- Joined
- Feb 16, 2012
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Location
- whidbey island wa.
- Vehicle Year
- 1986
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.9
- Transmission
- Manual
over the last few days when i would try to start the 86 ranger it would try to start, it would turn over then nothing else would happen. i would wiggle the battery cables get in and start it right up. i wanted to see if i could fix that issue by cleaning all the battery cable and such. when i went to disconect the battery cable i accidently touched the positive cable to the truck body which it sparked. i continued to clean the terminals posts removed the wires from the starter solenoid that is on the inner fender. i cleaned all this with a wire brush. from the previous owner who has jerry rigged just about every wire on this truck i cut a couple of wires and put connectors on a couple of the wires to reduce some of the jerry rigging. i then continued to put all the wires and battery back on/in the truck. i went to turn the key and ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING HAPPENED. the heater is hard wired in (compliments of previous owner) and it will turn on. the started solenoid on the fender has three wires (well more like 5 0r 6 do to the jerry riggine but basicly the ones that matter are) connected to it, the battery to the solenoid(8 gauge) the solenoid to the starter (8 gauge) and the solenoid to i dont know where but its a red wire with a blue stripe i tired to trace it but lost it when it went from one connector on the drivers side to another connector and changed to a red with a light blue stripe. it goes into the cab behind the dash and from there i cant find it. i had the wife turn the key to the crank position the see if the starter solenoid was getting power but when i tested it with my meter i didnt get anything. from the battery to the starter solenoid it gets 12vdc. i dont know much when it comes to wiring and how power works and i dont know which way the current should flow. it seems like the ignition key is not giving power to the starter solenoid. i checked all the fuses and they are good. i checked the three relays and all but one is getting power. if i am not mistaking the one that isnt getting power is to the fuel pump which if i am correct shouldnt power up since i am not getting power anywhere else. i dont know why nothing is getting power. i am at a complete loss. could it be the started solenoid? could i have fried the ecm? could i have blew something else up? is something in the ignition switch messed up? i have to have this running by monday so i can make it to work what shoud i test how should i test it. please if you can dumb it down for me as i am not inteligent when it comes to wires.