Hello my son bought a 1999 Ford ranger XLT so that he could learn how to drive and get his license. It's not the best looking vehicle but it ran solidly when we got it. Lately it has been doing a thing where it will not start. Sometimes it will sometimes it won't. Right now we seem to be stuck in a won't start cycle. It hasn't run for about 10 days. There are no blown fuses. The battery has proper voltage. I even tried to jump it. When you turn the key you just get lights and it doesn't even try to turn over. I thought it was the alarm system but now I don't know. We only have one key, no fob. Someone wrote a key code on the manual that was in the glove compartment. I'm going to try to attach a video of what it does when you turn the key. I really have to figure out what is going on with this thing so that he can get his driver's license. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Ok I can't figure out how to attach a video

 

This is what you get when you turn the key.
Usually the theft light is lit also

 

Upload as you would the video to YouTube, and post that link here.

 

 

Are the battery cables clean of corrosion?

 

Try starting in neutral

 

Yes I completely cleaned the terminals and the cables

 

I tried starting it in neutral I also checked to make sure that the two torx screws that hold the gear shift were tight and there was no play in the gear shift or the cable going to the transmission

 

@2011Supercab beat me to the next step. Or something to do with the security setting on the truck which I'm not familiar with.

 

One thing I did notice that was strange was that fuse number 24 which should have zero volts on it until the key is turned has three volts on it. The way I understand from the schematics fuse 24 receives 12 volts from fuse 11 when the key is turned.

 

Does anyone else have any ideas? Poor truck is dead in the water at this point

 

Does the truck have an aftermarket security system? Do you have a service manual? Have you tried searching for similar issues on here or on google?

 

Possibly a starter issue. I would see if there's any obvious issues there. Check your voltage and grounds all through your starting system. Had this problem myself recently and after pulling the starter to inspect it, the bendex gear was only engaging about half the time.
It literally fell apart as I was removing it.

 

Yes I agree KEEP IT SIMPLE