I posted this in the electrical cause i figured it had something to do with that but nobody replied so I'm gonnna try here! please help if you have any ideas on what it could be thanks!

okay so my truck ran perfectly fine to work and then when I go to start it after getting off work... nothing. thought for sure it was a dead battery cause nothing happened when i turned the key over but then i took out the key and this weird clicking noise started underneath the dash and consistently kept going without the key even in the ignition. well i attempted to jump the truck and gave it plenty of time to charge if it were battery and it wasnt cause i ended up getting the battery tested and it was fully charged 100%... I also cleaned the battery leads and connections and made sure they weren't arching at all. at one point I put the key in the ignition without turning it over and it made the normal beeping noise but the instant i turn it over there is absolutely no noise or anything trying to do anything haha it makes no sense to me at all. if it were my starter i feel like it should attempt to crank or make some kind of noise.

HELP PLEASE!!!!!

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2001 Ford Ranger
Edge model
6 Cylinder
3 Liter
Everything stock (as of now)

Do you have lights?

do you have an aftermarker remote start that maybe was installed before you? assuming your no the original owner.

My neighbor had a tahoe that did this, truck ran fine then all of a sudden it would not start. Turn the key and was like there was no battery, nothing happened. But would be this clicking under the dash. They had lost the key fob and wanted me to remove the RS, did that and everything is fine.

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Ball Joints/Upper A-Arms How To
Replace Door pin/bushing
Repair broken dome light tabs
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Could be an aftermarket security system that is on there. sometimes they get a little weird and it engages then you cant start your truck. Check for that and also check the wiring to your starter solenoid

rule out the security system question but my guess is you have a bad ignition switch or ignition lock cylinder......is the cylinder that the key goes into loose or weird at all........the ignition switch is about $20.........I

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

Is the theft light on the dash blinking?

What you described is what happens if the wrong transponder key is used, or the transponder key has failed, etc.. The factory anti theft disables the starter, and the ignition.

There is a process to reprogram the key without the use of scan tool, but it takes about an hour to complete, and if the key is bad, or the system has failed, the reprogramming won't work.

Catch 22.

Try another key if you have one.

On another note, the remote for the doors, if so equipped, is not connected to the security system that kills the starter. Using the remote entry fob will have no effect on the problem at hand.

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Rangers, '95, 2.3, '98 2.5, 4x2 extra cab's, '96, 2.3 base model, '99, Mazda B3000.

I had this exact issue not long ago. My lights, radio, dome light, and everything worked, but the battery did not seem to have the amperage to start the truck. I cleaned the terminals thoroughly with no luck. Turns out I had corrosion up inside the main terminals. What I did was buy new battery leads, cut a few inches off of the old cables, and installed new leads, and a new battery. She is tip top now. Corrosion is kind of like a cancer, cut the cancer out, and it will be legit. You may not even need a new battery, but in my case, it was time anyways.

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Definitely, corrision seems to find its way into every nik-n-corner.. I have had several issues with it!

sounds like my problem i had once. it was a relay in the fuse box that controlled the pcm that gave out. replaced it and everything worked again.

I have the exact same problem on my 06 truck, The battery got charged and checked at Autozone - that works fine. Theres is this clicking noise coming from the fuse box on the passenger compartment but am unable to figure it out. I checked all the fuses and all are fine.

"sounds like my problem i had once. it was a relay in the fuse box that controlled the pcm that gave out. replaced it and everything worked again" posted by Edgerider2002

Where exactly is the relay? Thanks.

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I have the exact same problem on my 06 truck, The battery got charged and checked at Autozone - that works fine. Theres is this clicking noise coming from the fuse box on the passenger compartment but am unable to figure it out. I checked all the fuses and all are fine.

"sounds like my problem i had once. it was a relay in the fuse box that controlled the pcm that gave out. replaced it and everything worked again" posted by Edgerider2002

Where exactly is the relay? Thanks.

so i got the same exact problem i was putting bed liner and diconected a ground on the floorboards and now when i try to turn on the truck it makes a click and the doors lock... i used 2 diffrent batteries and they all worked so how did you guys fix yours

did you ever fix your issue?

I had the same problem. I removed and reinserted every fuse until I came to, I believe it was the fuse that controlled the dome light, and it worked. I switched relays around and have not had the problem again. Probably had corrosion on the connectors that cleaned it self when I switched the relays . I replaced the 10 amp fuse it worked .Hope it makes sense.