94 Ford Ranger
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New User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3
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94 Ford Ranger
My 94 Ranger with 3.0 V-6 Engine, 2-wheel drive automatic has starting problems.....Some times it works well.....other times when I turn the key I get a click and nothing happens.....if I hold the key on it may engage and start......or I can turn off the key and try again sometimes it takes 5 or 6 trys to get the starter to engage....I put a new starter on today thinking I had a bad starter but that made no difference.......Can anyone give any advice to my problem.....I am new to this form and this is my first post.....Thanking you in advance for your help.......
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 161
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From: Spring Hill, KS
If you buy the haynes manual they will take you through a set of tests that will help determine whether it is the starter or the selonoid. It's really simple and doesn't take a lot of time. Instead of buying random parts and replacing them, it may be a better investment to do a little reading first!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 145
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Yeah, get the manual!!! Never bring it to the shop. I have a 94 4L 4x4 - I think it is set up the same. My solenoid is next to the battery. Is your battery on drivers side or passenger side? mine is on drivers. If your's is on passenger side you have different setup and you may be right about the solenoid.
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New User
Joined: Sep 2004
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My Battery is on the drivers side......just went out and looked and there is nothing between the battery and the starter except the cable the starter has a extra part on top of the starter and I thought that was the solinoid.....thats the way they used to be back many years ago.....and my new starter came with this attached.....I guess you acan tell I'm not much of a mechanic but I don't like taking them to the shop until it is the last resort.......
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
Welcome to FTE!!!
The solenoid is a possible culprit along with the switch that allows starting only when the tranny is in park or neutral. It is also possible that the ignition switch is worn. Next time the problem occurs, try jiggling the shifter around in park, then if it doesn't start, try to move the ignition switch around (not the key, the switch) by applying force to the two large tabs next to the key.
I assume you have checked all conections to make sure they are tight and that corrosion is not a problem, as well as good grounding.
The solenoid is a possible culprit along with the switch that allows starting only when the tranny is in park or neutral. It is also possible that the ignition switch is worn. Next time the problem occurs, try jiggling the shifter around in park, then if it doesn't start, try to move the ignition switch around (not the key, the switch) by applying force to the two large tabs next to the key.
I assume you have checked all conections to make sure they are tight and that corrosion is not a problem, as well as good grounding.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 952
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From: Charlotte, NC
the starter on the 94 has the solenoid attached when you purchased it, there is also a second solenoid up by the battery, a little black box located right behind it, very easy to find. I would take it and have them check your starter for you, most any local advance or some parts store like that will do it for free. Make sure that they see if the solenoid is engaging the arm. I had this same problem with mine back a few months ago, a 94 xlt 3.0L manual. i took it to the store and they said it was fine, we replaced the battery, swapped the upper mounted solenoid between my truck and my dads 4.0L(same model number on the part), still a no go. After we ran out of ideas we took it to the shop in town to diagnose it, they said it was the solenoid mounted on the starter, so we had to replace the whole starter, when mine finally did start with this problem, it turned over very slowly if at all, and made the whir of the starter spinning, but not engaging. good luck in finding your problem, all else fails, consult the good book, the Haynes Manual
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