Ranger Turbo Project Wont Turn Over

[TheMuffinOfEvil]

So my project is almost done, got everything fabricated and in place, and Ive missed something painfully stupid. The starter is hooked up correctly, yet for some reason when I key the ignition it isn't engaging. What are some obvious things I could have missed to cause this, and is there some safety sensor on the ranger that doesn't let the starter engage if there is no reading from it.

 

[Big Jim M]

The park/neutral or the clutch switch is the most common failure at this point.
Big Jim

 

[TheMuffinOfEvil]

Its late and dark here, will check the clutch switch in the morning, thanks Big Jim.

 

[TheMuffinOfEvil]

Negative on the clutch switch. Any other ideas.

 

[Big Jim M]

Muff have you shorted across the solenoid? I couldn't stand it if I got that far and couldn't hear it run.. With the key on do you have voltage to the coil? When you hit the start switch does the solenoid click?
Damn the clutch switch anyway! Why couldn't it be the culpret..
Big JIm

 

[TheMuffinOfEvil]

Ill have to check in the morning. My work space and computer aren't at the same location and I'm just to tired/frustrated to drive back out there. And your right, its killing me, the whole project has gone smoother than expected up to here.

 

[feellnfroggy]

You have a 98. So its loaded withthe pats system isnt it? Also me being master of the obvious, did you hook the terminal abck to the battery? How long has it been sitting, does the battery need a charge? Like ive posted in other sections, there are 4 basic elements to starting a vehicle.

1. battery
2. starter relay (firewall)
3. starter solenoid (attached to starter)
4. Starter.

Excluding the EEC and Pats systems it should be one of these components. Are all your ground wires connected solid throughout the rest of the engine and frame? Do you have enough groundwires?

 

[TheMuffinOfEvil]

Ill be resuming work on this Monday. I got strep throat so bad I nearly died and had to be hospitalized. Didnt want you all to think your advice was wasted or unappreciated.

 

[snoman6115]

ya since it all went so smooth ide start with teh dumbest smallest things that always get overlooked. fuses wires not hooked up, plugs not connected dead battery

 

[Irokranger93]

starter relay (firewall)
I think your question does not start
try this jump big pole starter relay in neutral and keys on
it acts like a big switch

 

[TheMuffinOfEvil]

I have a mostly unrelated question I would like to ask here for my project and a friends I will be attempting next. How much of the 4.0 can be taken apart with it still in the engine bay? Is it possible to change the cam with it still in there if you take most everything else off, or do you need to lift it out? I just took it out for my project as I needed to anyway, he just wants to change his cam and port and polish the heads, so we were wondering if we could avoid pulling the whole thing out.