Battery? Starter? Or?

[rogerranger2122]

2008 Ford Ranger 3.0 v6 ~120k miles.
When I go to start it sometimes it takes a good 2 seconds but it seems the battery is strong because it's still trying to start although the battery is about 5.5 years old and I left the lights on only for a couple minutes a couple months ago and needed to jump start it. I replaced the alternator about 3.5 years ago with a good brand one from Autozone.

 

[Curious Hound]

These days, 5.5 years is OLD for a car battery. I don't like guessing, though. It gets expensive. What's the voltage? Real numbers = real information. It sounds like you need a battery. But lets deal in facts. Are all your positive and negative battery connections and grounds clean, tight and corrosion-free?

 

[Robert Mangrum]

A battery load tester is always nice to have to check for dead cell. I think most auto parts chains will test it for you free these days.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

If it’s cranking over quickly, you quite likely have something else going on like a weak fuel pump or something. Gonna have to run some diagnostics and check over things. I’d still check the wiring connections for the battery and stuff.

 

[rogerranger2122]

thanks. Good point about the connections yes they were extremely corroded with that green powder stuff, They're been like that for at least a year but I figured I'd put more of that battery gel when I replace the battery, the Positive terminal was so corroded I think it started eating through the connector on the cable end that clamps onto the stub.

I cleaned it all and wire brushed to clean metal, and it made a small spark sound but very subtle and no visible spark when I put the Positive back on and it wont' start still. I think it's the battery is actually 6 years and 3 months old. Forgot to mention a couple weeks ago a couple times I'd go to start it and nothing at all would happen, I flip the key back to Off and try again and it started right up.

I have a like $500 analog multimeter and a cheap digital one but I have no idea how to test, to set to volts or ohms etc the dials etc I have no clue.

The battery is larger than it's supposed to be, it's from a grand Cherokee, it says Group 65 which might be the size which is about 11.5" long, 7.5" across the top, and 6.5" deep is about the biggest the battery tray can fit, I cut a small flap of metal from the Ranger frame to fit this battery in like 6 years ago. My dad linked me one from walmart a couple months ago was a good deal something like $100 and the largest capacity that will fit this even though it's larger than what this truck is supposed to use it's only beneficial to use the larger one I understand if anyone wants to link that from walmart but I'll see if I have the email from my dad still/ask again.

I think it's the battery and it says only 3 year warranty on the sticker (Interstate group 65 850 CCA).

 

[RobbieD]

yes they were extremely corroded with that green powder stuff, They're been like that for at least a year but I figured I'd put more of that battery gel when I replace the battery, the Positive terminal was so corroded I think it started eating through the connector on the cable end that clamps onto the stub.

If they were that bad externally, those cables may have the copper wire strands corroded internally, inside the plastic insulation. Flex the cables, close to the battery ends, and see if they feel "crunchy".