HEY I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU. I HAVE A 1999 FORD RANGER.I JUST HAD THE SPARK PLUGS CHANGED. I HAD GOTTEN GAS AT THE GAS STATION PAID FOR MY GAS AND WHEN I WENT TO CRANK IT BACK UP IT DIDN’T WANT TO CRANK. I HAD IT PULLED HOME.NOW WHEN YOU CRANK IT IT SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL RUNNING. DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE THAT THE OIL PUMP WENT OUT?
Have you checked the oil level, today? Is the low oil pressure warning light on? You could have someone put an oil pressure test gauge on it to check the oil pressure.
Sounds more like to me some teeth are broken on the starter motor or flywheeel. Old world way to test it was too dangerous to post I think.