How to Jump Start a Ford Ranger

1. Park the booster vehicle close to the hood of the disabled vehicle without letting the two vehicles touch, and use only a 12 volt supply.
2. Unlatch the red cover and connect the positive (+) jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the discharged battery.
3. Connect the other end of the positive (+) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the booster vehicle battery.
4. Connect the negative (-) jumper cable to the negative (-) terminal of the booster vehicle battery.
5. Connect the other end of the negative (-) cable to an exposed metal engine part of the disabled vehicle, away from the battery and fuel injection system, or to a ground point.
6. Start the booster vehicle and keep engine speed between 2000 RPM and 3000 RPM, then start the disabled vehicle.
7. Run both engines for an additional three minutes, then remove the cables in the reverse order of connection.

• Do not use the hood latch as the negative (-) connection point.
• Do not switch the headlamps on when disconnecting the cables.
• If you use a jump pack or booster box, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Source: 2026 Ford Ranger owner's manual, PDF pages 385, 386. Steps are summarized in our own words (AI-assisted, checked against the cited pages 2026-10-18). Other model years can differ; your manual has the final word.