SOS

[SplotchyAphid05]

Hello i have a 1990 ranger with the 2.9 and it cant get the starter to crank it has a new battery, relay, relay to starter cable, starter, and battery terminals and all it gets is a click from the relay i think theres a short but i need a bit of help diagnosing it in terms of what i should be testing or even if im in the right direction but for background i pulled the engine and rebuilt it and electronically everything works that i can test without the starter but it did spark once around the starter when having someone else crank it but i havent been able to recreate that and it smoked once after holding the key down for a bit but i couldn’t source where it was coming from any help would be much appreciated

 

[Curious Hound]

Will the engine turn over by hand?

I don't like hearing about smoke. But a little isn't the end of the world. Was that the old starter or the new one?

 

[SplotchyAphid05]

Will the engine turn over by hand?

I don't like hearing about smoke. But a little isn't the end of the world. Was that the old starter or the new one?

Yes it turns over by hand and yes it only smoked once with the old started and sparked once with the new one

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I would suspect wires. A single click or a series of clicks is a good indicator of a bad or loose connection of either ground or positive wires at fender solinoid or at starter or engine ground.
The spark fits this scenario too.

 

[RobbieD]

First- When you reinstalled the engine, did you connect ALL of the battery grounding cables correctly? Big battery negative goes to the frame first and then continues on to the engine. A smaller battery grounding wire connects to either the radiator support or the fender (this is body ground). And there should have been a ground strap between the firewall and the engine.

Second- Closely check the big positive cable that runs from the starter relay down to the starter, for corrosion around the terminal ends or fraying of the cable strands. Or a nick in the cable.

Most of the symptoms you describe are usually caused by a poor starter current path; and, the high amperage the starter is trying to pull can heat up a failing connection to the point of it smoking.

In plain English, it sounds like you've got a shitty connection somewhere. High current has to get to the starter, and it also needs a high current return path (ground) back to the battery.

 

[Curious Hound]

I fully agree with those 2 guys. ^^^^

 

[SplotchyAphid05]

First- When you reinstalled the engine, did you connect ALL of the battery grounding cables correctly? Big battery negative goes to the frame first and then continues on to the engine. A smaller battery grounding wire connects to either the radiator support or the fender (this is body ground). And there should have been a ground strap between the firewall and the engine.

Second- Closely check the big positive cable that runs from the starter relay down to the starter, for corrosion around the terminal ends or fraying of the cable strands. Or a nick in the cable.

Most of the symptoms you describe are usually caused by a poor starter current path; and, the high amperage the starter is trying to pull can heat up a failing connection to the point of it smoking.

In plain English, it sounds like you've got a shitty connection somewhere. High current has to get to the starter, and it also needs a high current return path (ground) back to the battery.

Hey man do you have cashapp or venmo i owe you something ive been pulling my hair out all day trying to figure this out and i can’t believe i forgot to even check the ground coming off the battery but the starter turns over now i truly cant thank you enough so let me know what money app you have so i can send you something lol

 

[RobbieD]

I'm just glad to hear that you got it sorted out. Good job!

ALL of us need advice or help every now and again. That's what makes TRS rock; we help one another.