Last week, my 98 Ford Ranger, 4.0L, 4X4 didn't want to start. It would crank though. Cranked for 5 to 10 seconds each time.
Shot some starting fluid...no start.
Next day, checked coil pack... all checked good, still no start.
Battery started going dead.
Made appt for next day at local shop and called tow truck. When tow truck showed up, he jumped it... IT STARTED.
Drove it for 15 minutes and everything has worked since.
Took out the battery and charged it. 20+ hours after charging, my battery tester said it was good. 'health 59%', 12.7 volts and 467 CCA (battery is listed as 610CCA)
Now I'm paranoid it'll happen again.
Any ideas on any of this?
At 28 years old if your battery is actually good you likely have an intermittent bad connection or sensor causing ignition system failure.
If you used a generic inexpensive electronic battery tester those are not always accurate. Did you load test the battery? What is your cranking voltage? Any codes? When the engine cranks but does not fire do you see an RPM indication in live data?
The cranking voltage, according to the tester was 9.5 volts, that was before I removed and charged the battery though. There was no codes. BUT, I didn't connect a reader until after it finally started. I know I have replaced the clutch pedal position sensor before, but that created a no crank condition.