swapped 55, 56).
If I jump from battery pos to yellow lead on starter - nothing. Just to be sure I did a voltage check on the yellow lead and got 12 when I turned the key. All roads seem to lead to starter replacement. Other thoughts? Thanks!

 

The terminal on the starter motor's solenoid is called the "S" terminal and yes it should have a yellow/blue stripe wire attached

When this terminal has 12volts it pulls the solenoid closed(a "click") which pushes out the starter gear and connects starter motor to the battery positive cable, also attached to starter motor

And ASSUMING battery's Ground/Negative cable is OK, the starter motor should activate

So yes, I would say you have tested pretty much everything.............so starter solenoid/motor is bad

 

Thanks Ron. Working on it now - not nearly as easy as the Youtube video!

 

Yes there is a way to get starter out but there is only ONE WAY that it will come out, lol

 

Mission accomplished and a great excuse to buy a decent 1/4" drive deep socket set with swivel ratchet

 

Good work

Thanks for the update

 

Further update and a cautionary tale: When I first did my own diagnosis I could not safely get to the A post on the starter, so I tested for voltage with a needle probe on the wire itself about 6" back from the post. It read 12 volts. With all the other usual suspects already checked out, I installed a new starter and it was fine. After about 2 weeks, the truck would not crank again. Battery showed exactly 12 volts, so I blew $150 on a new one... You know the rest of that sentence. Its above my pay grade now so it went to the shop. They took the trouble to check voltage at the A post AND on the wire where I did. Yup, there was a break somewhere in between. Fifty cents in materials plus 1.5 flat rate time and the fix is complete. Turns out this is a common issue with Rangers (Fords in general?) and the new starter included a six inch lead with crimp connector. I didn't have a crimping tool where I was at replacing the starter and didn't bother. Note to self: I know its not a manly thing to do, but FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS!
Sadly, chances are a simple wire patch at the beginning would have fixed the problem, but I won't even tell my wife that.