Ford RANGER 2015 Body And Equipment Mounting Manual page 46

NOTE: A battery which has been stored in a highly
discharged state may be slow to accept a charge
at first. In such cases the initial charging rate may
be so low that the ammeter on some battery
testers will not show any indication of charge for
5 to 10 minutes.
NOTE: Automatic battery chargers are also
protected against reverse polarity connection and
require no adjustment or monitoring.
NOTE: Slow-charging will readily restore a
battery to a full state of charge and, since the
charging current is relatively low, the possibility
of overcharging a battery are minimized. The
charge rate used should be approximately equal
to 5% of the reserve capacity of the battery being
charged (approximately three to six Amps
depending on battery size). The charging current
should be adjusted 10 minutes after initial setting
and again after 1 hour before being left to charge
the battery for between 8 and 12 hours.
NOTE: A constant voltage battery charger will
charge a battery at a set maximum voltage. The
voltage used depends upon the design and
condition of the battery charger and the age and
temperature of the battery. This type of battery
charger initially charges at a high rate of current
that reduces as battery voltage is restored. When
using a constant voltage battery charger, the
charging current should be recorded after five
minutes and the battery charger switched off
when the charging current falls to one third of
the recorded value, or after eight hours whichever
occurs first.
NOTE: Multiple battery chargers are designed to
charge a number of batteries, simultaneously. Of
the two different types of multiple battery
chargers available, only those that charge
batteries in series should be used and it is
important that batteries are of the same or very
similar ratings and voltages. Multiple battery
chargers that charge batteries in parallel are not
recommended.
NOTE: The use of a fast (boost) battery charger
is not recommended as it can cause damage to
a battery. Fast charging will only restore a battery
to a state of charge that will enable it to carry out
it's critical function of cranking the engine. Fast
charging will not restore a battery to a full state
of charge and must therefore be followed by a
period of slow charging. Excessively fast charging
can cause damage to a battery. For this reason,
charging times must be carefully controlled. Fast
battery chargers vary widely in design so it is very
important to strictly adhere to the equipment
manufacturer's instructions. A charge of 30 amps
for up to 30 minutes is the most common fast
charging application. If the battery is very
discharged and requires additional restoration,
an additional charge of 20 amps for a period up
to one and a half hours should be applied. Fast
charging for a period in excess of two hours
significantly increases the risk of causing damage
to the battery.
FORD RANGER 2015
NOTE: When connecting and disconnecting the
battery from the vehicle, make sure that the
battery ground cable is disconnected first and
connected last and that all electrical items are
switched off. Record the audio unit keycode and
preset radio frequencies before disconnecting the
battery.
1. Remove the battery.
2. Disconnect the battery ground cable
NOTE: The maximum battery electrolyte level is
approximately 40 mm below the very top of the
battery casing. This corresponds to a point just
below the lower rim of the battery casing.
3. Check that the battery electrolyte reaches the
indicated maximum level. Top up with
distilled/de-ionized water, as necessary.
4. Connect the positive red clamp from the
battery charger to the positive battery terminal.
5. Connect the negative black clamp from the
battery charger to the negative battery
terminal.
6. Follow the instructions supplied with the
battery charger to charge the battery.
7. To disconnect the battery charger, reverse the
connection procedure.
Battery Cable Fixing Torque
The battery cables should be fixed to the terminal
posts with a torque of 4.8 Nm -/+ 0.8Nm.
Date of Publication: 02/2017