I have a general question regarding changing just the (-) negative battery cable on a 97 Ranger 2.3L 4cyl. maunal tranny.

The battery died on me (it was the original, 9 years and well overdue I know) and the negative battery cable was corroded from the clamp and just to where the wiring connected to it. I'm replacing the negative cable (the positive cable was in good condition).

My question is: Can I replace the orignal negative cable which has three additional grounding wires (one on the comming off the clamp that bolts to the body, two that bolts below on the frame and block underneath) with a after market negative cable with the one main ground at the end that bolts to the block only?

 

No...you need to hook it up the same way the stock one was hooked up.

Just make sure that the wires are big enough and go ahead and replace all of them.

RP
Zach

 

id go get a facotry replacement at orileys or somewhere similar and i would be careful grounding anywhere but stock because you can cause a grounding loop and then electronics will throw a fit

Matt

 

Thanks for the replies guys . . . I was thinking that I would have no choice but to either A) Modify the aftermarket cable I purchased with the frame ground and body ground wires connected or B) Buy the original replacement battery to ground cable which is near impossible to find and the price when I did come across one was $110 ($171 msrp). So I opted for A.

I'm going to modify the new one I bought this morning with the old body and frame ground wires by attaching two eyelets to the cut off ends and hooking them up to the clamp and clamp bolt and them run them back to the original locations on the body and frame. I spoke with a buddy of mine who's a mechanic at a Ford dealership close by and he agreed that would be a good to go.