My daughter's 1997 Ford Ranger will not start. When she tried to crank it all it would do is make a clicking noise. Her battery seemed to be fine and a friend said it was the starter. We replaced the starter and it still does the same thing..makes multiple clicking noises when you turn on the ignition. Any assistance will be appreciated.
Thank you for your response. We checked the battery, put a charger on it just in case it was not full strength, even replaced both battery connections to make sure it was getting a good clean connection. The thing that is strangest is this is what it did to begin with prior to installing the new starter. We took the old starter off and took it to autozone who tested it and said it was bad. So we bought a new starter $140 + and installed it but all the truck would do is click once. We took the new one back, got another one and had them test it to make sure it was a working starter. After installing that one it is making the same noise it did when she got up that morning and went to crank it like about 5 or more clicks in a row and nothing else. I wanted to try to get it working before she gets back from visiting her Dad for Christmas but I don't know what to check next.
Most of the time when you just get a click or rapid clicks, it is usually a weak battery or bad connection. Make sure connections are clean and tight. battery>solenoid>starter. The cable can also be bad under the insulation.
then i would check the starter relay right behind the battery. and maybe the neutral stop switch
chiltons says when the switch is activated and the starter moter does not operate at all(clicks) then the problem lies with battery (in your case good) the starter relay contacts, the starter solenoid, or the starter moter electrical connections.
Hello, I certainly appreciate all your help. We still cannot get this truck to crank. Here is an update. We have determined that the starter is good and did get the truck to start by doing a direct jump from another vehicle to the starter. The truck ran fine util we turned it off and then the same thing - multiple clicks when turning the key. We replaced both battery cables and all ground wires and had the battery checked on double load to make sure it was good. Now when turning the key the motor makes an attempt to crank and you can see the front pulley (I guess you would call it) make a slight turn and then nothing. We get the same thing when trying to jump it from another vehicle. It seems that there is something pulling all the power and not allowing the truck to completely turn over.
Also we have noticed that all the interior lights dash lights and headlights completely go out when try to crank the truck. Any assistance is greatly appreciated, I don't know how much longer I can hold off the 17 year old teenager, she is back!
Where is the ground cable attached ? on the body or the engine? Should be good ground to the engine and to the body. Some where you have a bad connection from the battery to the starter.That is why the lights go out. the starter is doing the same thing
I have a similar situation like the one described above, and i was hoping that you could help me. So, I have a 1996 2.3 Lts Ford Ranger, Manual transmission.
Yesterday After trying to start my 1996 2.3 Ranger I did struggle to turn it on, after a couple of times trying and after the sound that you are hearing on the video it started ( ) . Today in the morning while trying to do the same, it does not go any further and doesn't start. I had the clicking noise coming from the solenoid also but probably was because I drained the battery after trying several times. I have charged the battery and now the only noise that I get is the one that you see on the video.
I think it might be the Bendix on the starter. But wanted to ask for your opinion. In case that you have had a similar experience with this.
I have a similar situation like the one described above, and i was hoping that you could help me. So, I have a 1996 2.3 Lts Ford Ranger, Manual transmission.
Yesterday After trying to start my 1996 2.3 Ranger I did struggle to turn it on, after a couple of times trying and after the sound that you are hearing on the video it started ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md5zd-fvMPA) . Today in the morning while trying to do the same, it does not go any further and doesn't start. I had the clicking noise coming from the solenoid also but probably was because I drained the battery after trying several times. I have charged the battery and now the only noise that I get is the one that you see on the video.
I think it might be the Bendix on the starter. But wanted to ask for your opinion. In case that you have had a similar experience with this.
Well the first thing I would do is check all contacts. Sounds like the relay is doing it's job since it is clicking. When a starter relay clicks in and out it is from low current.. Your batter it good so that has been ruled out. You replaced the starter so that aint it. You cleaned battery connections so that is ruled out. The last two things I would do is first check the ground cable at the end opposite to the battery. ie where it connects to the engine block. Then I'd do a thorough check to see if the cables themselves are actually good. I once saw a Harley that did the exact same thing and it was a broken positive cable. It had separated inside the sheathing and the two ends were touching so it would carry enough current to run the lights and click the relay, but not crank over the engine.
Question, when it tries to roll it over and then stops does the relay click in and out or does the starter stay engaged but not seem to have the power to roll the engine over?
try turning the steering wheel slightly as you turn key...
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