So, this is the Ranger Sport Ext. cab truck I fixed for my daughter by replacing the PCM solenoid. She drove it home Christmas day (kind of a Christmas present) and in the morning couldn't start it. Just a loud click from the solenoid.

I went out last Tuesday night after work, laying on my back with her for 3 hours in 19 degree weather (calm, but cold) and when we were done, reconnected the battery.

A short time later (30-90 seconds, I think) the truck started itself! We were both standing in front of it, sorting the tools we had just finished using.

She had left the key in the ign. in the 'on' position, but the real weird thing was not so much that it started itself, but the delay.

Now, when she turned the key 'off' the engine shut down, but the starter continued to crank. Repeated attempts to cycle the key had no effect on the starter; it continued to crank whenever we reconnected the battery.

From my earlier experience with the PCM relay, I knew the starter circuit is independent of the PCM.

We couldn't stick with it that night because it was after midnight when we stopped, and I had to go to work the next day.

So, today I'm going out with test lights, tools, spare vehicle (in case of failure), another relay for the starter circuit like the one for the PCM, and a replacement ignition switch. The only thing I'm not bringing is a wiring harness!

I checked the diagram from my '95 ranger book (don't have a '99 edition) but it seems to match what I expect to find. I'll let the group know when I finish what I've found further. Hopefully, just another relay exchange will do her. I'm bringing a new one.

And, if I have missed anything, please let me know. Fingers crossed, no third trip out for this issue.

Thanks!

 

might be a faulty starter relay in power box under hood,,,if relay engaged and stuck could cause the problem,,,,try changing it with a known good relay like horn if horn works,,,,try suspected bad starter relay in horn just for the heck of it

 

also check i think yellow / light blue wire from starter back to starter relay in power box under hood,,,,look for bare wire shorting to ground making starter engage when battery is connected

 

Turned out the issue was probably installer error. I never put the new starter next to the old, and I did not connect wires before bolting it in, which is the order in which I removed it. So, the battery wire was shorting to the solenoid engagement wire. I mention the match-up because something was definitely different about the geometry. Maybe the solenoid to relay terminal post was longer, but I had to really bend the terminal on the battery cable to almost 90 degrees to keep it away from the solenoid to relay terminal. In any case, the truck is running well now. The starter relay was A-OK.

 

Happy New Year to all!

 

good job on figuring it out and reporting back!