[Evford]

I have an 1989 ford ranger that was converted in 1996, by professionals. When I got it the control card was bad. I had it repaired but it still doesn't run. The truck has a dash display that should show error codes, but I have no errors.
I think it is important that i learn how the auto tranny works. I am hoping you can help.
Should the motor start spinning when the ignition is on?
should it spinn when i put the shift to drive?
or when I press on the gas pedal?
let me know the info you need to find the answers,

here are a few pictures of the truck http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

 

[Evford]

Thanks,
I went out there this morning and I tried the crank. I do hear a big contactor engage(inside the controller panel) and the big motor starts spinning, not very fast, even after holding for more than 5 seconds. The second I stop cranking, the motor stops and the contactor disengages.
does the shift need to be to a specific gear? i tried P and N, i was afraid to put it in to drive and then crank.

How does the transmission work?
does the motor need to idle to make it go, or does it just need to build the pressure and then it will hold for a few seconds?
if it needs to stay in idle, do you think I have a problem? because it will only spinn if i crank. and how fast should the motor idle?

 

[Evford]

is there an easy way for me to find out if I have the transmission you are talking about?
I have posted a couple of pictures of it here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/?saved=1

I don't really know if it is just that i need to learn how to make the truck go, or if there is something wrong? that is why i am trying to understand how the transmission is supposed to work.
Please let me know how I can provide more info so that you can help, thanks.

 

[Evford]

I didn't mention that the truck was converted by professionals in 1996 and I am trying to make it run again. I am not sure if somebody messed with it before I got it.
On the side of the steering wheel there is a switch, I am not sure what it does. One of the wire is connected to that and it goes all the way near the transmission, but I feel like I am missing something. Any idea?
I posted new pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/?saved=1

 

[Evford]

Thanks guys!
I am learning a lot!
The controller thinks the batteries are 75% charged, so I am charging them now. the wire in the photo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/4961801096/

is connected to the switch next to the steering wheel, it goes all the way to the rear driver side, almost to the end. I don't know what the switch is for.
The transmission does have the cooler in the front and the fluid color, smell and level looks good. I will losen the cooler hose to see if fluid comes out as soon as I get the motor to spinn faster, right now I don't think it's spinninig more than 200rpm.

So, I am starting to think that I have some other problem.
It is strange that, if I crank, the motor spinns and if I stop it doesn't.

One thing I was afraid of trying was: put the shift to drive, then crank, and as I crank press on the gas pedal.

quote from rillip3

However, the motor should not spin unless you press the accelerator. If it is spinning while you are not pushing on the accelerator, then you have two problems. You may need to check the settings on your potbox to make sure that you've got it correctly zero'd.


I am confused, doesn't the motor need to idle at least 800rpm to keep the pressure on the transmission?

 

[Evford]

The wire goes to that switch next to the steering wheel. The switch has two other wires, one of them is ground and the other one goes to a fuse panel. before it gets to the fuse panel, it has it's own fuse(not sure why). All fuses are good.
I am not sure if the wire near the transmission has anything to do with the tranny, it looks like there was something clamped on the frame, something small. The wire doesn't have a screw connection, it is just a wire that goes straight to the switch.

I have not tried cranking with the gas pedal pressed, i was worried of damaging something. I only tried cranking in P and N, both times the motor spins when I crank. I charged and tested the batteries, still same problem.

Let me know if posting more pictures of stuff like the pot box or the fuse panel can help.

 

[Evford]

Also, i just tried cranking in park, and, as i crank i press the gas pedal, the motor spins faster.
Also i noticed that the old starter relay is still on the car. When i crank, the relay sends 12volts to one of the terminals of the controller. How is it possible that the motor spins only when i crank?

 

[Evford]

Thank you, that is a good advice. I just knew that the control card was bad, and, once i got it fixed, i tought i could get it to run, but obviously there are other problems. I wasn't sure if there is a specific way to start an ev, one with automatic transmission, but i guess every conversion is unique.

 

[Evford]

Well,
piotrsko was asking if I fixed my problem. The motor was only spinning when I was cranking. After spending some time following wires and studing the system, I finally found that the neutral safety switch of the transmission was connected to a miniature relay that was suppost to stay on after cranking. It is a pretty smart idea, since the truck has an auto transmission. In any case, I replaced the relay and now the motor stays on after cranking. I had some really old car batteries on it, so I only drove it a few hundred feet, now I am shopping for batteries, the toughest decision.

Thank you for helping me solve the problem.