Starting/electrical issue

[Boatboy1959]

Hi, new member, lots of knowledge it looks like so here's a question.. We have a 99 4X4 Off Road with the 4.0L engine, auto trans, and 130,000 miles on it we just bought for $500. It had a cracked head so I've replaced them both and truck is/was running good however every since we bought it even though the key is off and taken out it acts as though it is in the accessory position. Radio, power windows, anything that would work in the accessory position works and it will run the battery down overnight. Previous owner can't seem to remember if it was doing it to him, he parked it over a year ago when the head cracked. Now suddenly yesterday the starter will not crank either so I changed the ignition switch thinking that was it but still no luck, so I pulled the starter/solenoid and checked it, it's fine. I got my electrical tester out and I have power to the starter motor but no power to the solenoid when the key is turned to the start position. Checked starter relay and fuses and anything else I can think of except neutral safety switch but I'm still really puzzled about the power being on with the key off. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Hi, new member, lots of knowledge it looks like so here's a question.. We have a 99 4X4 Off Road with the 4.0L engine, auto trans, and 130,000 miles on it we just bought for $500. It had a cracked head so I've replaced them both and truck is/was running good however every since we bought it even though the key is off and taken out it acts as though it is in the accessory position. Radio, power windows, anything that would work in the accessory position works and it will run the battery down overnight. Previous owner can't seem to remember if it was doing it to him, he parked it over a year ago when the head cracked. Now suddenly yesterday the starter will not crank either so I changed the ignition switch thinking that was it but still no luck, so I pulled the starter/solenoid and checked it, it's fine. I got my electrical tester out and I have power to the starter motor but no power to the solenoid when the key is turned to the start position. Checked starter relay and fuses and anything else I can think of except neutral safety switch but I'm still really puzzled about the power being on with the key off. Any ideas? Thanks.

Not sure if this helps, but it might be the key switch itself...I've had similar issues w/ them before. I could start the truck and pull the key out lol, and it was loosey goosey between settings.

Other than that you may have a parasitic draw or short somewhere. Somethings bypassing the key switch and connecting juice. That electricity having nowhere to go might have built up and blown out your solenoid.
I've heard of leaving the ignition on without starting the engine will burn out coils too.

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^^

Under the steering column, above brake pedal area is the Ignition switch

When you turn the key it pushes and pulls a rod inside the steering column that SLIDES the ignition switch into its 4 positions, ACC, OFF, RUN, START

Ignition switch looks like this: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KK2uO_xaDKA/maxresdefault.jpg

The rod goes on that pin and SLIDES the switch, to connect and disconnect wiring on the switch

Google: ford ranger ignition switch replacement

There are several videos

Its NOT the ignition KEY cylinder, that part just pushes and pulls the ROD

Once you have the ignition switch out you can plug its wire connector back in and then manually move that PIN to see if its a switch problem or ROD problem