Ok, it's dead and I'm not sure why....

[CorwinWeber]

Ok. Here's the situation:

Truck won't even turn over. Turn the key and the dash lights come on briefly as expected, but the engine doesn't even try to turn over. I've had some issues with this over the past few weeks, but nothing serious. It eventually started. Not so today. Came out of the grocery store, wouldn't start. Puddle of fluid underneath. This isn't good. I had it towed home and checked it out. I'm seeing basically two problems:

There's a cylinder underneath the truck that I suspect blew out, at least there's fluid on one side of it. I'm not sure if this is the slave cylinder or not.... I've heard varying reports as to whether you can get at the slave cylinder on an 88 ranger without dropping the tranny or not. This is external, black with black hoses going into it, and a small tag on it that says (I think) Flow. It's not hooked onto the transmission as far as I can tell. This may not be the slave cylinder, especially since the other thing I noticed when I popped the hood was fluid under the hood. Poked around and the cap on the power steering reservoir seems to have burst. It's still on, but it's partially lifted up and the catch that would hold it closed is broken. Looks like there was some kind of surge in pressure and blew the cap.

All of this strikes me as A Bad Thing(tm).

That's the information I have, I took pictures of the relevant parts, and can post them if they'd be helpful.... mostly I'm looking for 'where do I go from here' information.

 

[modelageek]

I am not sure how much I can help but i will try.......go to the ranger tech forum and read about the clutch it will tell you where the slave is. I am trying to think of a fluid leak that would prevent the engine from cranking and I can't(unless the fluid went all over some other part). Do your headlights work?. Will it pop start? was it leaking before the no start?

*pictures are always good especially since you don't know the names of the parts

 

[CorwinWeber]

I am not sure how much I can help but i will try.......go to the ranger tech forum and read about the clutch it will tell you where the slave is. I am trying to think of a fluid leak that would prevent the engine from cranking and I can't(unless the fluid went all over some other part). Do your headlights work?. Will it pop start? was it leaking before the no start?

*pictures are always good especially since you don't know the names of the parts

Yes, I'm drawing power. Haven't tried the actual headlights yet but the battery seems fine. I'm honestly more concerned about the power steering. I've been racking my brain looking for any reason why the power steering would stop the engine from starting..... and I can't think of anything. If the slave cylinder was screwed up, I could see that stopping the engine. (Keep the clutch plate from engaging and it won't start, that part makes sense.) The steering? Not so much.

 

[modelageek]

Yes, I'm drawing power. Haven't tried the actual headlights yet but the battery seems fine. I'm honestly more concerned about the power steering. I've been racking my brain looking for any reason why the power steering would stop the engine from starting..... and I can't think of anything. If the slave cylinder was screwed up, I could see that stopping the engine. (Keep the clutch plate from engaging and it won't start, that part makes sense.) The steering? Not so much.

i believe if the slave was so toast that it did not release the plate at all( I don't think this is what happened) the truck should still jump when you go to start it

Will it pop start? was it leaking before the no start? can you tell what fluid is leaking?

 

[CorwinWeber]

i believe if the slave was so toast that it did not release the plate at all( I don't think this is what happened) the truck should still jump when you go to start it

Will it pop start? was it leaking before the no start? can you tell what fluid is leaking?

Didn't notice a leak, it's transmission fluid, but that doesn't help much. These things use transmission fluid for just about everything....

Um, pop start? (Where's the smiley for a blank look?)

 

[modelageek]

Didn't notice a leak, it's transmission fluid, but that doesn't help much. These things use transmission fluid for just about everything....

Um, pop start? (Where's the smiley for a blank look?)

when you have a standard transmission you can use the truck to start itself. You either push the truck with another car or else you have it parked on a hill. turn the key so the ignition is in the run position, put the truck in 2nd gear get the truck going about 15mph and release the clutch. if the truck starts it means you have a starting system issue. if it does not then there is another problem

 

[Spitfire1975]

Push it and let the clutch out when moving (first gear, key on). If it is a starter issue only the truck will fire up and drive away.

Dot3 brake fluid is in the slave cylinder (inside transmission bellhousing)

80W 90 gear oil in the transmission.

DexronIII/Mercon in the transfer case (if applicable)

You will blow out the power steering pump if it is overfull.
You could have a bad clutch safety switch if you turn the key and NOTHING starter-wise happens.

 

[Spitfire1975]

when you have a standard transmission you can use the truck to start itself. You either push the truck with another car or else you have it parked on a hill. turn the key so the ignition is in the run position, put the truck in 2nd gear get the truck going about 15mph and release the clutch. if the truck starts it means you have a starting system issue. if it does not then there is another problem

damn it dude. what gives??

 

[CorwinWeber]

when you have a standard transmission you can use the truck to start itself. You either push the truck with another car or else you have it parked on a hill. turn the key so the ignition is in the run position, put the truck in 2nd gear get the truck going about 15mph and release the clutch. if the truck starts it means you have a starting system issue. if it does not then there is another problem

OH, a push start. I haven't had a chance to try that. (I'm a bit of a loner.) Ok, it looks like transmission fluid all over. It's red and pretty light. (Have I mentioned I'm a computer geek and not car people?)

Ok, so where's the clutch safety switch?

 

[CorwinWeber]

Ok... update. This truck.... hates me.

So, had a mechanic around so I asked him a few questions. He came over and looked at it.... couldn't find anything immediately suggestive of the problem. I mentioned that when I tried to start it this morning, I had heard a buzzing noise from under the hood. Not the fuel pump, that would have come from the rear. He suggested I try to start it so that he could have a listen.

Can anyone guess where this story is going? Can you? Huh?

Vroom.

It hates me. It's trying to kill me. Seriously.

Ok, at this point I'm pretty sure that the problem isn't in either cylinder. Even when it won't start, I still feel pressure in the pedal. I'm not convinced that the clutch switch couldn't be a problem. He showed me where it was and.... frankly.... it's a bit exposed. (Hanging off the master cylinder in the cab, under the clutch pedal.) I suspect it could have worked loose, I don't know. Still have no idea what was wrong with the power steering, but the truck still steers. (I drove it around a parking lot and started and stopped it several times. No problems.)

Since I don't know what the language policy on this forum is.... let me just satisfy myself with 'grrrrrrrrrrrr.'

 

[Bryan22]

sounds like just a bad connection somewhere, start by cleaning the battery terminals and cable and make sure all the connections are tight at the starter.

If it is transmission fluid, i wouldn't be alarmed if it was just a small amount. there are 3 rubber plugs on top of the trans that are notorious for leaking. if it's just a few drops i'd just check it onece in a while and keep it full. a puddle is disturbing though and i would deffenitely have a look into it.

for the powersteering i'd just replace the cap and call it good. when you try to steer it with the truck not running it usually shoots out of the breather hole in the cap. my guess is the breather hole was plugged and the pressure just broke the old brittle cap.

good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Spitfire1975]

OH, a push start. I haven't had a chance to try that. (I'm a bit of a loner.) Ok, it looks like transmission fluid all over. It's red and pretty light. (Have I mentioned I'm a computer geek and not car people?)

Ok, so where's the clutch safety switch?

If you have an 88, and a manual transmission, the fluid should be Tan colored gear oil. NOT the red Automatic Transmission Fluid. If you have a 4x4, the transfer case will have the red ATF in it.

Someone may know more on this than me, but I would think if your manual transmission is leaking red ATF fluid, you may have some issues to deal with when it comes to your tranny.

The no-start is a different issue all together. You have some sort of electrical issue you will need to find. When it doesn't start pull out a test light and start looking for where the power stops. It will help to get a wiring diagram and do your homework.

 

[Spitfire1975]

sounds like just a bad connection somewhere, start by cleaning the battery terminals and cable and make sure all the connections are tight at the starter.

+1. be sure to check all of your grounds, PARTICULARLY the ones that ground up by the negative battery cable and make sure the connections are good at the starter relay on the passenger side fender well (the power cable from the battery goes right to it).

 

[Ranger Kip]

I have the same issue right now with mine, its grinding but not starting though.

my cylinoid is not working properly, if you clean off the poles (as Bryan22 said), and then have the same issue, take it to the mechanic again, have the transmission pulled and serviced (probably needs a tune up), and have them check the cylinoid.

Idea for you, head over to Advanced Auto's, and grab a Chilton manual on your general year truck. Its gonna help, especially with wiring diagrams, the tranny, fluids, etc. (about $35 ish)

 

[Bryan22]

if it's grinding you either need a new starter, flywheel ring gear or both.