So long story short, I flew cross country to pick up this Ranger from my dad who bought it about a week ago. We have put a few hundred miles on it with no issues at all. It is an amazing truck. So now, I am currently driving back to Arizona and stopped to pick up my buddy in Dallas to help with the last leg.

After picking him up, the car wouldn't start due to antitheft locking it out. Tried a few things and finally got past it and was able to start it. Prior to all this, the gauges, minus fuel, would drop completely and check in would come on. Then within moments they would all start working again and the check engine light goes off.

At this point, we don't want to turn the car off as we still have 14 hours to go before back home so we are just gonna push all the way through and I'll figure this out once back home.

If any can point me in a good starting direction that would be much appreciated.

I had an issue with a security device that came with the used ranger I bought. I don't know if it was original or after-market. There was a black little handle between the recessed OBD socket and the gas petal, right along the bottom edge of the dash where the OBD socket is. The state inspector pulled the security plug, as it looked like a plastic OBD dust cover. Realized it wasn't the OBD and put it back however it didn't seat all the way. The engine would crank or do anything until the security plug that looked like the dust cover was fully seated.

I think it was designed that you could park the car and take the plug with you and the car would do nothing until the plug was put back.

I don't know if this is your problem but good luck and let us know what you find out.

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Dark blue 1999 stock XL stepside with pealing clear coat and the 4 cylinder engine with 8 spark plugs. Manual transmission.