Starter or Battery??

[damsie101]

My 95 4.0L ranger is not starting. Last week, tuesday I think, it rained for most of the day. When I tried to start it to leave work it just clicked, no turn over, I left nothing on through the day. Had no trouble starting up till this point, other than really cold winter mornings which were only a slight struggle. I jumped the battery and it started right up. Since that night, every start sounded like its starting in the dead of winter, but it still started. Last night and today, it rained. Started in the morning, but tonight, again with only a click and could not get it started by jumping. Took the terminal connectors off and gave them a proper cleaning, tried jumping again, and nothing. So, is the battery shot? or was the starter or solenoid going and the rain was the final nail?

It would figure that the day before I take delivery of a new for me car, my faithful truck would give me a big middle finger

 

[xplorer_f150]

Sounds like a battery. Jump the soleniod and see if you hear it click. If it clicks it should be good. Take the battery out and take it to autozone. I just replaced my battery because my wife sulfated it by just holding the soleniod crossed.

 

[Blake A]

i just replaced my starter and solenoid a month or two ago and it was doing the exact same thing. it wouldnt start one day till i got under it and hit the starter with a hammer (i was told it would work) but it would just click if i cut it off again.

 

[Radiojunkie]

If you have what you know to be a good battery, look at the starter. Yes, it will start on a jumpstart. Yes, it will start anytime until you absolutely need it! Older starters can develop a "dead spot" where depending on the postion it is left in, starts or does not start. My 91 did this on me. When it reaches a dead spot you may hear the "clicking " going on.

Don't forget to check them cables for "green death" oxidation of the copper. This will certainly reak havoc in this situation.

 

[damsie101]

Thanks guys, It wasn't the battery. I replaced the battery and the positive terminal connector because the bolt head was severely rounded over. Battery was 6.5+ years old, so it was going to go soon anyways. Got under the beast and found the ring terminal on the positive at the started was completly rotted away. cut off the old and stripped the wire back. Went to the very unhelpful NAPA down the road from my work to find a connector i could crimp on, nothing, only attitude from the sales clerk. Went to lowes and got #4 ring terminal connectors that you find in your circuit breaker for the main line connections. Put it on and started right up. I am worried a little about dissimilar metals making the connection. Any words of caution? I am not sure of the metal the ring terminals are made from. Maybe plated copper.