• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

No Start


jglen490

New Member
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Automatic
We have a 97 Ranger, regular cab, 3.0, automatic. We've it for about half its life and it's been a great and reliable work horse. Yesterday tried to start it and - nothing! All the lights work, all the electronics are good, and the battery is about two weeks old. The day before it was working fine - started it and used it with no indications of a problem.

When we turn the key now, there are some relays clicking and the door chimes go through their routine, but nothing from the starter motor. So could it be ignition switch, starter relay, fuse/fusible link, or perhaps the starter motor itself?
 


RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,291
Reaction score
8,293
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
On the starter motor Solenoid(on top of starter motor) there will be 2 wires, a larger one that comes from the battery's positive terminal, and a smaller wire that comes from the ignition switch, via the NSS(neutral safety switch) on the transmission.

Make sure transmission is in Park, and key is OFF or not in key slot
get a Jumper wire and hook it to Battery Positive terminal
Touch the other end of the jumper wire to the Small wire's terminal on starter Solenoid.
Starter should activate and start turning engine.
If not then starter/solenoid is bad

If engine turns then ignition switch or NSS is not working, solenoid is not getting the 12volts to activate motor.

It could be the shift cable is loose and when you shift into Park it is not going in far enough to Close the NSS switch.
Try starting in Neutral.
If it starts in Neutral but not in Park then shifter or cable is loose, common issue on Ford column shifters
 

jglen490

New Member
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Automatic
Thanks. Yeah, the cable is getting sloppy. We'll try the start in Neutral idea first, then probe for wiring issues as you suggested.

'Preciate it.
 

RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,291
Reaction score
8,293
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
There are some youtube videos on repairing Ford column shifters.
Just google: ford ranger column shifter loose

All Ford trucks used same setup so any video will help ID your issue
 

jglen490

New Member
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Automatic
Thank you again. We did try a start in Neutral and that did work, so it is a shifter cable problem. Like I said, it is pretty sloppy. So onto the fix!

EDIT: Just looked at a couple of videos, the Chris Fix ones are pretty detailed and informative.
 
Last edited:

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top