My wrecked 98 ranger..

[Thundarfoot]

I am new here and not sure if this is the right place to post this or not, if not hopefully a mod will move it...

I have a 98 ford ranger that has been envolved in a front on collision.
I have no prior mechanical experiance but want to tackle fixing this truck.
I am not worried about resotring it to perfect, but "good enough" to go to the store and back is good enough for me.
I know I will need advice (in fact I already do!) and hope this site and its members will lend me a hand...

This is where I am at so far.

I have removed all the smashed up plastic/fiberglass stuff. headlights grill etc.

The Raditor is not sitting the way it should as can be seen from this picture

The fan presses into the raditor, I would like to try to turn over the engine to make sure it will start or not, but am afraid of the fan tearing up the raditor...any sugestions?

I still need to remove the bumper but am having trouble with this bolt..15mm is to large and 14mm and 9/16 are both to small..anyone know what size I should be using?
the bolt shown on the left of this bent out bracket...

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Any advice, suggestions, or anything helpful to figuring out what to do or how to do it to get this truck working would be a big big help as I cant really afford a mechanic, its either I learn to fix it or I scrap it..

TF

 

[chvlfrk]

A location would be helpful..................somebody may be close enough to help you out!

 

[Thundarfoot]

I am in oklahoma.

I tried to start it today, wont start here is what happens.

all dash lights light up seatbelt dings etc..
turn key, hear loud single CLICK.
all power turns off no lights, sounds, nothing.
if I remove and replace battery cables I can repeate the whole process. But until I remove battery cables I countinue to get no power.

 

[chvlfrk]

Possibilities>>>

I am in oklahoma.

I tried to start it today, wont start here is what happens.

all dash lights light up seatbelt dings etc..
turn key, hear loud single CLICK.
all power turns off no lights, sounds, nothing.
if I remove and replace battery cables I can repeate the whole process. But until I remove battery cables I countinue to get no power.

============================================
Did airbags deploy? May of popped the PCM or you've got a ground problem.

 

[Jspafford]

Sounds like a bad connection to me. Check the condition of battery... and or try a known working battery. Also check your grounds. One may have gotten smashed up.

 

[Thundarfoot]

airbags did not deploy, but I remember now I removed a ground strap from the hood bolt whne I removed the hood (only way to get it open since it was so bunched up at the latch)...I loosly put the hood back but not that ground strap...bet thats it...

I am going to try that now....thanks for the tip.
---
Edit: well that was it, but it wasen't.....

Hooked up the ground strap to the hood, and now when the key is turned I get rapid clicking sounds, and an observer said the belts moved. the clicking sounds may have been the fan hitting the radiator, im just not sure.

Any one have an idea what I can try next?

Thanks.

 

[Thundarfoot]

I got the bumper off, and it seems the frame is bent.




however it seems to be bent in front of the wheel. So am I right in thinking this will not affect steering or anything?

I am now trying to figure out how to remove the metal "wall" whatever its called, in front of the radiator (as seen in first pic), so I can get the fan out of the radiator and hopefully get it started.

 

[Thundarfoot]

Hooked a chain up to the radiator support and pulled it out with my other truck. Pulled easy now the fan dosent hit so I could try to start it.

No go, have to troubleshoot...

Using a known good battery. I get just clicking sounds sounds like the starter maybe clicking? and I get a single loud beep from the rangers dash sounds like a error code.

 

[Thundarfoot]

Removed the starter, took it to autozone had it tested..tested good so put it back on truck.

Now it not only still dosen't start. but now there are clicking sounds when the key is removed.

 

[Angie]

I see this is a bit older thread and looks to have run its course, however, in case you are still trying to get this rig up and fixed, Did you check to see if the inertia switch had becomed disengaged?

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/InertiaSwitch.html

 

[Ranger_Envy]

I think his problem is a bad battery connection, maybe a pinched wire. He's just not getting enough juice to engage the starter.