1995 Ranger starting issues

[hutch]

I have a '95 ranger 2.3l with a manual transmission. When I turn my key to start my ranger, it clicks once and then nothing. No cranking or anything else. (Back story if it helps at all)... Last weekend I tried to teach my friend how to drive manual. After a few stalls the clutch pedal had no pressure. I dropped the transmission and replaced the clutch slave cylinder. I also did the clutch master cylinder. I got everything back together and the clutch pedal feels good again but now it won't start. I have replaced the starter after autozone tested it and said it was bad. I also replaced the clutch safety switch on the pedal assembly. The battery is showing 12.6-12.7 volts so I'm assuming that is still good. I attempted to jump the starter relay with a wire from the positive battery terminal to the "s" terminal on the starter relay but still get the same one click. The battery cables seem ok on the truck but it is a '95 so they are old after all. I also tried to jump start my truck with another vehicle but that didn't work either. All lights and radio come on when I turn the key. I have not tried to push start the truck yet (that's next on the list). Any other ideas of things to check? I'm about at my wits end trying to figure out this starting issue and I don't just want to throw money at it.

 

[tomw]

If you get but one click, then in most cases the starter is not getting enough amperage to crank the engine. The same result when jumping from another battery seems to indicate that the large cables are not passing current. I would check the cable terminals at both ends and at the starter relay. You can put a voltmeter across the end terminals, and if you read voltage on the meter, then the cables are not conducting. If they were, the cable would make the voltage the same at both ends...
If you have not done so, remove and clean the battery terminals, cable and post, and re-install them snugly. Do not break the posts free or you will be buying a new battery.
You should not be able to twist the battery cable terminals on the posts by hand. If you can, they are not tight enough to guarantee good conduction.
You could also use a jumper cable from the negative post to the engine block to effectively replace the ground cable. If the engine will crank with the jumper cable, you know your black ground cable is not conducting enough current. Ditto with the positive cable, but you have to think that one through a bit more.
tom

 

[hutch]

Thank you for the idea. I will take a look at the volt readings between the battery and starter relay tonight after work. I did notice some corrosion around the positive battery cable. I replaced the terminal ends on the cable but I'm thinking I might just need to get a whole new battery cable for positive and probably the negative side as well.

 

[Mikel89us]

Easy way to test the solenoid is yo take a large piece of metal(ie large screwdriver or wrench, and jump the big terminals. Make sure its out of gear. It will spark, but its not going to hurt anything. If it cranks over then you need a solenoid.

 

[hutch]

Alright, I did check the volts between the battery terminals and the starter relay. I got one reading of 12.6 volts from the negative terminal to one of the terminals on the relay and no reading when I used the other terminal on the relay. Same thing with the positive terminal ( one reading of 12.6 volts and the other at 0). Would this more than likely mean I have an issue with the connection from the starter relay to the starter itself? and not an issue with the battery cables to the starter relay?

Mikel89us- I did attempt to jump the starter relay that way as well as using a wire from the relay to the battery but I still just get the same one click.

 

[adsm08]

If there is a solenoid on the starter then a single click is likely the armature kicking out and the starter motor not engaging. Try banging on it with a hammer while someone works the key.

 

[Mark_88]

Sounds very much like a bad connection somewhere...

I'm surprised that the shop found the starter to be bad because you're having the same issue with a new (I presume) starter...???

It would not surprise me if you found your cables were bad...or severely corroded inside...

So...I agree...have someone bang the key while you hold the starter cables in your teeth...no, wait...have someone bang their girlfriend while you key your neighbors car...no..that's not it either...bang your head on the starter while you neighbor bangs his donKEY...no, no, no...ah, well, I tried...

Clean up those battery terminals and maybe cut back the sheathing a bit...if you see corroded wire deeper under the sheathing then time to replace the cable...but don't blame the person who you were teaching for all this mess...lol

 

[hutch]

Well I replaced the battery cables and checked all connections but still the same one click and no start or turning over. I tried to push start it but no luck there either. It still didn't even turn over. So I tried to atleast turn the motor with a ratchet but it wouldn't even budge. Could the transmission go back in without being lined up? When I reinstalled it, it lined up well. I started the bolts by hand but used them to pull the transmission flush for about the last 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Could something be binding there and keeping it from starting. It worries me that I can't even turn the motor over at all

 

[Mikel89us]

Yes, you most definitely could have a bind! Of its an auto, the torque converter could be not fully seated. Never pull a motor and trans together if you can't get the motor within an 1/8th of an inch without tightening the bolts. The motor shouldn't be tight.

Re read the op, since its a manual, the splines on the input shaft could have got bound, and you are shoving the clutch disc into the crank. You most definitely want to pull it apart and see if the input shaft/clutch disc/ pilot bearing have any damage.

 

[hutch]

Well after pulling the trans back down, a loose bolt came tumbling out. Somehow it had fallen into the trans housing before re-installation the first time. Nothing looked damaged in the trans so I put it all back together and it started right up. Seems like I got very lucky that nothing was damaged. Thanks for the input everyone!

 

[Mark_88]

Thanks for the happy ending...it's almost always something simple...