Hi,

I have a 1993 2.3L I am having problems with it not starting. It would not crank so I replaced the starter and the battery. Then It quit again. It was sitting and I turned the key nothing. Not even a solenoid click, I happened to wiggle the headlight switch to make sure the lights were off (they were) and it started right up.

Any ideas? I dont think the headlight switch/ ignition switch have anything in common, except mabye the ground?

It wont start again.....
Thanks.

 

check the wires that go into the terminal connectors from the starter and such...if they get gunked up then it wont start. Thats what cause me to do the same thing a few months ago. I now use wheel grease to prevent this.

 

I checked all the leads and contacts when I changed the starter. It worked for a while then quit working (I used dielectric grease) The funny thing is that I am not even getting a solenoid click. But sometimes It starts fine.
I am thinking more likely in the Ignition switch???
Is there a way to bypass the ignition switch when it wont crank? Perhaps turn the key to ON then jumper the solenoid?

Kevin

 

Yes you can jump the selenoid with a screwdriver. The only thing is, is that this will bypass all of the safety features if its a manual or whatnot. Maybe the wire is grounding out or you have a bad fuse.

 

I'll take a closer look. Thanks.

 

It sounds to me like your problem lies somewhere between the electrical contacts in the ignition switch and the headlight circuit/fuse box. The fact you wiggled the headlight **** to get it to start is no coincidence. It sounds to me like you need to take apart the column/dash and track down a bad wire/circuit.

 

Thanks.
Anyone know of a place to get OEM wire prints off the internet? It is a 1993 ranger 2.3 REG CAB XLT.

 

Also check the ground terminal for the starter. A loose or corroded terminal will cause intermittent starting problems.

 

All i have are all the books up to 1992 lol. good luck on finding them. its hard.

 

Hi
I put the battery on a full 24 hour charge. Now When I turn the key I get a "click" and what sounds like the starter engaging, But it wont crank. The dome lights go dim when the truck does not turn over. I am guessing it is either a bad battery, or It may be seized. I have not used the truck for 18 months....... IT has been stored in my garage.

 

This makes no sense that you could have a battery discharge problem and an ignition switch problem. Something is weird here.

 

I think the battery is solely at fault. I put the battery in my Bmw this morning (after I charged it all day sunday) and it would not start. I am still reading 13v on my meter, but the battery may have broken down inside. I'll throw a new battery at it tomorrow, And go from there.

 

My 93 ranger had a similar problem. It was the battery cables where the wire goes into the round terminal clamps, not the connection between the battery terminal and clamp like is often the case. So it wasn't actually a connection that can be easily seen because it was hidden. I have to clean them about once a year because it will gunk up, even with diaelectric grease inside. The immediate fix in a parking lot is simply to wiggle the wire where it comes out of the clamp whic usually is enough to rub off enough gunk to get you home to fix it properly. I'm not sure why they made them that way because they are prone to failure.

 

i bet if you peeled back the insulation you find a lot of corrosion. the good way is to replace the cable but it may be able to be fixed by soaking it in some baking soda/water solution and then dousing it with wd-40..

 

agree. try a different batterry and see what happens. the plates inside the old battery may be shot so it may read ok except if you put a load on it.