My 1996 ranger with a 2.3 engine wont turn over we put a new starter in and it started with a jump but then it wouldnt start again once turned off

Alternator possibly.

Eliminate the battery as the issue first up.
Check if you can jump start the car from another vehicle with its engine running or at least have the starter motor kick over the engine. If it starts then you know your battery is the issue. Having lights does not mean the battery has enough cold cranking amps to turn over the starter motor.

2. If the starter cranks the engine over as normal with a jump start from another car but your engine does not start you have also eliminated the starter motor as the issue.

3. If it does not start and the starter motor will not crank the engine over either when you jump start from another vehicle, then there may well be a problem with the starter solenoid, the starter motor itself or with the wiring to the starter solenoid or to the starter motor. No power getting to the starter motor solenoid or to the starter motor and obviously the starter motor will not turn over.

4. So I need not write much more here, there is a very good guide to solving starting issues here which I suggest you might like to read.

No Start Problems

You should have your battery tested & make sure that the terminals are cleaned & well protected wth grease once charged fully. Since you crossed/jumped the solenoid & didn't get it to start until jumping the battery (providing extra voltage), that rules out the solenoid and the ignition switch. Sometimes a battery will test full without a load but will not provide the voltage to the solenoid to actually complete the circuit, thus the clicking sound. If the battery is strong, and the starter bad, the solenoid will click solidly once, passing full voltage to the starter that will either turn,hum, or do nothing. good luck

Try jumping the starter. Or just pull i ,and have an auto parts store test it

to eliminate the battery or alternator: go to a parts store leave your motor running. they will come outside with the tester and test your battery and alternator free. prior to this locate where your battery cable hooks to the starter and check to make sure the nut hasnt vibrated loose (try moving the cable side-to-side). u dint specify whether the engine was turning over and wouldnt start or nothing was happening.

sounds like the starter to m,e

have u loked into the starter

Sounds like an antitheft problem I would start with the antitheft system. Usually when you only have one key all keys have to be programmed together even the original. When you have more than one it is easy to program additional keys.

check fuel pressure.if not above recomended spec. replace fuel pump. for starting have solenoid 0n starter checked.

it could be the starter sticking next time when it doesnt start try tapping the starter with a spanner.