Starter was bad, would that cause gauge issues with Oil and Temperature?

[Angry Possum]

1993 Ford Ranger XLT SC 4.0L 4x4.
Ok so I think my starter shit the bed. I charged my 2 year old battery to it's maximum potential with a good battery charger,, and nothing, it wouldn't crank. The battery showed 13.8 volts with a multimeter. Interestingly last nite the gauge for the oil was high as well as the temp gauge, both higher than normal. Would a bad starter affect the gauges from a power drain. I'm assuming the starter is bad.

 

[bobbywalter]

Sounds like ground issues.

 

[Angry Possum]

Sounds like ground issues.

That's exactly what it was. The ground wire on the starter wasnt hooked up or the nut was loose, and came off of the starter, maybe when they did my transmission repair... My other mechanic replaced a new starter a little while ago, and it did the same thing, it wouldnt start, so he went under the truck again and he had noticed the grounding wire was tucked away above the starter originally that he didn't see. Needless it was a ground issue. All the gauges are back to normal readings. You definitely called it correctly.

 

[Bgunner]

On the subject of ground issues years ago I bought a 86 Jeep Cherokee Chief edition for $500 and need quite a bit of work. Well the engine ground strap to the firewall had been taken off and every time I stepped on the brake pedal the instrument cluster would light up like a Christmas tree. I installed a junkyard wiper motor/transmission in it and hooked the ground strap back up and all was good. My point is a bad or missing ground will cause all sorts of odd issues.

 

[Angry Possum]

On the subject of ground issues years ago I bought a 86 Jeep Cherokee Chief edition for $500 and need quite a bit of work. Well the engine ground strap to the firewall had been taken off and every time I stepped on the brake pedal the instrument cluster would light up like a Christmas tree. I installed a junkyard wiper motor/transmission in it and hooked the ground strap back up and all was good. My point is a bad or missing ground will cause all sorts of odd issues.

Yeah that's an important ground. I actually changed mine last year. It's a braided copper wire that goes from the firewall to the block.

 

[Bgunner]

If I'm not mistaken mine on my '94 3.0L has a braided strap that runs from the fire wall to the intake under the coil between the bracket and coil.

 

[Angry Possum]

If I'm not mistaken mine on my '94 3.0L has a braided strap that runs from the fire wall to the intake under the coil between the bracket and coil.

Yes mine is braided also. 4.0 engine.