2002 ford ranger 4.0
Had a cheap after market radio hooked up by a friend, cut and crimp wires, double checked everything
Hooked up turned truck on and nothing
the headlights were turned on from earlier and then we heard a loud popped under the (hood area)
turned truck off, look under hood saw nothing
tried to turn truck back on and now have a no crank issue
Lights on dash work and headlights work in cab with key on but when in start position nothing not even a click

 

And you check all the fuses in the engine fuse box?

 

yup checked them all
especially fuse 11 in engine bay and fuse 24 in cab
switched them around with like others also just in case and nothing still

 

And no Rapid Flashing Theft Light?

Does the theft light flash slowly when key is OFF?
That means PATS is online and theft light bulb is not burned out

 

yup slow flash when in off position
on all lights come on
no rapid flashing anti theft

 

Then you are down to Neutral switch, Starter relay, and starter motor itself

If you have an automatic, try starting in Neutral instead of Park this tests the Neutral switch, the DTR sensor on the drivers side of transmission


If you don't have one, get owners manual here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...1-models-3747/

Look for the Starter Relay in engine fuse box, page 205

Relay 56, this relay should "click" when key is turned to START, if possible have a friend turn the key while your finger is on this relay so you can feel if it activates
If no one is around see if the Blower Relay(55) will swap with Starter Relay
Test if it starts and also if Blower/Fan works

And last but not least, the starter motor
The starter has the larger cylinder that is the motor part, and a smaller cylinder that is the relay/solenoid that actives the motor and slides out the gear
It will have a larger Red cable from battery
And a smaller yellow wire on a smaller connection, if this connection has 12volts starter will activate, use a jumper wire from battery positive to this connection to see if starter motor activates
If not then starter is bad, and may have been the POP you heard

 

what do you think could’ve cause the starter to go bad And pop if that is the issue?

 

???

Its a moving part, and an electrical part, they break



And just as a heads up because of the new radio, 2002 diagram seen here: https://therangerstation.com/tech_li...dio_Wiring.pdf

Fuse 28 is the MUTE wire, and is powered in START, it mutes the Ford radio audio when starting the engine, this need to be taped off if not being used or could short out starting system

 

I finally got around to changing the starter
is there’s a new issue where I when I turn the key to the on position the truck just automatically starts to crank and turns the engine on....

 

Pull the Starter Relay in the engine fuse box out
Then turn on the key and see if starter motor starts up, it shouldn't

Then check if Key turns normally to START and "springs back" when you release it
If turning the key "feels" different then it could be your ignition switch, under the steering column, has been damaged

 

Pulled the fuse and nothing felt different when turning the key
bought a new ignition switch and replaced old one
still the same thing is happening

 

In the 2002 owners manual there is a map for the 4.0l Rangers engine fuse box on page 205

Relay 56 is for starter motor
Relay 55 is for blower(heater fan)

They are the same type of relay
Swap them

Do you have a manual or automatic transmission?

 

swapped fuses
automatic transmission

 

So the starter motor does NOT activate with Starter relay pulled out, correct?

This means the short is between relay and ignition switch

Put starter relay back in and pull out fuse 24 in cab fuse box, this fuse passes 12v to starter relay but only when key is in START
See if starter motor activates with key on
If it does then short is on the wires from fuse 24 to the DTR(digital transmission range) sensor, its on the drivers side of transmission , on the shifter
Unplug its connector, have a good look at its wires

Put fuse 24 back in
With DTR sensor unplugged turn key on to see if starter activates
If not then replace DTR
If so then you will need to dig into the wiring harness for the DTR, there is a Tan/red stripe wire that runs to the Starter Relay, that wire is shorted to a key on 12v wire, possibly the Reverse light wire, it has 12v key on and is part of the DTR wiring