97' Ranger Sometimes Won't Start

[creature]

I have a 97 Ranger 2.3L 2WD XLT. It's in great shape and runs/drives great, most of the time

90% of the time it starts and runs just fine, once in a while it seems to loose all battery power. Turn the key and click, nothing, no lights, no radio, nothing.

If I completly disconnect and re-connect the battery, it's starts right up and all the electrical works. Then it starts the next 20-30 times without a problem.

The battery is fairly new and keeps a charge, just every now and then, click and no juice.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Creature

[Hardwareman]

I would think your cable/cables need to be replaced. Battey cables that is. I had a similar problem some years ago with my Ranger and ever since I replaced my negative cable the problem went away. The cable can actually corrode underneath the plastic coating.

You might want to check there first.




Allen

[metalmacguyver]

what he said. replace the terminals aswell.

[MAKG]

Rather than guess, find the voltage drop in your favorite circuit.

Yes, it MIGHT be a battery cable.

[creature]

Thanks for the ideas.

I will replace the battery cables, I have already replaced the terminals but not the cables.

And, I would have no idea how to find the voltage drop in my favorite circuit. :D

[Ranger5.0]

voltage drop = voltage comsumed in a circuit. Bad conections = resistance and resistance = you guessed it, a voltage drop. Its pritty easy to track down a voltage drop in your batt' cables. Grab a voltmeter, set it on like, 20v DC, then conect it in paralell to the circuit your checking. so, hears an example. Hook the negative lead of the meter to the negative batt post, then hook the positive lead to where ever the negative cable attaches to the frame. when this is done, what ever the meter reads is the voltage drop.