# 2004 Ford Ranger won't start **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 29, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609 "2009-06-29T17:29:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aubinw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@aubinw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aubinw)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/1 "2009-06-29T17:29:50Z")
My 2004 Ford Ranger decided not to start this morning. I have never had a problem with this vehicle before. When I try to start it it does 1 of 2 things. #1 Everything is normal when I turn the key to accessory, but then when I try to start it, there is 1 click from under the hood, and that’s it. #2 When I turn the key to accessory, the little start-up dings sound muted or seem out of synch, and then when I turn the key to start, the truck starts making lots of clicks from behind the dashboard. The clicks sound like an electrical relay or something. If I have the door open the clicks will sometimes continue even after I pull the key out of the ignition and then stop when I shut the door. I’ve checked all the fuses, both in the cab and under the hood. I even got under the truck and tapped on the starter with a hammer while my son turned the key. Nothing. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/2 "2009-06-29T19:27:08Z")
It sounds like a poor connection at one of the battery cables. Or your battery is so dead that it will not even start to turn the engine over. Yosemite ---
**Author:** ![aubinw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@aubinw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aubinw)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/3 "2009-06-29T20:31:14Z")
I just checked the voltage. 12 volts at the battery terminals and 12 volts on the leads off of the terminals. ---
**Author:** ![aubinw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@aubinw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aubinw)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/4 "2009-06-29T20:52:38Z")
I also tested the electricity input to the solenoid. My multimeter registers 12V DC at the solenoid. So I know power is getting to the solenoid. However, I don’t know how to test any of the switches in between like the Neutral Safety Switch etc. I’m worried that an electrical switch is shorting somewhere. Can anybody help with this? ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/5 "2009-06-30T00:40:00Z")
The twelve volts at the solenoid doesn’t tell the whole story. You need to find out how much the voltage drops when you attempt to crank the engine. I’ll bet that there isn’t enough amperage and the voltage will drop down to maybe 7 or 8 volts. I would bet that the battery needs to be replaced. ---
**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/6 "2009-06-30T00:43:51Z")
Try Jumper cables if it starts it is a battery in need of replacement. ---
**Author:** ![aubinw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@aubinw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aubinw)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/7 "2009-06-30T01:45:49Z")
I attached jmumper cables to the starter, no dice. With the jumpers attached, all I got was a big metallic click. Does the starter need replacing? ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/8 "2009-06-30T01:53:21Z")
What do you mean by “I attched jumper cables to the starter, no dice”. Did you actually attach one end of the jumper cables to a battery in another car and attch the other end of the jumper cables to your truck? If you didn’t do this, then give this a try. If you did do this, then there are a couple of possibilities: 1. your battery is completely gone and won’t accept a jaumper charge 2. your starter is defective 3. you have bad connections between your battery and your starter. ---
**Author:** ![aubinw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@aubinw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aubinw)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/9 "2009-06-30T03:13:00Z")
Yes, I attached one end of the jumper cables to another car and attached the other end to my truck. I tested the battery with my multimeter. It has 12V DC. I tested the charge at the starter, and it reads 12V DC there as well. That is when I decided to try hooking the jumper cables to the starter directly. I put the positive jumper to the positive side of the starter, and I touched the negative jumper to the “S” bolt on the starter. Nothing happened until I turned the truck key to the on position. Then I repeated the procedure. That is when the starter began making the big metallic click. Whenever I touched the negative jumper to the starter S bolt, the starter made the big metallic click. ---
**Author:** ![aubinw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@aubinw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aubinw)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/10 "2009-06-30T03:13:50Z")
So it sounds like I have a bad starter? ---
**Author:** ![aubinw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@aubinw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aubinw)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/11 "2009-06-30T18:02:03Z")
Anybody have any suggestions for this one? I’m heading to the parts store in a couple of hours to buy a starter. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/12 "2009-06-30T18:16:16Z")
I’m not convinced that it is the starter, but it is a possibility. If you think it is the starter, remove the starter and have theauot parts store test it. I still wonder about the battery, because a really defective battery acts like a sponge and absorbs the power. Again, twelve volts doesn’t mean the battery is good. It is the current, measured in amperes, that is critical. A battery can measure 12 volts and still not produce enough amperage to start the truck. My suggestion would be to take the battery to the parts store first and have it tested. It is easier to remove than the starter. If the battery is o.k., then go after the starter. The reason I suspect the battery is your statement: “When I turn the key to accessory, the little start up dings sound muted . . .”. A defective starter wouldn’t cause this problem. ---
**Author:** ![aubinw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@aubinw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aubinw)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/13 "2009-07-01T04:25:17Z")
How many amps should a battery produce? ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/14 "2009-07-01T04:52:33Z")
A starter will allow over 100 amps to flow through itself; but, voltage is important too during that time. Why not take the battery and starter to the auto parts store for testing? ---
**Author:** ![JayWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@JayWB](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JayWB)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/15 "2009-07-01T04:56:31Z")
Turn the headlights on. See how bright they are. Try to start the engine with the lights still on. If they go out without the starter turning you need a BATTERY. I’m betting that this is the original 5+ year old battery, and it’s just failed from old age. ---
**Author:** ![aubinw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@aubinw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aubinw)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 11:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/16 "2009-07-01T11:54:36Z")
I’m taking the battery to an auto parts store this morning. It’s not the starter…I established that last night…unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![aubinw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@aubinw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aubinw)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-ford-ranger-wont-start/32609/17 "2009-07-01T14:30:59Z")
It was the battery. Thanks to all of you who helped me out with this.