96 ranger. powers but won't start
#1
04-15-2017
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96 ranger. powers but won't start
Hey I just bought a 96 ranger manual a few months ago with 232,000 stuck on the milage since 2014.
since I bought it I replaced the idler pulley, timing belt, exhaust system, fuel filter, egr valve, O2 sensors, solonoid, and battery connectors.
I thought I had a problem with the solonoid two days ago because the car wouldn't start, but would work with the screwdriver trick. So I replaced it and found out it had something to do with the sensor on the clutch. So I adjusted it and it started. Well now it won't start period the power still works though. and I'm just hearing a click coming from the solonoid Everytime I try to start it. I put a cheap test light on the battery, connections, and solonoid it worked. I put the s wire connection to it and tried to start it and it wouldn't light up. But the s part on the solonoid would . What do I do now?
since I bought it I replaced the idler pulley, timing belt, exhaust system, fuel filter, egr valve, O2 sensors, solonoid, and battery connectors.
I thought I had a problem with the solonoid two days ago because the car wouldn't start, but would work with the screwdriver trick. So I replaced it and found out it had something to do with the sensor on the clutch. So I adjusted it and it started. Well now it won't start period the power still works though. and I'm just hearing a click coming from the solonoid Everytime I try to start it. I put a cheap test light on the battery, connections, and solonoid it worked. I put the s wire connection to it and tried to start it and it wouldn't light up. But the s part on the solonoid would . What do I do now?
#2
04-16-2017
Welcome to the forum
I assume the 1996 Ranger was starting before, so this is a recent problem.
Also what engine do you have, probably doesn't matter but might.
And does it have a factory alarm system?
These did have starter motor cut-off relay added.
Yes, the Starter activation voltage, when key is turn to START, runs thru a switch on the clutch pedal(manual trans) and then to the Starter RELAY on the fender, it is often called the starter solenoid.
The Red/blue stripe wire is the "S" wire.
So when you tested the "S" wire it now lights up when key is turned to START
And Relay Clicks, so that part is working
First thing I would do is to clean the connections on the two Larger posts on the Relay.
And then clean connectors on starter motor.
In 1996 the starter motor is connected directly to the battery + with a large cable
The Starter relay on the fender just activates another relay/solenoid, on the starter motor housing.
In later years the Red/blue wire ran directly to the starter motor, no fender mounted relay.
The starter relay on the fender is mainly for power distribution in 1996, one of the larger posts will have several wires on it, one from the battery +, others are from alternator and fuse box.
Then one wire on the other post(usually black) goes to starter motor's built-in relay/solenoid, when relay is activated that 1 wire gets 12volts and activates starter motor's built-in relay.
If that one black wire doesn't show 12volts when key is in START position, assuming you hear relay "click", then either connections are dirty or Relay is bad.
Also clean connection on battery + and the larger cable on starter motor, this is where high AMPs need to pass so if connections are not clean and tight you just get a "click".
Same for battery Ground cable, needs to be clean and tight or just a "click" from starter system
It could be the starter motor is failing, try tapping on it with a hammer or ??
That can help re-seat the motors brushes and it will start to work again but will also fail again.
I assume the 1996 Ranger was starting before, so this is a recent problem.
Also what engine do you have, probably doesn't matter but might.
And does it have a factory alarm system?
These did have starter motor cut-off relay added.
Yes, the Starter activation voltage, when key is turn to START, runs thru a switch on the clutch pedal(manual trans) and then to the Starter RELAY on the fender, it is often called the starter solenoid.
The Red/blue stripe wire is the "S" wire.
So when you tested the "S" wire it now lights up when key is turned to START
And Relay Clicks, so that part is working
First thing I would do is to clean the connections on the two Larger posts on the Relay.
And then clean connectors on starter motor.
In 1996 the starter motor is connected directly to the battery + with a large cable
The Starter relay on the fender just activates another relay/solenoid, on the starter motor housing.
In later years the Red/blue wire ran directly to the starter motor, no fender mounted relay.
The starter relay on the fender is mainly for power distribution in 1996, one of the larger posts will have several wires on it, one from the battery +, others are from alternator and fuse box.
Then one wire on the other post(usually black) goes to starter motor's built-in relay/solenoid, when relay is activated that 1 wire gets 12volts and activates starter motor's built-in relay.
If that one black wire doesn't show 12volts when key is in START position, assuming you hear relay "click", then either connections are dirty or Relay is bad.
Also clean connection on battery + and the larger cable on starter motor, this is where high AMPs need to pass so if connections are not clean and tight you just get a "click".
Same for battery Ground cable, needs to be clean and tight or just a "click" from starter system
It could be the starter motor is failing, try tapping on it with a hammer or ??
That can help re-seat the motors brushes and it will start to work again but will also fail again.
Last edited by RonD; 04-16-2017 at 12:55 PM.
#3
04-16-2017
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Buffalo
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
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0 Posts
Welcome to the forum
I assume the 1996 Ranger was starting before, so this is a recent problem.
Also what engine do you have, probably doesn't matter but might.
And does it have a factory alarm system?
These did have starter motor cut-off relay added.
Yes, the Starter activation voltage, when key is turn to START, runs thru a switch on the clutch pedal(manual trans) and then to the Starter RELAY on the fender, it is often called the starter solenoid.
The Red/blue stripe wire is the "S" wire.
So when you tested the "S" wire it now lights up when key is turned to START
And Relay Clicks, so that part is working
First thing I would do is to clean the connections on the two Larger posts on the Relay.
And then clean connectors on starter motor.
In 1996 the starter motor is connected directly to the battery + with a large cable
The Starter relay on the fender just activates another relay/solenoid, on the starter motor housing.
In later years the Red/blue wire ran directly to the starter motor, no fender mounted relay.
The starter relay on the fender is mainly for power distribution in 1996, one of the larger posts will have several wires on it, one from the battery +, others are from alternator and fuse box.
Then one wire on the other post(usually black) goes to starter motor's built-in relay/solenoid, when relay is activated that 1 wire gets 12volts and activates starter motor's built-in relay.
If that one black wire doesn't show 12volts when key is in START position, assuming you hear relay "click", then either connections are dirty or Relay is bad.
Also clean connection on battery + and the larger cable on starter motor, this is where high AMPs need to pass so if connections are not clean and tight you just get a "click".
Same for battery Ground cable, needs to be clean and tight or just a "click" from starter system
It could be the starter motor is failing, try tapping on it with a hammer or ??
That can help re-seat the motors brushes and it will start to work again but will also fail again.
I assume the 1996 Ranger was starting before, so this is a recent problem.
Also what engine do you have, probably doesn't matter but might.
And does it have a factory alarm system?
These did have starter motor cut-off relay added.
Yes, the Starter activation voltage, when key is turn to START, runs thru a switch on the clutch pedal(manual trans) and then to the Starter RELAY on the fender, it is often called the starter solenoid.
The Red/blue stripe wire is the "S" wire.
So when you tested the "S" wire it now lights up when key is turned to START
And Relay Clicks, so that part is working
First thing I would do is to clean the connections on the two Larger posts on the Relay.
And then clean connectors on starter motor.
In 1996 the starter motor is connected directly to the battery + with a large cable
The Starter relay on the fender just activates another relay/solenoid, on the starter motor housing.
In later years the Red/blue wire ran directly to the starter motor, no fender mounted relay.
The starter relay on the fender is mainly for power distribution in 1996, one of the larger posts will have several wires on it, one from the battery +, others are from alternator and fuse box.
Then one wire on the other post(usually black) goes to starter motor's built-in relay/solenoid, when relay is activated that 1 wire gets 12volts and activates starter motor's built-in relay.
If that one black wire doesn't show 12volts when key is in START position, assuming you hear relay "click", then either connections are dirty or Relay is bad.
Also clean connection on battery + and the larger cable on starter motor, this is where high AMPs need to pass so if connections are not clean and tight you just get a "click".
Same for battery Ground cable, needs to be clean and tight or just a "click" from starter system
It could be the starter motor is failing, try tapping on it with a hammer or ??
That can help re-seat the motors brushes and it will start to work again but will also fail again.
Last edited by Kevrangerxlt96; 04-16-2017 at 04:49 PM.
#4
04-16-2017
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