Weird problem 95 ranger 2wd 4 cyl electrical issue???

[bdd1987]

Ok, so the last couple weeks has been kind of a pain. I already posted this once but things have changed a little since then. From the start, i replaced the ignition lock cylinder. About a week later the truck wouldn't start. No clicking, no sounds, just a no start. So I give it a jump and it starts find but the battery voltage gauge is flickering and a bit on the high side. Then i go to autozone and replace the ignition lock cylinder again, and it starts without a jump! Which to me seems unusual because if the problem is in the ignition assembly why would a jump make it start? Anyway, the problem persisted again and in about a week it was the same thing. So then I replace the ignition starter switch. Doesn't make a bit of difference. Then I take it to a mechanic. The mechanic tells me I have a bad battery and thats the problem. So I replace the battery and it starts just fine. Later that day same problem. So I take it to ANOTHER mechanic the next day. This mechanic tells me after I drop it off that it's starting just fine and he tested the alternator, the battery, and the starter and all of them are testing ok. Also tells me the ignition is in good shape. This was a couple days ago and now it will start weak sometimes, not start sometimes, and start just fine sometimes. But a jump will always get it started. So it's an intermittent issue and I cannot for the life of me figure out what is wrong. And now 2 mechanics have told me neither can they. I have gotten to the point where i bought a battery booster and just carry it around with me for when it needs to be jumped. Odviously I don't want to do that forever though. Ideas? Anyone??

 

[tbirdsps]

I don't wish to cause you to spend even more money needlessly but, It sounds like there's an intermittent something going on.

Check the battery to ground. Is it clean where it grounds at the engine block? Is it tight?

Same for the possitive side. Is it clean and tight at both ends?

Is the electrical plug to the ignition switch clean and free of corrosion and properly seated on the switch?

I'm not totally familiar with electrical but is there a start relay? If so is it going bad? Someone else may chime in on this.

In my case with the 92 every time it failed to start or failed to do anything like light up dash lights it's been corrosion build up somewhere. Once it was a start switch that simply fell apart.

 

[TimR]

Ok, so the last couple weeks has been kind of a pain. I already posted this once but things have changed a little since then. From the start, i replaced the ignition lock cylinder. About a week later the truck wouldn't start. No clicking, no sounds, just a no start. So I give it a jump and it starts find but the battery voltage gauge is flickering and a bit on the high side. Then i go to autozone and replace the ignition lock cylinder again, and it starts without a jump! Which to me seems unusual because if the problem is in the ignition assembly why would a jump make it start? Anyway, the problem persisted again and in about a week it was the same thing. So then I replace the ignition starter switch. Doesn't make a bit of difference. Then I take it to a mechanic. The mechanic tells me I have a bad battery and thats the problem. So I replace the battery and it starts just fine. Later that day same problem. So I take it to ANOTHER mechanic the next day. This mechanic tells me after I drop it off that it's starting just fine and he tested the alternator, the battery, and the starter and all of them are testing ok. Also tells me the ignition is in good shape. This was a couple days ago and now it will start weak sometimes, not start sometimes, and start just fine sometimes. But a jump will always get it started. So it's an intermittent issue and I cannot for the life of me figure out what is wrong. And now 2 mechanics have told me neither can they. I have gotten to the point where i bought a battery booster and just carry it around with me for when it needs to be jumped. Odviously I don't want to do that forever though. Ideas? Anyone??

Start it up, let it idle, remove the battery cable, if it stalls, pull the alternator, and have it tested at an auto parts store.