How to Change a Battery in a Ford Ranger
by Russell Wood
The battery in a Ford Ranger is the storage device for any electrical current generated by the alternator, and if it's not working correctly, it will need to be replaced. Without a battery, your Ranger isn't going to start and won't hold an idle steady very well either. Changing the battery requires just basic tools and a little bit of time. In this case, the project vehicle is a 2005 Ford Ranger, but the process is similar for other Ranger models.
Step 1
Open the hood and locate the battery. Disconnect the black, or negative, terminal from the battery using an open-end wrench and place the terminal to the side. Repeat the process with the red, or positive, terminal on the other side.
Step 2
Unbolt the battery tie-down from the battery tray using a 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Lift the battery up and out of the battery tray and set it to the side. The battery can be recycled at an auto parts store.
Step 3
Lift the replacement battery into the battery tray so that the terminals are oriented the same way as the original battery. Reinstall the tie down to the tray using a 3/8-inch ratchet and socket.
Step 4
Install the positive terminal on the battery using an open-end wrench, and then repeat the process for the negative terminal. Start the truck and allow it to run for 10 minutes to ensure that the battery is working properly.
Things You'll Need
- Open-end wrench set
- 3/8-inch ratchet and socket set
Writer Bio
Russell Wood is a writer and photographer who attended Arizona State University. He has been building custom cars and trucks since 1994, including several cover vehicles. In 2000 Wood started a career as a writer, and since then he has dedicated his business to writing and photographing cars and trucks, as well as helping people learn more about how vehicles work.
