1994 Ford Ranger 2.3l Wont Start

[clflorida]

Sorry I couldnt make a proper introduction but theres a "severe" storm coming and my truck I purchased a few days ago is under trees. Usually in these storms one of the big limbs falls. So I attempted the throttle cable mod but the door kept beeping. After awhile I figured out if the silver ignition lock was in a certain postion the door wouldnt beep. It doesnt beep anymore with the door open and when I put the key in and turn it starts beeping. When its turned a few ways it beeps for a little bit, the cel, battery, brake, abs, and seat belt come one. When its turned all the way the check oil light comes on, the brake and cel become brighter, the rest go off. The radio does not come on. After the throttle cable mod, I drove for a short trip to see how it works, nothing extreme, everything worked fine. Sorry its long and messy Im in a hurry, big storm+flat tire+no money. Flat tire is aired up a little bit but wont last another hour...I did lock my only key in here Friday, tried to get in but couldnt, had to call lockpicking service. Could there be a security system thinking I broke into the truck?

 

[Spott]

Uhm....I think you told us the joke, but forgot the punchline?

There's some vague indication that your truck won't start, but the only info in your paragraph mentions that you did the throttle cable mod successfully (congratulations), your keyswitch is worn (expected), and you're worried about the coming storm (understandable).

Could we get some info on the symptoms of the no-start condition, what you've tried, and what the results of those tries have been?

Without knowing anything else, you can "hotwire" the starter in this manner: Turn the key to "run" so that the proof-lights in the dash come on. Put the transmission in park or neutral. Wearing a good leather glove, stick a piece of heavy copper wire across the terminals of the starter solenoid.

If your battery, starter, and cables are good, it will crank. If your engine is good, it will start.

P.S. The beeping of the door chime can be silenced by putting the key in the "in your pocket" position. I don't think you need the key in the ignition to take the slack out of your throttle cable.

 

[clflorida]

Uhm....I think you told us the joke, but forgot the punchline?

There's some vague indication that your truck won't start, but the only info in your paragraph mentions that you did the throttle cable mod successfully (congratulations), your keyswitch is worn (expected), and you're worried about the coming storm (understandable).

Could we get some info on the symptoms of the no-start condition, what you've tried, and what the results of those tries have been?

Storm was heavy rain for about an hour. No activity for 4 hours. Expecting more later. Keyswitch is worn? Another thing to replace. Thanks(More things to replace, the better. I get extremely bored.)
All Ive done is put the key in and turned it. I guess you missed the symptoms part.
Put the key in, turn it a little bit(dont know what its called. In most cars, this position allows use of the radio, a/c, etc. but the engine is not running.) and the uhh check engine light, brakes light, seatbelt light, and abs light appear. Also it starts beeping. If you wait a few seconds the beeping stops.
Now turn the key all the way. The check engine light, oil light, and I think abs light(its in my last post) become more brighter and clearer to read. The other lights disappear. If the beeping is still going, it makes a depressing beeping sound that not pleasant to hear. Btw engine makes no noise, only the beeping sound if it hasnt stopped.

Without knowing anything else, you can "hotwire" the starter in this manner: Turn the key to "run" so that the proof-lights in the dash come on. Put the transmission in park or neutral. Wearing a good leather glove, stick a piece of heavy copper wire across the terminals of the starter solenoid.

If your battery, starter, and cables are good, it will crank. If your engine is good, it will start.

One of the battery ends is rusted...have to replace that when the money appears.

P.S. The beeping of the door chime can be silenced by putting the key in the "in your pocket" position. I don't think you need the key in the ignition to take the slack out of your throttle cable.

Whatever that means. Before I messed with it, when the door was open, it would beep and the radio would come on. Now the door opens, no beeping. Radio sometimes comes on, sometimes not. The silver lock ignition is very loose/jiggly probably a bad thing. Either you think I keep the key in the ignition when I open and close the door or youre saying theres some magnetic force the key is sending to the truck that is interrupted by my pocket material.

 

[clflorida]

Basically I was looking for a "You need to pull the ignition toward the radio or push it in and turn it that way etc." It says lock on it so I thought maybe I locked it some how. Idk this truck was born before I was.

 

[adsm08]

The "lock" position indicates that the steering wheel lock is locked. If you turn the wheel too far it will stop turning until the key is turned on.

It sounds like everything is working correctly up until you try to start it. Lights prove out, seat belt reminder dings, etc.

You have no security system to lock you out.

Weak battery is my guess.

 

[Spott]

Storm was heavy rain for about an hour. No activity for 4 hours. Expecting more later. Keyswitch is worn? Another thing to replace. Thanks(More things to replace, the better. I get extremely bored.)
All Ive done is put the key in and turned it. I guess you missed the symptoms part.
Put the key in, turn it a little bit(dont know what its called. In most cars, this position allows use of the radio, a/c, etc. but the engine is not running.) and the uhh check engine light, brakes light, seatbelt light, and abs light appear. Also it starts beeping. If you wait a few seconds the beeping stops.
Now turn the key all the way. The check engine light, oil light, and I think abs light(its in my last post) become more brighter and clearer to read. The other lights disappear. If the beeping is still going, it makes a depressing beeping sound that not pleasant to hear. Btw engine makes no noise, only the beeping sound if it hasnt stopped.



One of the battery ends is rusted...have to replace that when the money appears.




Whatever that means. Before I messed with it, when the door was open, it would beep and the radio would come on. Now the door opens, no beeping. Radio sometimes comes on, sometimes not. The silver lock ignition is very loose/jiggly probably a bad thing. Either you think I keep the key in the ignition when I open and close the door or youre saying theres some magnetic force the key is sending to the truck that is interrupted by my pocket material.

From what I understood of your first post, while you were fixing the throttle cable, the truck was beeping. (I assumed you had the door open while working on the throttle cable; it's the logical conclusion.) The beeping annoyed you, so you wiggled the key around until you found a "dead spot" where the beeping stopped. If this is not what happened, you need to learn to separate out unrelated thoughts in your writing.

I also don't understand why you told us about the throttle cable repair, as that is unrelated to your starting problem.

The truck would only be beeping if one of three sets of conditions were met: 1) key is in the ignition and door is open, 2) headlights are on and door is open, or 3) seatbelt is off and key is in "Run" position, but only for about 10 seconds. If it's doing something different than that, you have wiring problems.

If the radio turns on when the door is opened, without the key in the ignition and the ignition switch turned some, then you have wiring problems.

So, I ask again...what are the symptoms? Specifically, what happens when you turn the key from "Run" to "Start"? *What do the lights do, and what noises or things happen under the hood?* If your truck has a manual transmission, are you stepping on the clutch?

It doesn't matter what happens in the "Accessory" position, or when the key is sitting in the "Run" position, or when you turn from "Accy" to "Run". Those things are unrelated, and just confuse the issue.

 

[clflorida]

From what I understood of your first post, while you were fixing the throttle cable, the truck was beeping. (I assumed you had the door open while working on the throttle cable; it's the logical conclusion.) The beeping annoyed you, so you wiggled the key around until you found a "dead spot" where the beeping stopped. If this is not what happened, you need to learn to separate out unrelated thoughts in your writing.

I also don't understand why you told us about the throttle cable repair, as that is unrelated to your starting problem.

The truck would only be beeping if one of three sets of conditions were met: 1) key is in the ignition and door is open, 2) headlights are on and door is open, or 3) seatbelt is off and key is in "Run" position, but only for about 10 seconds. If it's doing something different than that, you have wiring problems.

If the radio turns on when the door is opened, without the key in the ignition and the ignition switch turned some, then you have wiring problems.

So, I ask again...what are the symptoms? Specifically, what happens when you turn the key from "Run" to "Start"? *What do the lights do, and what noises or things happen under the hood?* If your truck has a manual transmission, are you stepping on the clutch?

It doesn't matter what happens in the "Accessory" position, or when the key is sitting in the "Run" position, or when you turn from "Accy" to "Run". Those things are unrelated, and just confuse the issue.

Ok then. I never said I put the key in the ignition during the throttle part. Just said I moved the silver part around until it stopped beeping. Its loose and can be moved around quite a bit. Probably not a good thing.

Once again, I thought maybe I had put the silver part in some type of lock position, preventing it from starting, when I messed with it. I got that conclusion by the fact it says "LOCK" on it.

I guess I have wiring problems.

I guess I have wiring problems.

Im afraid I dont understand. Ive told you everything that happens. There are no sounds. Ill post pictures if you require them.

Ive decided to take the advice about the bad battery connection. This was the positive end

 

[Spott]

Ok then. I never said I put the key in the ignition during the throttle part. Just said I moved the silver part around until it stopped beeping. Its loose and can be moved around quite a bit. Probably not a good thing.

Hmm. It thinks you have a key in the ignition, even when you don't (unless you left your headlights on.) This indicates that your ignition switch and/or the key cylinder (the "silver part") is quite worn. Or that someone's screwed up the wiring as part of an intentional act of modification that has gone wrong.

Maybe the starting part of the switch is still good, but it could be just as bad as the rest of the switch.

Once again, I thought maybe I had put the silver part in some type of lock position, preventing it from starting, when I messed with it. I got that conclusion by the fact it says "LOCK" on it.

The "LOCK" part is the mechanical steering lock. When it's in that position, it keeps the steering wheel from turning. It's intended to keep the wheels pointed in the direction you leave them (like when you're parking on a hill) and to make it tougher to steal the car.

I guess I have wiring problems.

I guess I have wiring problems.

Unfortunately, it's becoming pretty apparent that you might have wiring problems. I'd take a flashlight and dig around under the dash, and inside the steering column. Look for bare wires twisted together, lumpy wads of electrical tape, wire nuts, and red, yellow, or blue plastic "crimp splices" or "tap splices." All of those indicate someone tried to modify the electrical system. That "someone" may have had no idea what they were doing.

Im afraid I dont understand. Ive told you everything that happens. There are no sounds. Ill post pictures if you require them.

Oh. Well, that wasn't what I was hoping to hear. If everything were good, the cab lights and most of the instruments lights should turn off when the key is turned to "Start". You should hear the hum of the fuel pump running for a few seconds when you first turn the key to "Run" and again when it returns to "Run" from "Start". You should hear a solid "click" when the key is turned to "Start", as the solenoid connects power to the starter. And, of course, that solenoid "click" ought to be drowned out by the "Chug-Chug" of the starter turning the engine over.

Ive decided to take the advice about the bad battery connection. This was the positive end

That's probably a good thing. Also, put a battery charger on the battery and see if that helps.

I think your problem definitely involves the ignition switch and key cylinder, most probably involves some cab-wiring problems, and may distantly involve the starter solenoid. Also, finish making sure the battery terminals are good and tight and clean, and that the battery is charged.

Oh, check for blown fuses, too. I don't know if the start-signal circuit has a fuse, but if it's blown, the solenoid won't send power to the starter.

 

[clflorida]

Replace all the parts! Btw, the storm is over. Tornadoes leveled the towns of Vilonia and Mayflower, AR. This is no longer a "need help now" thread.

Hmm. It thinks you have a key in the ignition, even when you don't (unless you left your headlights on.) This indicates that your ignition switch and/or the key cylinder (the "silver part") is quite worn. Or that someone's screwed up the wiring as part of an intentional act of modification that has gone wrong.



Maybe the starting part of the switch is still good, but it could be just as bad as the rest of the switch.

This look right?

As far as the key cylinder, should I go with the same one or a different one?

The "LOCK" part is the mechanical steering lock. When it's in that position, it keeps the steering wheel from turning. It's intended to keep the wheels pointed in the direction you leave them (like when you're parking on a hill) and to make it tougher to steal the car.

What position is that in? Im talking about the key cylinder that says LOCK on it. Without the key, it can move from West to North, facing me to facing the sky, anywhere in that 45 degree(?) arc.

Unfortunately, it's becoming pretty apparent that you might have wiring problems. I'd take a flashlight and dig around under the dash, and inside the steering column. Look for bare wires twisted together, lumpy wads of electrical tape, wire nuts, and red, yellow, or blue plastic "crimp splices" or "tap splices." All of those indicate someone tried to modify the electrical system. That "someone" may have had no idea what they were doing.

Check that out tomorrow.

Oh. Well, that wasn't what I was hoping to hear. If everything were good, the cab lights and most of the instruments lights should turn off when the key is turned to "Start". You should hear the hum of the fuel pump running for a few seconds when you first turn the key to "Run" and again when it returns to "Run" from "Start". You should hear a solid "click" when the key is turned to "Start", as the solenoid connects power to the starter. And, of course, that solenoid "click" ought to be drowned out by the "Chug-Chug" of the starter turning the engine over.







That's probably a good thing. Also, put a battery charger on the battery and see if that helps.



I think your problem definitely involves the ignition switch and key cylinder, most probably involves some cab-wiring problems, and may distantly involve the starter solenoid. Also, finish making sure the battery terminals are good and tight and clean, and that the battery is charged.



Oh, check for blown fuses, too. I don't know if the start-signal circuit has a fuse, but if it's blown, the solenoid won't send power to the starter.

Replaced the battery ends and no luck. Decided to put a battery charger on for a few hours and that worked. It now starts. Thanks for the help.



Edit: Underneath the steering column is that plastic part. You can take that plastic part off to make the throttle cable mod easier. When you take off that plastic part, it reveals a plate of metal. Its rusted sort of badly...I dont like the way it looks. Is that metal plate held on by screws and can be removed easily? Or is it welded in place?

 

[Spott]

As far as the key cylinder, should I go with the same one or a different one?

Doesn't matter, the replacement will come with a new matching key.

What position is that in? Im talking about the key cylinder that says LOCK on it. Without the key, it can move from West to North, facing me to facing the sky, anywhere in that 45 degree(?) arc.

Your cylinder is really, really worn. It's not supposed to turn at all unless you have the key in it. LOCK should be the position all the way back towards you, away from the "Start" position. If the steering lock isn't broken, you won't be able to turn the steering wheel when the cylinder is in that position.

Replaced the battery ends and no luck. Decided to put a battery charger on for a few hours and that worked. It now starts. Thanks for the help.

Glad to hear the problem was a simple dead battery. You should still put "New key cylinder" and "Fix wiring problems" high on your to-do list.

Edit: Underneath the steering column is that plastic part. You can take that plastic part off to make the throttle cable mod easier. When you take off that plastic part, it reveals a plate of metal. Its rusted sort of badly...I dont like the way it looks. Is that metal plate held on by screws and can be removed easily? Or is it welded in place?

I think that's part of the dashboard frame. You pretty much can't remove it.

 

[modelageek]

Storm was heavy rain for about an hour. No activity for 4 hours. Expecting more later. Keyswitch is worn? Another thing to replace. Thanks(More things to replace, the better. I get extremely bored.)
All Ive done is put the key in and turned it. I guess you missed the symptoms part.
Put the key in, turn it a little bit(dont know what its called. In most cars, this position allows use of the radio, a/c, etc. but the engine is not running.) and the uhh check engine light, brakes light, seatbelt light, and abs light appear. Also it starts beeping. If you wait a few seconds the beeping stops.
Now turn the key all the way. The check engine light, oil light, and I think abs light(its in my last post) become more brighter and clearer to read. The other lights disappear. If the beeping is still going, it makes a depressing beeping sound that not pleasant to hear. Btw engine makes no noise, only the beeping sound if it hasnt stopped.



..have to replace that when the money appears.

Can you teach me that ^^^ trick?


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[modelageek]

Replace the lock cylinder(5 minutes and $25) immediately before you FUBAR the "rod thing".

This was a funny thread! [emoji1]

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[clflorida]

Update: changed the tires on the Ranger until I can buy new ones. Changed the spare and look what I found hanging under the bumper!

Score!

 

[clflorida]

Is this where its supposed to be when the key isnt in????? Does it need to be more towards me????

 

[clflorida]