When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
About a week ago my ranger started doing intermittant starter inop, so I changed the fender-well solenoid, no help. So I put in a new starter, now it is consistant starter inop. Is there a splice in the wire from the fender-well solenoid to the starter? Or is there something else I should be looking at, I Have jumped the fender soleniod to no avail. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Hopefully you can find a voltmeter. Sounds like there's a bad cable or ground connection.
I'd check to see how much the voltage dropped between the battery plus and the fender solenoid when you try to start it. I'd also check the negative side to the engine itself. The starter picks up its ground through the engine.
It gets less fun after that because you have to look for drops on the starter itself.
Also, look at the physical condition of the grounds -- including the mesh one that goes to the engine. Also, what was the condition of the wire that you hooked to the starter, If it was already cruddy ( technical term), wiggling it around could have made it worse.
You could start by checking all the cables and smaller wires that go from the battery to solenoid to starter for corrosion and good clean tight connections. Check that you get power to the small solenoid wire when you turn the key to start position. Also check the condition of the ground wire from the engine to the body. All of these need to be in good condition to have a complete circuit. Then if it's still not right, check the start switch down on the steering column under the dash. The contacts on it may be worn out.