1996 Ford Windstar Owner's Manual - Page 264
1996 Ford Windstar Manual
Page 264 highlights
To avoid damaging your vehicle or your battery, and to avoid injury to yourself, follow these directions for preparing your vehicle to jump-start and connecting the jumper cables in the order they are given. If in doubt, call for road service. To prepare your vehicle for jump-starting: 1. Use only a 12-volt battery to jump-start your vehicle. Your vehicle has a 12-volt starting system, so you need to use a 12-volt jumper system. You can damage your starting motor, ignition system, and other electrical parts if you connect them to a 24-volt power supply (either two 12-volt batteries in series or a 24-volt motor generator set). 2. Do not disconnect the battery of the vehicle that needs a jump-start. You could damage the vehicle's electrical system. 3. Park the second vehicle close to the hood of your vehicle, but make sure the vehicles do not touch each other. Set the parking brake on both vehicles and stay clear of the engine cooling fan. 4. Check the battery terminals and remove any excessive corrosion before you attach the jumper cables. 5. Turn on the heater blower in both vehicles. Turn off all other switches and lights in both vehicles to prevent possible damage to either vehicle's electrical systems. 262