No crank 1990 2.3l 5spd ranger

[Ldoherty0603]

Hey guys looking for a little help, I'm getting a no crank no start when I turn my ignition. Check engine light stays on in all positions which is really confusing, even in the off position. My ignition switch and starter relay are good but now I'm not sure what to check next.

 

[RonD]

In the engine bay locate the EEC relay

Try here: https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/512072_ranger_fuel_pump_relay_1.jpg
Center relay

Or yours may look like this: https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/266999_fuel_5.jpg

EEC relay is activated by the ignition switch UNDER the steering column, it poweers up the EEC(computer) which turns on the CEL when it powers up

Ignition switch is, as said, under the steering column, its not the key cylinder, the key cylinder has a gear on the back and it pushes and pulls a ROD that runs down the column, that ROD slides the ignition switch into its 4 positions, ACC-OFF-RUN-START

Unplug ignition switch and see if CEL goes off, if so then there is a short in the switch part, if not then EEC relay may be stuck closed which will drain battery

When ignition switch is out, and plugged in, you can operate it manually to see if START works

 

[tomw]

The computer is powered by the ignition switch closing a contact that sends power to the EEC power relay. The power relay closes, and conducts power to multiple points on the EEC connector(s). If you have power all the time, likely causes are the switch, as noted above, and the relay. Sometimes the contact points on a relay wear, and can fuse together or get hung up such that contact is kept after the control winding is de-powered. The relay contacts should pop open, but may stick. If you pull the relay connector, either in the box, or a separate relay on the firewall/inner fender, the EEC should lose power and go to sleep. It does have power internally(KAM or external battery) so it can remember some settings on mixture and idle control. Later models have internal power, I think(may not...), while earlier have another external power source to keep the memory, labeled KAM - Keep Alive Memory for some reason.
tom