Page 104 of 256

Conventional spare tire information
If you have the spare tire that is the same size as your other road tires,
you can use the spare as you would any of the other tires. The spare tire
will be equivalent to your road tires, although it may not have the same
appearance (black-side wall instead of outlined-white letters).
Location of the spare tire and tools
The spare tire and tools for your vehicle are stowed in the following
locations:
Tool Location
Spare tire Under the vehicle, just forward of
the rear bumper
Jack, jack handle, wheel nut
wrenchRegular Cab: behind the passenger
seat, underneath the jack and tools
cover on the floor
SuperCab: stowed in the passenger
side rear cab under the plastic tray
inside the storage bin or behind
the jump seat in a separate tool
bag
Four-door models: stowed behind
the front seats, between jump
seats and underneath jack and
tools cover.
Key, spare tire lock (if equipped) In the glove box
Removing the spare tire
1. Assemble the jack handle to the lug wrench as shown in the
illustrations.
When connecting the jack handle, assemble the following:
•one handle extension and one
typical extension. To assemble,
slide parts together. To
disconnect, depress button and
pull apart.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Ranger(ran), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
104
Page 105 of 256
•one wheel nut wrench. Depress
button and slide together.
2. If equipped, unlock and remove
the spare tire carrier lock from the
rear access hole located just above
the rear bumper and below the
tailgate.
3. Insert the straight end of the jack
handle into the rear access hole
located just above the rear bumper
and below the tailgate.
Forward motion will stop and
resistance to turning will be felt
when properly engaged.
4. Turn the handle counterclockwise
until tire is lowered to the ground
and the cable is slightly slack.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Ranger(ran), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
105
Page 106 of 256
5. With the spare tire on the ground,
remove the retainer from the spare
tire.
Tire change procedure
To help prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a tire,
be sure the parking brake is set, then block (in both directions)
the wheel that is diagonally opposite (other side and end of the
vehicle) to the tire being changed.
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else could be
seriously injured.
1. Park on a level surface, activate
hazard flashers and place gearshift
lever in P (Park) (automatic
transmission) or 1 (First) (manual
transmission).
2. Set the parking brake and turn
engine OFF.
3. Block the diagonally opposite
wheel.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Ranger(ran), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
106
Page 107 of 256
4. Insert tapered end of the lug
wrench behind hub caps and twist
them off.
5. Loosen each wheel lug nut
one-half turn counterclockwise but
do not remove them until the wheel
is raised off the ground.
6. Position the jack according to the
following guides and turn the jack
handle clockwise until the tire is a
maximum of 1 inch (25 mm) off the ground.
•Front
•Rear
To lessen the risk of
personal injury, do not put
any part of your body under the
vehicle while changing a tire. Do
not start the engine when your
vehicle is on the jack. The jack is
only meant for changing the tire.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Ranger(ran), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
107
Page 108 of 256

•Never use the differential as a jacking point.
7. Remove the wheel lug nuts with the lug wrench.
8. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem is
facing outward. Reinstall the lug nuts until the wheel is snug against the
hub. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
9. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
10. Remove the jack and fully
tighten the lug nuts, in the order
shown. Refer toWheel lug nut
torque specificationslater in this
chapter for the proper lug nut
torque specification.
11. Stow the flat tire. Refer to
Stowing the flat/spare tire.
12. Stow the jack and lug wrench.
Make sure the jack is fastened so it
does not rattle when you drive.
13. Unblock the wheels.
Stowing the flat/spare tire
Note:Failure to follow spare tire stowage instructions may result in
failure of cable or loss of spare tire.
1. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing up.
2. Slide the wheel partially under the vehicle and install the wire and
retainer through the center of the wheel.
3. Turn the jack handle clockwise until the tire is raised to its original
position underneath the vehicle. The effort to turn the jack handle
increases significantly as the tire contacts the frame. The spare tire
carrier will ratchet when the tire is in the fully stowed position. The
spare tire carrier has a built-in ratchet feature that will not allow you to
overtighten. If the spare tire carrier ratchets with very little effort, take
the vehicle to your dealer for assistance at your earliest convenience.
4. Check that the tire lies flat against the frame assembly. Push against
the tire to make sure it is tightly seated under the vehicle. Loosen and
retighten, if necessary. Failure to properly stow the spare tire may result
in failure of the winch cable and loss of the spare tire.
5. Repeat this tightness check procedure when servicing the spare tire
pressure (every six months, perScheduled Maintenance Guide),or at
any time that the spare tire is disturbed through service of other
components.
1
4 3
2 5
REVIEW COPY
2005 Ranger(ran), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
108
Page 109 of 256

6. Install the spare tire lock (if equipped) into the access hole above the
rear bumper with the spare tire lock key (if equipped) and jack handle.
WHEEL LUG NUT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque at 50–100 miles (80–160
km) after any wheel disturbance (rotation, flat tire, wheel removal, etc.).
Lug nut socket
size/Bolt sizeWheel lug nut torque*
lb.ft. N•m
Lug nut socket size:
3⁄4” (19 mm) hex
Bolt size:1⁄2x20100 135
* Torque specifications are for nut and bolt threads free of dirt and
rust. Use only Ford recommended replacement fasteners.
When a wheel is installed, always remove any corrosion, dirt and
foreign materials present on the mounting surfaces of the wheel
and the surface of the front disc brake hub and rotor that contacts the
wheel. Installing wheels without correct metal-to-metal contact at the
wheel mounting surfaces can cause the wheel nuts to loosen and the
wheel to come off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in loss of
control.
Note:If there is corrosion on the area where the wheel contacts the
hub, apply a thin film of grease or anti-seize compound on that area.
INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE TIRE SIDEWALL
Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place standardized
information on the sidewall of all tires. This information identifies and
describes the fundamental characteristics of the tire and also provides a
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number for safety standard certification and
in case of a recall.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Ranger(ran), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
109
Page 139 of 256

Vehicles equipped with a manual transmission:
Note:4x2 and 4x4 vehicles with a manual transmission follow these
guidelines for recreational towing:
Before you have your vehicle towed:
•Release the parking brake.
•Move the gearshift to the neutral position.
•Turn the key in the ignition to the OFF/UNLOCKED position.
•The maximum recommended speed is 55 mph (88 km/h).
•The maximum recommended distance is unlimited.
•Put 4x4 switch in 2WD mode (4x4 only)
•The vehicle must be towed in the forward position to ensure no
damage is done to the internal transmission components.
In addition, it is recommended that you follow the instructions
provided by the aftermarket manufacturer of the towing
apparatus if one has been installed.
Vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission
4x2 and 4x4 vehicles with an automatic transmission follow these
guidelines for recreational towing:
•Release the parking brake.
•Turn the key in the ignition to the OFF/UNLOCKED position.
•Place the transmission in N (Neutral).
•Do not exceed a distance of 50 miles (80 km).
•Do not exceed 35 mph (56 km/h) vehicle speed.
•Put 4x4 switch in 2WD mode (4x4 only)
•The vehicle must be towed in the forward position to ensure no
damage is done to the internal transfer case components.
If a distance of 50 miles (80 km) or a speed of 35 mph (56 km/h) must
be exceeded, you must disconnect the front (4x4 only) and rear
driveshafts. Ford recommends the driveshafts be removed/installed only
by a qualified technician. See your local dealer for driveshaft
removal/installation.
Improper removal/installation of the driveshaft can cause
transmission fluid or transfer case fluid loss, damage to the
driveshaft and internal transmission and transfer case
components.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Ranger(ran), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
139
Page 140 of 256

STARTING
Positions of the ignition
1. ACCESSORY, allows the electrical
accessories such as the radio to
operate while the engine is not
running.
2. LOCK, locks the steering wheel,
automatic transmission gearshift
lever and allows key removal. For
vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission, you must depress the
ignition release lever to release the
key.
3. OFF, shuts off the engine and all accessories without locking the
steering wheel. This position also allows the automatic transmission shift
lever to be moved from the P (Park) position without the brake pedal
being depressed.
When the key is in the ignition and in the OFF position, the
automatic transmission shift lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position without the brake pedal depressed. To avoid unwanted
vehicle movement, always set the parking brake.
4. ON, all electrical circuits operational. Warning lights illuminated. Key
position when driving.
5. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.
Preparing to start your vehicle
Engine starting is controlled by the powertrain control system. This
system meets all Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment standard
requirements regulating the impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
When starting a fuel-injected engine, don’t press the accelerator before
or during starting. Only use the accelerator when you have difficulty
starting the engine. For more information on starting the vehicle, refer to
Starting the enginein this chapter.
3
1
2
5
4
REVIEW COPY
2005 Ranger(ran), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Driving
Driving
140