I'm new here, from Nebraska, age 76 and don't know how to retire. I'm on a farm with the wife, some cows and chickens. Enjoying hauling scrap iron (total farm cleanups) and playing country music in various bands. Anyhow I keep dragging vehicles home and attempt to make them run. Most all are "Money Pits" but once in awhile I luck out. Latest project is confusing me. It's a 1986 Ranger, 2.3 engine standard tranny 2wd. Previous owner died and had said it needed a fuel pump. He obviously did some testing to determine that. I ended up putting in a new tank and fuel pump (complete drop in unit). I made sure the engine would run (starting fluid in the intake) prior to all that. After installing the tank and pump, I tried to start it and it slowly cranked and then eventually refused to crank. The fuel pump DOES go through the pre-pressurization stage. Jumping the solenoid with a screwdriver is supposed to be a no-fail method. (NOT). It would only make the ground wire (from battery to radiator support) smoke. However........the solenoid will click when the key it turned to start position. I even tried a different solenoid (It is fender mounted on the passenger side).

Battery is well over 12Volts (tried two batteries actually), replaced the PCM relay which wasn't necessary, found the Inertia Switch was jumped together (tried it both ways), cleaned the battery to front support ground, put in a new starter (why???) so the battery to engine ground is good, clean and tight. Could not find a engine to firewall ground so rigged one up. Cleaned the PCM ground (2 wires). Checked the electrical ignition switch. It's clean and assumed to be working correctly.

One thing I noticed is that the radio would work before it failed to crank at all. Now it doesn't. Interior light works but instrument cluster lights do not (fuse is good), fuel gauge does not work. Heater fan works but the fan motor was stuck so I unhooked it. This thing is a brain teaser. I'll appreciate all comments. Thank you.