Help- hoping someone might have some info. Have a 97 ranger. Last night it turned over a couple of times before starting- I just figured I didn't have the clutch in all the way cause once it started it was fine.
This morning however, it will not start. When you try to start it the engine makes a machine gun sound, but in a series of groans instead of rat-a-tat-tat.
Any ideas will be appreciate.

 

Loosen the battery cables at the battery just enough so you can wiggle them back a forth a couple of times and retighten. Does it start now? If not check battery voltage with your voltmeter, should be 12 volts & see if it will jump start. Or if it has a transmission just pop the clutch to start it. Then check battery voltage again with engine running. Should be about 14 volts. If you're good there, drive it for 20 miles to charge the battery, shut it off & remove the negative cable from the battery,shut everthing off & connect a 12 volt test lamp between the cable & negative post of the battery. If the light shines brightly something is draining your battery.

 

the battery was bad. thank you so much for your instructions. they were most helpful in finding out that our battery had gone bad. now that I think about it, the thing has been in there at least 4 years. Thank you so much for your help!

 

You're welcome, glad I could help & glad it was just a simple dead battery.