93 ranger will crank and won’t start but will pop start and run good. HELP!!!

[DJay83]

I have a 93 ranger 5 speed. It turns over but will not start. I can roll it down the hill and pop start it and it runs great! What’s wrong? Someone help!! Please

 

[Roert42]

How does it sound when cranking?

Old starter that is just cranking too slow? Battery getting low due to the cold weather causing it to crank slow?

 

[DJay83]

Sounds good! I just put brand new battery in. And all new terminals. She turns over like she should. Just will not start and will not start with stating fluid but will pop start. I’m so lost

 

[Roert42]

The only difference between popping the clutch and Turing the key to start is that you are using the transmission/drivetrain to turn the engine over instead of the starter.

I would say it is definitely something to do with the engine not spinning fast enough.

 

[4x4junkie]

A friend's Jeep YJ recently had this exact same problem, literally (though it would still start normally via the key if the engine was already warm). Turned out to be a bad ECU (most likely an electrolytic capacitor dried up and was going bad. I suggested he re-cap it and keep it as a spare, as it's likely still perfectly fine otherwise).

What was happening was the voltage drop at the battery created by the starter motor (a normal 1.5 volts or so) was causing the ECU to malfunction. While bump-starting it, there of course is no voltage drop, so it would start.

Something to check for anyway.

 

[RobbieD]

It could also be the ignition switch; check that ignition +12 volts doesn't drop out when the key is turned to the "start" position.

 

[rubydist]

Yeah, I was thinking that the spark may not be there when cranking.