Engine doesn't crank (total silence)

[Bill Bowden]

I have a 2000 Ford Ranger (stick shift) that failed to start twice
last weekend. I turn the key and nothing happens. All dash lights look
normal. I pushed the clutch in and out a few times and also switched
the key on and off and eventually it started after several attempts.
It seems to start reliably at home in cool conditions. Both failures
occured after the truck had been sitting in the sun for several hours.
Maybe a temperature problem. I have been advised the problem is
probably not the starter or solenoid since I don't hear the click of
the solenoid, just total silence. There is also a security (Clifford)
device installed by the dealer that prevents the engine from starting
if activated. I never use it and leave it in the deactivated condition
(steady red light). When activated with a key, the light blinks until
the key is inserted. Anyway, I imagine this could be a source of the
problem. So. apparently the problem involves either the ignition
switch, the clutch switch or the security system. If you were to guess
which to replace first, would it be the clutch switch?

I understand I can push-start the truck in second gear, but never done
that. So, maybe I should wait until the truck will not start at all
and then push start it to get it home? Another idea is to wait until
conditions cool off a bit to see if the problem is temperature
related.

How would you approach this problem?

-Bill

[cl...@snyder.on.ca]

How many miles (and starts) are on this truck? An intermittent no
crank, with no click, is MOST likely to be one of 2 things - a bad
starteror solenoid, or a bad clutch safety switch. If you can bypass
the clutch switch you can eliminate it as the cause.

If when it won't start you can get someone under the truck to tap on
the starter, you can often get it to crank if it is a starter problem,
like sticky or worn brushes.

Bypass the switch before throwing money at it.

[Bill Bowden]

On Apr 30, 9:07 pm, cl...@snyder.on.ca wrote:

> On Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:54:04 -0700 (PDT), Bill Bowden
>

Good idea. The truck ran well this morning in cool conditions. Then I
let it sit in the sun until 2PM and it failed to start in warmer
conditions. When it failed, I left the key turned, and just released
and repressed the clutch once and it started. Seems the clutch switch
is the problem. I might try it a few more times to be sure. The truck
has 152K miles and was used for pickup/delivery for 6 years, so it has
many starts. I have service done at a Good Year Tires place, but I
doubt they will bypass the switch for safety reasons.

-Bill

[cl...@snyder.on.ca]

99.999% you have found the problem. Those switches are known to be
problematic - and being a local delivery vehicle the switch has been
excersised a LOT over those 6 years - both under load (starting) and
with no load (shifting) The contacts arc and get scabby, and loose
spring tension. My '96 Ranger has been running with the switch
bypassed for years. (was bypassed when I bought it with 300,000km on
it)

[Ashton Crusher]

It's probably the switch but... My explorer started to not have the
brake lights go on when I used the brakes. I fiddled with the brake
light switch and that fixed it for a couple days. Then the problem
returned. Bought a new switch and installed it. That fixed it for a
week or so. Turned out that the problem was a break in the wire just
inside the connector body that plugged into the switch. Possibly it
was overcrmped at the factory and only lasted the 20 years before
fatiguing.