Ranger won't start

[Rich S.]

I just got my smog check and after when I was leaving my ranger would not start. The battery has juice, but the engine won't turn over. We push started it , but when I came home it would not start again.The speedometer is moving like I am driving when the truck is standing still? Any ideas,we tried jumping it and it would not jump start...

 

[snake]

The battery has juice- you know this because the headlights work or how? My first guess would be battery cables. I say this because a bad ground could cause the speedometer thing to happen although I haven't heard of that before- but bad ground shows up in strange ways. Try turning on the headlights, then try to start. Do the headlights dim down (not enough juice, bad connection, etc) or do they stay up (starter, relay, ignition switch, neutral safety switch/clutch switch)?

You can have the battery tested for free at most places that sell batteries.

Also, try having someone turn the key and hold it while you go shake the battery cables and grounds to see if it fires off. Those cables can look fine but be corroded underneath the plastic insulation.

 

[Rich S.]

I called a repair place and their idea was the same . It is an old battery . I will replace it and see if that is the problem. They said even though the green was seen as to condition , a cell could be gone and that could be it without it showing up.

 

[03ranger4x4]

its most likley the battery cable....my friends expedition had that problem, and the speedo was freaking out whille trying to start it...well all the guages, infact. it was going through some self test function i assume, but they would go all the way up, peg out and go back to zero.

we fixed the connection and it started fine

 

[adsm08]

yeah, those battery eyes are the worst way to test the battery condition, right behind running wires from the terminals onto your tongue. The eye checks the electrolyte levels of 1 cell out of the 6. It also can take several days to change if that one cell goes bad. Ford says they are only accurate when the thing is right off the shelf. If your speedo needle is jumping when you first turn the key on then your battery is shot and isn't giving the IC module enough juice to hold its calibration while the engine is off.

 

[Rich S.]

Going to replace battery and ground cable. What is the best way to replace the cable get a new cable or just the terminal head, due to the bundled wiring? Maybe snip the wire and re-attach to the new terminal head? ...Thanks.... Rich

 

[snake]

I'd have the battery checked before replacing it... and it could be the hot cable just as well as the ground. Turn the headlights on (engine off) and jiggle the cables until you see them flicker or die- then you know where the problem is.

 

[adsm08]

I'd still throw a battery in it, an 03 truck, if its the original the battery has actually exceeded its expected service life. If you have a die-hard in there for about 5 days it has also exceeded its expected service life.

 

[MountainMike]

If you have a die-hard in there for about 5 days it has also exceeded its expected service life.

Got an opinion eh man?