So I have a 2.5 manual 5 speed, and it had been sitting in a field for about three years before I got it. The guy that gave it to me said that the was an oil leak, so I was like no big deal and did some research and figured out that it was probably the front main seal leaking. So I get it to my house and I go out and buy a battery for it. So I get home and put the battery in it and try and turn it over, and it wont go. It wanted to turn over but I couldn't get it. So I checked if the fuel pump was getting fuel where it needed to be, which it was, and realized that there is about 10 gallons of old gas in this thing. So due to the anti siphon on the filler neck I had to completely drop the tank and get all the old gas out. So I put the tank back and put about 2 more gallons of fresh gas in it, but when I get everything all ready to start, I try to turn it over, and nothing happens. I get one loud click and then all electronics shut off including everything in the cab, also that it almost completely drained the battery. So from there my mind automatically thinks that there is a short In the electronics somewhere. But I do some research and I found a video with some guy that had the exact same problem and turned out all he needed to do was replace the starter. So I went to a pull and save and got a starter off a 2.3 ranger and tested it to make sure it worked and all that. I put the new starter on and I still get the same problem. So now I know it is a short somewhere (or at least I think it is). I figured maybe it was the cable from the battery to the starter? Or maybe its a simple as replacing a fuse? bottom line is that I have been working on this thing for almost 4 months now and I still cant find the problem.

 

Why would he stop driving it just for an oil leak? I'm guessing he ran it out of oil and the motor locked up.