2.3L ('83-'97) No power to ignition

[Jwill41]

88 ranger 4 cyl 5 speed acts like no power to anything. No dash warning lights, no radio, no horn, etc.

 

[RonD]

Remove and clean both battery cables and terminals
Follow each Battery cable and clean its connection to terminal and engine/body

On the inner fender is the Starter Relay(often called a solenoid), Battery Positive cable is connected to one larger post on this Relay
On that same post are several other wires
This post is the 12volt link for ALL power to the vehicle, so all wires here must be clean, this is where ignition switch gets its power, where ALL the fuses get their power

Use a Volt Meter/test light to make sure Battery voltage is present, at the battery and at end of battery cables

 

[Jwill41]

Remove and clean both battery cables and terminals
Follow each Battery cable and clean its connection to terminal and engine/body

On the inner fender is the Starter Relay(often called a solenoid), Battery Positive cable is connected to one larger post on this Relay
On that same post are several other wires
This post is the 12volt link for ALL power to the vehicle, so all wires here must be clean, this is where ignition switch gets its power, where ALL the fuses get their power

Use a Volt Meter/test light to make sure Battery voltage is present, at the battery and at end of battery cables

All is good to solenoid. Can jump solenoid and motor spins as should but no fire.

 

[RonD]

Remove and clean all the wires on the one relay post that has the battery positive cable on it

Those wires are all fusible links
One of those wires sends 12volt to the ignition switch, which will be your next stop

Ignition switch is under the steering column above brake pedal
It is a Slider switch
When you turn the key a rod inside the column slides the ignition switch into its 4 positions, ACC, OFF, RUN, START

Only ONE wire from that relay post feeds this switch, a Yellow wire at the switch, splits into 2 wires at the switch

If dash lights don't come on with key on then either the Yellow wire has no 12v or ignition switch is not working, broken


This Yellow wire also powers 4-way flashers and brake lights, see if they work, if not then yellow wire is bad in engine bay somewhere, or its fusible link is bad
If 4-ways/brake lights work then ignition switch is most likely bad