Help, ranger having trouble starting

[Kiyp]

I was on a long trip to my aunt's house in my ranger and im new to driving stick so i occasionally stall out trying to get into first, not a big deal, what is a big deal is that suddenly my ranger decides the ignition doesn't want to work, turn the key, not a single click, battery is all good, everything has power, but if i hold it for a while trying over and over it randomly will decide to start working and turn on, this is really bad when im at an extremely busy intersection, i really want to see if i can get this sorted out tonight because i have work in the morning and i need to drive this thing back down there one way or another and id prefer not to stall out without any way of turning the truck right back on, could someone please help

 

[Kiyp]

It seems it wont start when the engine has been running a while, the longer it sits the greater the chance of it starting up, once its sat for like an hour it starts right up

 

[Dirtman]

Change the ECT sensor.

 

[Kiyp]

Change the ECT sensor.

Thanks, i will try that tomorrow afternoon, luckily made it back home without stalling so i wont miss work, i am curious how you came to that conclusion, not that im doubting you im just trying to learn, what i read online was it was likely the starter solenoid going bad especially since it made no crank noise so im a bit confused as to how the coolant sensor would cause this, just seems a little odd to me is all so im trying to understand it and learn my vehicle better

 

[Dirtman]

Oh yea, if it's not cranking then it's not the ect. I only read the second half of your post because I'm lazy... can you hear the starter relay click when it does this? You'd need someone else to get in the truck while you listen. But more than likely I'd say solenoid too, next time it does it, whack the starter and solenoid a few times with a screw driver handle or a rubber mallet. If it works after a couple whacks then there's your problem.

 

[Kiyp]

Oh yea, if it's not cranking then it's not the ect. I only read the second half of your post because I'm lazy... can you hear the starter relay click when it does this? You'd need someone else to get in the truck while you listen. But more than likely I'd say solenoid too, next time it does it, whack the starter and solenoid a few times with a screw driver handle or a rubber mallet. If it works after a couple whacks then there's your problem.

Thanks so much, ill try that in the morning

 

[Kiyp]

Welp, after having sat for a night it starts up fine over and over with no issue so now im really confused

 

[Uncle Gump]

I would take a serious look at ALL the battery connections... both ends.

I would probably give all the easier ones a proper cleaning and ensure they are tight.

Any resistance in the starting circuit will cause a no crank scenario. You describe a temperature related issue but it is intermittent. Sometimes intermittent faults are a process of elimination. Battery cables should always be the first place you look... and it costs nothing but a little time.

 

[Kiyp]

I would take a serious look at ALL the battery connections... both ends.

I would probably give all the easier ones a proper cleaning and ensure they are tight.

Any resistance in the starting circuit will cause a no crank scenario. You describe a temperature related issue but it is intermittent. Sometimes intermittent faults are a process of elimination. Battery cables should always be the first place you look... and it costs nothing but a little time.

Im sorry i forgot to say that i believe i have resolved the issue, i took it to have a battery, starter, and alternator test and they found out that my battery had a bad cell, i was speaking with my uncle who is an retired mechanic and he said that my issue doesn't seem like a normal battery issue to most people but on occasion a bad cell can work perfectly fine and then only really act up on long car trips like the one i was on, so i swapped the battery and havent had the issue since, thanks for the help tho you guys