BoatBanter.com - Second call

John Cairns wrote:
"Ken" wrote in message
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John Cairns wrote:
"Bruce Chang" wrote in message
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"John Cairns" wrote in message
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"Bruce Chang" wrote in message
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"John Cairns" wrote in message
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Symptom: No power past the relay. I assume no juice to any part of the
vehicle- '99 Ranger 4 cyl. mtx. Battery is charged, nothing obvious
disconnected, fused or broken. By no power past the realy, I mean just
that. Put the key in the igniton, nothing, you can turn the thing over
by jumping the realy. Thanks.
John Cairns

Sounds like a bad relay.

Don't generally like to replace components unless I know they're faulty,
but I went down to AutoZone and replaced the starter relay on the fender
next to the battery, no luck. You weren't referring to the relay in the
power distribution box?

John Cairns

I honestly didn't know what you were referring to. you just said "no
power past the relay". You didn't really say which relay so I just
assumed you knew.

I'd imagine the ignition switch is bad. you should be able to jump power
across the starter relay and see if the relay is your problem. If the
starter turns over, then you know that it's either the relay or the
circuit that closes the relay. I'd find it hard to believe that a 5 yr
old vehicle would have a bad ignition switch but weirder things have
happened.

-Bruce

Sorry Bruce, just noticed I typed '99, I meant 1996. The only problems
I've been having have been corrosion related, my thinking is that I have
a bad connection/open somewhere. I don't think the ignition switch is
bad, I don't have any power at the switch or anywhere else beyond the
starter relay, AFAIK. There is a place close to here that does electrical
work, will probably have the vehicle towed there.
John Cairns

I don't know how you determined that there was no power past the relay,
but you should measure these devices with a DVM or other test instrument.
Guessing can cost far more than the cost of a meter if you are wrong.
Your problem could be as simple as a bad (corroded) terminal at the
starter relay. Then again it could be there is no current going through
the coil of the relay?

Solution was pretty hair brained actually. Had the positive battery
cable/relay connection REVERSED. I had replaced the old one, the replacement
was an OE piece from the Ford dealer. The ends aren't marked, near as I can
tell, I even went to the trouble of laying the old harness back up there to
make sure the connectors were oriented correctly, which they appeared to be.
Finally, in desperation, I removed the positive cable ends from the relay
and used test connectors to jumper the cable to the relay in the reverse
order and bingo-started right up, works fine. Have to look under the hood of
another Ranger, the new cable connector for the relay is twisted, couldn't
figure out how it was routed unless this is a slightly defective new part.

John Cairns