starting a ford ranger with no key

[hollywoodman]

I am trying to buy this 90 ford ranger for parts but they lost the keys and I want to find out if there is a way to start it without the key?

 

[adsm08]

Open up the steering column trim, take the switch off the column (this does require a security torx bit) and then push the little notch all the way forward.

 

[RonD]

Start it or drive it?

Assuming 2.9l engine with TFI ignition
Run wire from + battery to + on coil, you should hear EEC relay click when you do this, also fuel pump should come on for 2 seconds

MAKE SURE trans is in PARK or NEUTRAL!!!

Use screwdriver to jump solenoid for starter motor, or jumper wire from + battery to "S" on solenoid(the small terminal)

Steering wheel would still be locked

 

[adsm08]

Start it or drive it?

Assuming 2.9l engine with TFI ignition
Run wire from + battery to + on coil, you should hear EEC relay click when you do this, also fuel pump should come on for 2 seconds

MAKE SURE trans is in PARK or NEUTRAL!!!

Use screwdriver to jump solenoid for starter motor, or jumper wire from + battery to "S" on solenoid(the small terminal)

Steering wheel would still be locked

That sounds like a lot of work when you can just pop the ignition switch off and flip it.


Also, I don't think that will power up the ignition system. The TFI powers up off the ignition switch, not the EEC relay.

 

[mklickner]

Take bottom trim off steering column, try to take a small drill bit and drill the locking pin out of the tumbler set, buy the tumbler set for $14, slide it in, and your good to go. Its better to do something the right way than have to fix it again in the future.

 

[RonD]

That sounds like a lot of work when you can just pop the ignition switch off and flip it.


Also, I don't think that will power up the ignition system. The TFI powers up off the ignition switch, not the EEC relay.

According to electrical diagrams the key powers a bus with the + coil as part of it, so putting power to the + coil should power the TFI and also the EEC relay for the PCM and fuel injection.
That was just the easiest place I saw that was also easy to find.

But I agree if you can pop the key switch then that would be better.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

You all make things way to complicated...

Find a key of the same style.
Insert it into the ignition.
Grab key and tumbler ears with medium sized channel-locks.
With one quick motion, turn it on.

Congrats you just broke the tumbler, now do whatever you want.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2

 

[adsm08]

According to electrical diagrams the key powers a bus with the + coil as part of it, so putting power to the + coil should power the TFI and also the EEC relay for the PCM and fuel injection.
That was just the easiest place I saw that was also easy to find.

But I agree if you can pop the key switch then that would be better.

I never looked at the big running block diagram. I've only ever looked at the systems in isolation, but I suppose that would make sense. It all comes back to two wires on one pin at the switch, so anything with key-switched power should be able to be powered up by putting power to any one point on the line.

You all make things way to complicated...

Find a key of the same style.
Insert it into the ignition.
Grab key and tumbler ears with medium sized channel-locks.
With one quick motion, turn it on.

Congrats you just broke the tumbler, now do whatever you want.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2

That sounds like effort. I much prefer what I did with my truck, which is to just wear the cylinder out so bad that it turns without the key most of the time.

 

[Andy D]

That sounds like effort. I much prefer what I did with my truck, which is to just wear the cylinder out so bad that it turns without the key most of the time.[/QUOTE]

Just started the Rat today without the key. 4 out 5 of my Grand Wagoneers didnt need a key. The lock was a GM part from the 50s

PS , if you get the dash lights going , you have jumped it correctly and crossing the solenoid will start the engine.

 

[Mark_88]

Go to the junkyard and swipe all the Ford keys you can find...one of them will probably start the truck without having to go through all the rigamarole of jumping and crossing wires...anything prior to when they introduced security locks...

I'm almost willing to bet that my keys will start your truck...almost...lol

 

[FinallyOwnRangerDude]

Open up the steering column trim, take the switch off the column (this does require a security torx bit) and then push the little notch all the way forward.

Where is the ignition switch box thing that was that switch off/start/ect.... Saw it on a post earlier can't find it now...

 

[FinallyOwnRangerDude]

Got a 2000 4cyl Ranger. No key. Took off all plastic interior panels around drive side... There's a yellow wire sleeve with like 8 or more wires coming out that runs along bottom of column, then split into 2 groups that run into plugs iton column. Can I use these wires to hotwire, if so which ones?..... If your worried about theft regarding posts, I'll post a pic and you will see

 

[RonD]

Where is the ignition switch box thing that was that switch off/start/ect.... Saw it on a post earlier can't find it now...

Got a 2000 4cyl Ranger. No key. Took off all plastic interior panels around drive side... There's a yellow wire sleeve with like 8 or more wires coming out that runs along bottom of column, then split into 2 groups that run into plugs iton column. Can I use these wires to hotwire, if so which ones?..... If your worried about theft regarding posts, I'll post a pic and you will see

Old thread 2013

Ignition switch is under steering column above brake pedal

2000 Ranger can't be "hot wired", it has PATS(passive anti-theft system)

PATS disables the Computer so fuel injectors won't work, no by-pass for that

A Mobile Locksmith that has Ford software on a laptop can come out and make a PATS key that fits the lock, well 2 of them, then can use the laptop to add the news keys to the PATS system

You can hot wire the starter and you can hot wire the spark, but there is no way to hot wire fuel injectors, and computer won't work unless PATS works

Sorry disregard above
2000 Ranger 4cyl did NOT have PATS, just the V6 models did

Pull out one of the door lock cylinders and take it to a locksmith to see if they can cut a key that fits
Ignition lock has one extra hump or valley but door cut key make still work in an older ignition switch

 

[FinallyOwnRangerDude]

Old thread 2013

Ignition switch is under steering column above brake pedal

2000 Ranger can't be "hot wired", it has PATS(passive anti-theft system)

PATS disables the Computer so fuel injectors won't work, no by-pass for that

A Mobile Locksmith that has Ford software on a laptop can come out and make a PATS key that fits the lock, well 2 of them, then can use the laptop to add the news keys to the PATS system

You can hot wire the starter and you can hot wire the spark, but there is no way to hot wire fuel injectors, and computer won't work unless PATS works

Sorry disregard above
2000 Ranger 4cyl did NOT have PATS, just the V6 models did

Pull out one of the door lock cylinders and take it to a locksmith to see if they can cut a key that fits
Ignition lock has one extra hump or valley but door cut key make still work in an older ignition switch

I just pulled the switch box out and slide the switch to start. Now the trick is how do I unlock steering wheel?..... I only paid 170 dollars bfor truck so I'm not spending any money on it

 

[RonD]

Simple diagram of what steering wheel lock looks like: https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-5a776f7c8328d0bc25745c2e866c747a.webp

When the key switch is turned to OFF or ACC, a pin slides up and engages slots on the under side of steering wheel

Not sure if you can see the pin with clam shell cover removed, but maybe

I have seen/read of people just yanking on steering wheel one way then the other to break the pin loose........but............
You DO NOT want that pin to re-engage while driving, i.e. going around a corner, lol