Ford — Jump Starting (Negative Grounded Battery)
Operation · Battery / starting system
From a Ford service manual — check it applies to your exact model before use.
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Before you start
- Hydrogen and oxygen gases produced during normal battery operation can explode if flames, sparks or lighted tobacco are brought near the battery.
- Batteries contain sulfuric acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Flush immediately with water for a minimum of 15 minutes if contact occurs.
- Making the final cable connection could cause an electrical spark near the battery and could cause an explosion.
- Do not disconnect the battery of the vehicle to be started; could damage the vehicle's electronic system.
Procedure
- Position vehicles or equipment so jumper cables will reach, being careful that vehicles do not touch.
- Connect one end of first jumper cable to positive (+) terminal of discharged battery and other end to positive terminal of booster battery.
- Connect one end of second jumper cable to negative (-) terminal of booster battery. Connect other end to an engine bolthead or good metallic contact spot on engine of equipment to be started. NOT TO N
- Make sure jumper cables are not in way of moving engine parts.
- Start engine of vehicle with good battery. Run engine at a moderate speed.
- Start engine of vehicle with discharged battery.
- Remove cables in exact REVERSE sequence. Begin by removing negative (-) cable from engine of vehicle that had discharged battery.
Source: Ford service manual. Steps and values are as documented; always cross-check against the official manual and any later revisions for your exact serial number before servicing.