Derf_the_Mule
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2014
- Messages
- 60
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Location
- SouthWest Florida
- Vehicle Year
- 2007
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 3.0L
- Transmission
- Automatic
I had an intermittent problem with my '86 Ranger many years ago. Both my positive and negative cables had been replaced several years earlier. I replaced a good starter to find 2 days later the battery terminals should have been cleaned first (rookie mistake, and $2 fix). A month later the same no start problem. Turns out the negative cable corroded between the wire and the clamp. Figured it out when I pulled clamp off the battery and the clamp came apart from the cable.
Moral of the story: check the wire where it connects to the lead clamp. If it is loose replace the whole cable and connector. A similar solution was mentioned earlier. This is a failure point neither I nor my father had ever seen in over 30 years of working on old vehicles.
As well I replaced the PCM in my '98 Ranger last year after I went to the store. Tried to start up to go home and it ran terrible. Threw over 12 codes at once. I ended up paying a good mechanic to check the wiring harness for faults before replacing the PCM. A failed PCM is very difficult to diagnose. Checks your grounds and contacts first. I second the Check engine light comment above. No CEL is bad sign and may have been removed by PO to sell.
Moral of the story: check the wire where it connects to the lead clamp. If it is loose replace the whole cable and connector. A similar solution was mentioned earlier. This is a failure point neither I nor my father had ever seen in over 30 years of working on old vehicles.
As well I replaced the PCM in my '98 Ranger last year after I went to the store. Tried to start up to go home and it ran terrible. Threw over 12 codes at once. I ended up paying a good mechanic to check the wiring harness for faults before replacing the PCM. A failed PCM is very difficult to diagnose. Checks your grounds and contacts first. I second the Check engine light comment above. No CEL is bad sign and may have been removed by PO to sell.
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