Starter help

[chaos1n3]

Hi everyone

Once again, I defer to people who know more than myself.

My 89 Ranger is not starting. I just bought the battery last fall. I've got lights and accecerries. When I turn the key, I hear a click.....and nothing. I'm thinking the starter might be locked up, but here is my problem. For the life of me, I can't find the starter. I feel like an idiot, but I've looked several times, and feel a little more dense every time. I've changed starters in the past, so if someone could just tell me where it is (a little more descriptive than next to the trans) would be great.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Jesse

 

[Big Jim M]

It's got a big RED battery wire on it and it sits BESIDE the engine at the lower back end.

Could be the battery (even though you THINK it is new and charged), or the battery cables, or the starter solenoid or the starter itself. You have to examine them all. I ALWAYS start at the battery, then the Battery cables, then the solenoid, and rule them out one at a time.
Big Jim

 

[chaos1n3]

Thanks. Just for clarity sake, passenger side or driver side. I was thinking passenger, but I've been missing it if it is. Sorry if this is repetitive, I'm at work and don't have my truck to visually check.

Thanks again.

 

[chrwilkins30]

driverside right at the transmission. basically right next to the radious arm

 

[chaos1n3]

Thanks.

 

[Beef52751]

maybe its not there? thats why it wont start and you cant find it! just kidding, i would follow big jims advice, start at the battery

 

[martin]

One of the favorite places to have a problem is the ground wire that goes onto the block.

 

[chaos1n3]

Tested the battery...tested ok. Tested the starter...checked ok. All the wires and connections looked good. Getting ready to try to jump the solenoid now.

 

[chaos1n3]

No go on jumping the solenoid. At a loss.
I guess I'll do some family time and sleep on it.
Attack it again tomorrow.

 

[chaos1n3]

Going to try to replace the cable from the solenoid to the starter. Hopefully that works.

 

[chaos1n3]

Replaced the cable. Same thing. Is it possible that the starter could pass the bench test at Autozone and not be able to turn the motor over?

 

[chaos1n3]

Now I really need help.
I replace the starter, and the same thing is happening.
When I turn the ignition, I can hear everything I am supposed to hear, except the fire. With the hood up, I can see the radiator fan trying to turn, and the RPMs jump from 0 to about 500.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[88~ranger]

Hey, so just to clarify, you bought a new starter, installed it, and when you turn the key its still just "clicking"? or can you hear the motor acctually turning over?

if its just "clicking" i would use a volt meter and go from the positive battery terminal to the starter solenoid and see the volts that passes through, if the volts are good then go from the starter solenoid down to the starter and check the volts. could be corrosion in the cables or the solenoid could be gone.