1996 Ford Ranger Owner's Manual - Page 221

Roadside Emergencies Connecting the jumper cables 1. Connect one end of the first jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the discharged battery. (You can connect either jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal, as long as you use the same cable for both positive terminals.) Most jumper cables have a red cable and a black cable. The red cable is generally used for the positive terminals and the black for the negative ones. 2. Connect the other end of the first cable to the positive (+) terminal of the booster battery. 3. Connect one end of the second cable to the negative ( ) terminal of the booster battery - NOT to the discharged battery. 4. Connect the other end of that cable to a good metallic surface on the engine or frame of the disabled vehicle. The following illustration shows where you can find a metallic surface. RWARNING Do not connect the end of the second cable to the negative ( ) terminal of the battery to be jumped. A spark may cause an explosion of the gases that surround the battery. 221