Will not start, truck will click once when trying to start?

BCMULLEN95

MEMBER
2000 FORD RANGER
3.0L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
285,000 MILES

I have replaced the battery, starter, and ignition switch. I have a 12.7-v battery, 12.7v from battery cable to starter. The signal switch will drop to 10.5v when attempting to start. I am not sure why the truck won’t start. When attempting to crank I hear 1 click from the starter, it seems like the starter is not engaging to start the truck. The engine does rotate by hand.

5 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
43,047 POSTS

This sounds like you have a defective starter, to confirm the issue use a test light on both the main power feed and the trigger wires if they both maintain close to 12 volts the starter is bad, here is a guide to help you I have included the starter wiring diagrams below. Also, there is a starter relay I would swap out to see what happens.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

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Friday, March 31st, 2023 AT 8:09 AM

BCMULLEN95

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249 POSTS

I replaced the starter with a new starter, not remanufactured, swapped the relay and I still have just the one click at the starter. I am stumped by this. I have battery voltage at the starter and 10.5v from the signal wire when attempting to start the truck. Any other things I may need to check. I can manually rotate the engine. Everything in the truck lights up. New ignition switch. Anything else I can check.

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Sunday, April 9th, 2023 AT 7:04 AM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
43,047 POSTS

You should have 12 volts at the trigger wire. As you can see from the wiring diagram. I would use a jumper wire to trigger the starter solenoid to confirm the starter and main batter cables are not the problem. Please let me know what happens.

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Monday, April 10th, 2023 AT 2:22 PM

BCMULLEN95

MEMBER
249 POSTS

When you mention trigger wire are you referring to the wire from the ignition switch? I have 12v from the signal wire from the ignition switch wire, then when someone tries to start the truck, it drops to 10.5v. I have 12v from the battery to the starter. I will attempt the jumper wire and test resistance in both the positive and ground cables.

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Monday, April 10th, 2023 AT 5:04 PM

KEN L