Hello. I am trying to fix my 96 Ranger.

[usasoccerboy]

I need to start a thread to deal with my issue on my Ford Ranger.

What is the best area of the forum to do that?

Thanks and good website.

 

[adsm08]

What kind of issues are you having?

We have sections for engines, transmissions, axles, brakes, gauges, lights, body stuff, spiritual stuff, we even have guys that can exorcise demons from trucks.

 

[usasoccerboy]

I am having a crank, but no start issue. That is the short version.

The long version is I recently replaced head gaskets of my truck and virtually everything else.

Many months ago, I used stop leak in my radiator and that seemed to be the start of all my problems. I had lost heat from heater core.
I bought a new battery a few months ago as well as changed the alternator (NAPA).

Before my truck broke down, I had replaced the spark plugs and wires and had issues, so I brought it to Midas where I was charged over $500 to replace one of the sparkplugs I recently installed and one coil. The truck ran great again.

Then, I was driving about 50 miles when I blew my head gasket. I noticed that my radiator needed replacing. I tried to replace it, but the problem of white smoke billowing told me the gasket was wrong and when I pulled off that spark plug and saw green coolant, I knew.


I replaced all the gaskets (Manifold, head, crankcase, thermostat, throttle body, etc.) as well as replaced the thermostat, waterpump, radiator, radiator cap, heater valve, timing belt, and fan belt. With the help of my brother, we fixed the issue by cleaning the heads, replacing the gaskets, and setting the timing. I spent about 3.5 days doing this. After doing this, the truck started and sounded great. I was happy I managed to get the truck started pretty much by myself and felt confident that I could solve the remaining issue with my truck, no heat from the heater.

I drove the truck about 70 miles to my house and on a weekend, started to tackle replacing the heater core. I found the job difficult, but so was replacing the head gasket. I did the switch and cleaned out as much dust and dirt as I could before reinstalling the heater core plenum and dash. I got it all reconnected and when I went to start, I hear a crank, clicking, but it will not turn over. I pulled back off much of the panels, couldn't see anything not connected, went to the front, checked all connections, still no start, but always cranking. I charged my battery, still no start.

I think it may be another bad coil or my plugs or wires may have to be redone, but I am not sure, and it seems that I am just doing the same things over and over.

I have a 2.3 L 4 cyl engine...1996,RANGER XLT.

I need good diagrams of all the fuse panels.

My Haynes manual doesn't give me one, and I do not have the original truck booklet. That is one area I still need to check, but I am not sure if this could be causing my problems.

 

[HAPPY+RANGER+GUY]

I am having a crank, but no start issue....I think it may be another bad coil or my plugs or wires may have to be redone, but I am not sure...

So you are missing Spark?

 

[usasoccerboy]

I would think, yes, I am missing a spark, but I had a spark before I changed out the heater core, so why no spark now, when I did not touch anything?

 

[usasoccerboy]

I am trying to upload a 22 second video to give you the sound of what is going on.

 

[PirateB]

Does the truck turn over?

Never mind I see that it does now. Just a wild guess here but maybe when messing with the dash you somehow tripped the inertia switch.

Are the plugs wet after cranking? That could eliminate a no fuel issue. Do you have a timing light or access to one? You could easily verify spark that way. 12v at the coil?

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 4

 

[usasoccerboy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGf-q7pkPUk&feature=youtu.be

Use the link above to hear engine and see what dash is doing during attempted start up.

 

[HAPPY+RANGER+GUY]

I would think, yes, I am missing a spark, but I had a spark before I changed out the heater core, so why no spark now, when I did not touch anything?

May be fuel missing? You can try some starting fluid and see if it will fire off with some starting fluid. That would indicate spark is good and fuel is the issue.


See here:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124556


.

 

[usasoccerboy]

May be fuel missing? You can try some starting fluid and see if it will fire off with some starting fluid. That would indicate spark is good and fuel is the issue.


See here:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124556


.

Yes, I see your logic there. I am a novice at this point. Thanks for the advice.

I am hoping I do not have to redo all of the spark plug wires and spark plugs. So, yea, that would tell me if I am getting the spark. Now, I got to go to Auto Zone and get some starting fluid. I will do this tomorrow after work and report back tomorrow evening.

 

[usasoccerboy]

Does the truck turn over?

Never mind I see that it does now. Just a wild guess here but maybe when messing with the dash you somehow tripped the inertia switch.

Are the plugs wet after cranking? That could eliminate a no fuel issue. Do you have a timing light or access to one? You could easily verify spark that way. 12v at the coil?

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 4

Inertia Switch? What is that? I googled it, and found a small video on inertia switches on ford vehicles. Be right back. I got to find that inertia switch and press that button now. I would die laughing if that is all that it was.

It makes total sense that I could have tripped it as the dashboard and plenum access were a B!TCH.

 

[usasoccerboy]

I found the inertia switch and it had not been engaged. I pressed the red button, but it had no give to it. So I disconnected the inertia switch and reconnected it and nothing. Just for safe measure I disconnected and reconnected a vacuum line and an electrical line. No start.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Just to completely remove the inertia switch as a problem, disconnect the plug and use a jumper wire to connect the two wires of the plug. The inertia switch has a ball that makes a connection between the two wires when it is working properly, so jumpering does the same thing.
A screwdriver in a plug wire held 1/4" - 3/8" away from ground should show a nice blue spark when cranking if you want to try that before getting starter fluid.
Check your relays, you may have knocked one loose when fighting with the heater core. Probably not, but check anyway.
Good luck,

Richard

 

[usasoccerboy]

I need a diagram for fuses and relays and how to diagnose bad relays from good relays.

 

[cvar]

I need a diagram for fuses and relays and how to diagnose bad relays from good relays.

Relay operation & diagnosing: http://www.bcae1.com/relays.htm

Fuses & relays are in Owner's Manual: http://www.ranger-forums.com/rf/ranger-owners-manuals/1996.pdf

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