'95 Ranger won't start and can't get out of 4lo

[Shomegrown]

After a hard day of wheelin', my 1995 Ranger 4x4 4.0L 5-speed manual is having some problems...

Here are the symptoms:

-No crank. When I turn the key, I get clicks but no cranking. However, if I run 12V directly to the starter or roll-start it in gear, the engine starts and runs fine. There's no battery or engine problem.

-4lo won't disengage.

-Speedometer doesn't work.

Based on those symptoms, I'm afraid I have more than one issue. The first thing I did was check the clutch safety switch. I swapped it out with a good one which didn't help. The fuses look good.

I crawled underneath and looked at the vehicle speed sensor. Does this look correct? (pictures below). I can't see any wires coming out of it which I find weird. I guess that could be a 180* connector which wires running up on top of the T-case from that blue part. I can't find another picture online, so someone who has seen one please clarify if it looks normal.

If the VSS is bad, that would explain the speedo not working and 4lo not disengaging...but it doesn't explain the no-crank. I'm guessing it's a relay or the ignition switch.

Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Earl43P]

Looks like you ripped the harness off the speed sensor and pulled the speedo cable out too (I'm ASSuming 95 still was cable-driven; if not you merely have ripped off wires). No VSS signal might be inhibiting your shift? Anyway, till you get that fixed, simply remove the shift motor and shift it back to 2Hi manually.

The no-crank is another story. I don't recall if 95 has a solenoid on the fender or not. If it does, check for power on BOTH big terminals with the key in the crank position. If you have that, next check for power at the big terminal on the starter with the key in Crank position. If you have that, your starter is bad. If you don't have power on both big terminals on the solenoid and can't hear it click when the key is turned, the solenoid could be the problem. One of the LITTLE solenoid terminals gets power to energize the solenoid when the key is in Crank. If you have that, the ignition switch is good.

A lot of times, you can clean and regrease the moving parts of the starter with a little disassembly. Be sure to disconnect the battery before you pull it off. If you submerged the starter while wheeling, I'll bet you can clean it and it'll work.

 

[Shomegrown]

Thanks a lot Earl. I took it to a buddy's shop to lift it up in the air and we were both baffled. It looks like someone took the back half of the wiring harness. It clips in on both sides, but there are no broken wires or anything...it's just gone.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?p=434531#post434531

If anyone has one of these, it'd be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[Fast Doc]

Could it have something to do with the neutral safety switch?

 

[ati190]

The 95 speedometer unit is not cable driven. It relies on that VSS on the side of the trans.