hey guys
my 88 ranger was running fine then i went to start it up again and it wouldnt turn any of the cylinders or none of the belts move. i can hear the fuel pump turn on for about a second every time, there is weak fuel pressure at the rail. Why wouldnt the engine crank? the starter does not turn the belts and all i hear is a whizzing sound. it sounds as if the starter is spinning but not engaging.

I have had problems with the fuel pump relays but those are all taped up pretty good. Im leaning towards a clogged fuel filter or bad fuel pump. but even with a bad fuel pump or clogged filter wouldnt the engine try to crank even with low fuel pressure?? i have a new battery in there. i checked all the fuses in the kick panel. I will check the inertia switch wires as the interia switch has been disabled.

ANy ideas of where to start? thanks in advance.

 

Since you say the battery is new, that means its cable connections have recently been messed with, & all the buzzing sounds like voltage drop, so revisit the battery cables & make sure the B+ & B- battery posts & cable clamps are clean, bright & the clamps are level & Tight on the post & let us know how it goes.

 

The cables and posts are very clean they just got redone by the dealership. i was having no start but with the engine cranking and the problem was a bad ground wire.

now the engine doesnt crank at all. i jumped the fuel pump relay and made the fuel pump stay on and have what i believe to be good pressure at the fuel rails. and tried to start it and same noise. when i turn the key it sounds like some sort of motor is spinning but like i said the starter doesnt turn it over.

i have .6v at the interia switch with the key on engine off. the eec or fuel pump relay i forget which is which has 12v in all the ports except in inner two

 

At KOEO the fuel pump only gets B+ for about 2 seconds to build pressure for the start, then it turns off until the engine is running. So you need to be monitoring B+ to a good clean, non rusted, unpainted ground at the inertia switch when you go to KOEO.
You say it sounds like a motor running with the key at Start & it won't crank, so do you suppose your hearing the starter motor, but its bendix is stuck & not engaging the flywheel????
Get a helper to operate the switch while you perform a under hood visual inspection for the motor sound & if its the starter motor running, give it a Thump with a wooden hammer handle & see if it'll wake up & operate.

 

If ithas a manual transmission put it in gear, rock it back and forth to move the flywheel. If it starts now theres a broken tooth on the flywheel.

 

tok starter out and the gear was sheared off the shaft

 

OK, good find & feedback. I suppose the no crank condition is now put right & "your on the road again"????

 

not trying to be a jerk but when you saw no belts turning and no cylinders moving,,,, the starter gear would have been my first and only thought of failure