Ghost in the Machine

[Zelix]

I have a 95 Ranger XLT 2WD 4.0 that seems to have a electrical issue. It has 38,000 miles on it. It never holds a charge on the battery it seems, but if you go to jump it off, it comes to life right away. Literally you just touch the jumpers to it and it suddenly wakes up. Then once you start it, it will roll the drivers window only down in 3 to 5 stages to completely down. Now it seems to want to shift out of fourth gear into second. I thought at first that the tranny needed servicing, so I installed new filter and replaced fluid with new fluid. I thought I had it licked when 2 days later it came back. I have been reading that some functions are controlled by a GEM module, but as I read, nothing seemed to indicate it had anything to do with the tranny. Ocassionally a light would come on after one of these jump starts and was yellow and something about the overdrive solenoid. If you turned the truck off and back on, it went away and would not come back on till you had to rejump it. Same with the ABS light. Does anyone have some ides before I spend thousands of dollars on stuff I don't need to maybe or maybe not fix a electrical issue?

 

[Eddo Rogue]

You have a gremlin, possibly a few. They like motorcycles too. Once they claw their way in, its difficult to get rid of them.
You need a bell, but not one you went out and bought. it must be gifted or given to you. Gremlins hate bells, they will stay away. Hang the bell where they seem to hang around the most, it usually near their nest. in your case is sounds like under the hood somewhere between the engine and transmission. Good luck.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Sounds like grounding issues.

However, PCMs do not like to be electrocuted.

@RonD

 

[RonD]

"It never holds a charge on the battery it seems, but if you go to jump it off, it comes to life right away."

Get a Volt meter and test the battery, don't care if its brand new or 6 years old, TEST IT

Let battery sit for at least 4 hours before testing
12.8 volts is a new battery
12.5v is a 3 year old battery
12.3v is a 5/6 year old battery and time to watch for battery sales

12.2volts or lower is a failing battery, replace it

Battery can become self draining, quite normal at end of life, its an internal short, and it can happen on a new battery as well
You can unhook either battery cable and test battery voltage, write it down, then come back in 2+ hours and test voltage again, should be exactly the same, if its lower then that battery is self draining, period

Charging system test
After engine is started, battery voltage should be 14.3v to 14.8volts, under 15v for sure
After engine has idled for 5-8 minutes battery voltage should be 13.5v to 13.8volts under 14v for sure
If voltage stays higher than 14v then could be battery is bad, OR Voltage regulator is bad
If battery tested as OK the its the voltage regulator

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Gremlins do like grounds

 

[Dirtman]

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Oh wait.... he said ghost in the machine, not ghost in the shell.

nvm.

 

[19Walt93]

If you disconnect the battery and let it sit overnight, is the battery dead when you hook it back up? If not you have a current drain somewhere.

 

[Ranger850]

View attachment 48587









Oh wait.... he said ghost in the machine, not ghost in the shell.

nvm.

Its a movie.