83 2.3 Lost all Electrical Power

[brute29]

I lost all Electrical in my ranger. Turn the key in and nothing. I replaced the battery so I wiggled the wires and everything was tight. jumped the started solenoid and it turned over but wouldn't start. Replaced the starter solenoid but that didn't help. I'm thinking fuse or ground somewhere? Any advice on this? Thanks.

 

[adsm08]

Follow the voltage. It sounds like you have power to the starter relay, and if the starter works your major engine grounds are OK. BTW, a starter that will turn the engine doesn't need to be replaced because it isn't bad. Turning the engine is literally all it is there for.


Next I would check power at the large gauge wires on the ignition switch. I think in your year they are yellow, but Ford kept changing the colors. Some were yellow, some were green and black.

 

[kishy]

Info based on 85, 83 assumed to be the same or very similar:

100% of vehicle power except for the high amp feed to the starter is fed off of a fuse link, which forms the end of the main charging wire that runs across the front of the engine bay.

The fuse link is joined to the starter relay on the same stud as the battery positive cable.

You should verify the fuse link is not burnt.

Check voltage at the main output stud of the alternator. You should see battery voltage there at all times. If there is no voltage at the alternator output stud then it's probably the fuse link, and definitely a problem in the engine bay.

If you have voltage at the alternator, my next guess is one or both of the fuse links which exist on the driver side fender where the main power wire splices off to a few different functions.