HELP! Im stumped

[thorsranger91]

91 2.9 a4ld 4x4 brand new battery. Left sit overnight and no start in am. Jump started and she fired after a few minutes sitting connected. Although tests at 13.9v at battery but 650 cca diehard fully charged and still same thing. Checked for draw, replaced starter remote solenoid and same thing. Cel lights so computer isn't issue. Maybe thinking ignition control behind the fender?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Ignition module wouldnt keep it from cranking.

Check the termimals at battery and the big black ground wire.

 

[thorsranger91]

Ignition module wouldnt keep it from cranking.

Check the termimals at battery and the big black ground wire.

I'm thinking it may have to do with engine ground strap as well. Maybe time for new ones and wire down to 14.4v while I'm at it

 

[RonD]

Test battery key off after at least an hour of sitting, freshly charged battery will show a false higher voltage
12.3v to 12.8v is expected

Then let it sit overnight, 6+ hours
Test battery again
Should be EXACTLY the same, if its lower then you have a drain or bad battery, can happen with new batteries(internal short)

Repeat test but disconnect one battery cable before letting it sit overnight
If voltage is exactly the same then your Ranger is draining the battery
If voltage is lower then replace battery its got an internal short

 

[thorsranger91]

Already done that. No drain. Battery replaced with brand new loaner even and still no start. Now just thunk. I have a replacement starter just have to convert it back to the original single wire starter. Some teen put a 2.3 starter in for some reason

 

[Fast Eddie]

This might help. Helped me though my battery was not new. Turned out to be a bad cell after less than a year. Same symptoms, same problem. @RonD got me started down the right path. You probably want to focus on the test process: Help - Parasitic Draw - Instrument Cluster | The Ranger Station

BTW Ron, welcome back. Hope you had a nice time

 

[Fast Eddie]

Already done that. No drain. Battery replaced with brand new loaner even and still no start. Now just thunk. I have a replacement starter just have to convert it back to the original single wire starter. Some teen put a 2.3 starter in for some reason

Sorry - just saw this. You can disregard my post unless you think it might help.

 

[thorsranger91]

It's okay. I started investigating and found my power terminal green and crusty at cable connection and ground terminal had blackish copper instead of a terminal lug.also learned I had voltage on the starter side of the solenoid and found the starter had gone faulty. So replacing all tonight

 

[Josh B]

I had an extra bit of starter trouble maybe 6 or 8 years ago. Ordered one online and it took about 12 days too long to get here, good ol ups
After I got it swapped and going I rebuilt the spare and got it working great on bench tests and boxed it up and put it in my tool box. I've been carrying that starter for years and haven't needed one yet :/

 

[thorsranger91]

Nice. I have a salvage yard 5 miles from my house and it's private so I traded 5 wheels and tires for a starter and solenoid for my truck and bought new cables and terminals today

 

[Josh B]

Five wheels and tires seem like a pretty good swap for a starter

 

[thorsranger91]

Five wheels and tires seem like a pretty good swap for a starter

I had 2 full sets of 5 so I didn't need the extra set. Also I found my culprit...the solenoid had been overtightened before so the starter side lug had actually snapped internally. Went to put new cables on and the whole stud came off instead of the nut

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I had 2 full sets of 5 so I didn't need the extra set. Also I found my culprit...the solenoid had been overtightened before so the starter side lug had actually snapped internally. Went to put new cables on and the whole stud came off instead of the nut

Glad you figured it out.