Intermittent no start...

[crx81]

This has only happened twice since I've owned the truck over the last 6 months or more. I drove to a store, parked, and when I came back out, the truck wouldn't start... no clicking, just dead even though I had plenty of battery power and everything else worked. I thought that maybe it didn't know it was in PARK, so I messed with the shifter (auto) for a while, trying to shift it forward and back a bunch of times. After about 15 minutes, it fired right up like normal. I started it up at least a hundred times before it happened again yesterday. Any ideas? Is there a common point of failure that causes this on these trucks? Is there a switch that tells it that it's in PARK THAT Could be going bad? Starter?
('99 4cyl auto)

[martin]

There's a switch that only allows the vehicle to be started in park or neutral. The next time it happens move the shifter to neutral and see if it will start. These switches can wear out and can also go out of adjustment. It's not something perculiar to these trucks it's common to all auto tranny vehicles.

[crx81]

Martin,
With the way it was acting, that switch was my first thought. I did try to start in neutral though, and no luck (either time that it happened). Do you know where the switch is located on the Ranger? I'm thinking that's the cheapest way to go if I'm going to just start guessing and throwing parts at it. Agreed?
Jason

[bcost882]

is your starter cable tight on the starter cause i had a vehicle that would intermittently start cause the cable was held on by a half a wire and would connect or not connect. maybe not cause it doesn't happen very often but it is something to check

[kimcrwbr1]

Make sure the ground to the starter solenoid is good the next time it does it pull the little wire off the solenoid that comes from the switch and take a screwdriver and jump from the pos on the battery side to the start signal and see if it cranks same as you would for a remote start if not it is either the solenoid or a loose wire or bad ground if it starts the you go to the start neutral switch clean the terminals and check the wires and test the switch. more than likely a loose or bad connection start with the cheap stuff pull the solenoid clean the terminals sand the ground same with the connection on the park neutral switch if it is real dirty clean with elect cleaner and put together with dielecrtic grease. somtimes just wiggleing the connector will get you going. Allways pull the neg terminal off the battery before messing with the start solenoid you dont want the battery blowing up in your face.

[Kingoverace]

if it starts in Nuetral is the Nuetral Safety switch on the tranny.

my guess is the Fuel Pump Relay.... $15 start cheapest first.

[crx81]

if it starts in Nuetral is the Nuetral Safety switch on the tranny.

my guess is the Fuel Pump Relay.... $15 start cheapest first.

No start in neutral. If if it was the fuel pump relay, wouldn't I still hear the starter? The two times that it happened, there was no turning over, no clicking, just silence.

Is there a link to a parts schematic somewhere so I can see where the switch is that you all are talking about? Also, I take it the starter solonoid is separate and not an internal part of the starter?

[Duane867]

My guess is the neutral safety switch. On an automatic...
Follow your shift linkage under the truck all the way to the trans. The linkage is attached to a bracket on the side of the transmission that is clamped on the selector shaft. behind that bracket you will see the neutral safety switch. You must remove the linkage to remove the switch. I think its like 3 bolts, a clip, and a wire plug to remove and your in business.

[--weezl--]

this sounds like my f-150... next time it happens, try wiggling the steering wheel back and forth, this did it in my truck, if that makes it start, it's your ignition, but i am going to go with it's more likely that it's your neutral safety switch...

[crx81]

I've had a couple of suggestions concerning the neutral safety switch being out of adjustment, but can't find info anywhere on how to adjust it. Anyone know the procedure or where to find it??? I'd hate to pay $50 to replace the switch when I could have just adjusted something, or to put in a new switch out of adjustment!

[modelageek]

neutral safety switch, loose wire on starter, starter relay in distribution box, ignition switch.

next time it happens whack the starter with a pipe.

[kimcrwbr1]

Just trace the wires to the switch on the tranny and check the connector if it is oily or wet that is probably the problem clean it with electrical cleaner and put some dielectric grease on the terminals when you put it back together. look the wires over good also. If it is out of adjustment the problem would be more prevalent. Do the same for the starter and solenoid connectors

[red85]

Check the heavy lead from the starter relay to the starter. At the starter, check to see that this connection hasn't rotted. I've seen this alot.
PS- don't whack the starter with a hammer, pipe, battle axe... There's components inside of a starter that can be damaged when someone gets a little "overexuberant". I love it when someone has their vehicle towed in after they beat the snot out of the starter. It pays 1.0H for me to change the starter and another .3/.5 to fix the wire that caused the no start in the first place.

[Duane867]

Yeah.. might not want to beat on random parts attached to an engine giving you problems. ;)
The ONLY reason you would ever need to "tap" not "whack" the starter would be if the solenoid is not engaging the drive pinion with the ring gear on the flywheel or flex plate.
( solenoids the small cylindrical dude next to the starter motor )
Some times they stick a little with age and need a little help when its time for replacement. Remember though its a tap not a whack..... an whack will foo bar it all up like Red said...