When I go to start it anything electrical dies

ROVERT101

MEMBER
1990 FORD RANGER
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
149,068 MILES

I replaced the solenoid but that didn't help. Fir the past few days I have had to arch the solenoid to get it to start. All the fuses are in tact. To get the power back on to the truck I have to pull both the positive and negative of fir a few seconds. The battery light is on. Please help

Friday, July 25th, 2014 AT 9:48 AM

5 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Check battery for condition including load test auto parts does for free. They can check to see if battery is charging at same time

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Friday, July 25th, 2014 AT 11:50 AM

ROVERT101

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I got the battery charged at auto zone yesterday abd I have a multimeter abd it says I have charge. I just played with the battery connection and it started but it seems like it starts randomly. I can't tie it in with any problem. It's just most of the time it doesn't want to make that connection. If I stomp the clutch abd turn the key I have a slim success rate but that's my only success now.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Friday, July 25th, 2014 AT 11:57 AM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Then check for dirty terminal ends and maybe the starter relay may be going bad. Where did you play with the cable ends by the relay if so then it's that oor the fusible links are going bad they are connected to relay and power up ignition switch for starting. See pic and its 'fuse 10 in power dist box

Image (Click to make bigger)

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Friday, July 25th, 2014 AT 12:14 PM

ROVERT101

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I played with the negative mostly and all the wires attached. I did bang in the positive. I did take the terminals apart and clean the corrosion. After I did all that it started 2 times in a row and now the lights don't cut out. But after the two successes I tried and I couldn't get the same results. Does everything look wired correctly?

Image (Click to make bigger)