Battery negative cable goes to...?

[97Ranger3.0]

Sorry in advance for the dumb question lol.

On my 1997 Ranger with the 3.0, I noticed that there was a black cable hanging down near the starter not hooked up to anything. I followed the cable up and realized it is the negative cable directly from the negative terminal on the battery. What's strange is that the truck still starts, runs and drives just fine without it hooked up. But obviously, I want to fix it and I was trying to see if I could figure out where it is supposed to bolt to. I'm assuming it probably attaches somewhere to the block or the frame, right? But I couldn't see any obvious spots where it looks like it would've bolted to in that area.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone could tell me where exactly to look? Or if anyone has any pictures or where their negative battery cable hooks to? I tried doing some searching on google and youtube videos but couldn't find anything related to the negative cable, just the positive.

 

[Curious Hound]

Give me about 2 hrs and I’ll post a picture when i get home from work. It should connect to the engine block near the starter.

 

[Curious Hound]

Ok. On my '93 3.0l, the battery negative is on the block, above the starter and below and to the rear of the oil filter. Hope this helps. Not an easy place to get the camera. It would be easiest to disconnect the battery and remove the starter if you have trouble getting your hands up there. Disconnect the battery anyway for safety while using wrenches in this area.

Circled in this picture.

Here is that same boss with threaded hole on a '97 3.0l block.

 

[Dirtman]

That engine is filthy! You go out there and clean it right now young man!

 

[rumblecloud]

Yeah... but his fingernail is spotless.

 

[Curious Hound]

I'd rather drive it than detail it.

 

[97Ranger3.0]

Ok. On my '93 3.0l, the battery negative is on the block, above the starter and below and to the rear of the oil filter. Hope this helps. Not an easy place to get the camera. It would be easiest to disconnect the battery and remove the starter if you have trouble getting your hands up there. Disconnect the battery anyway for safety while using wrenches in this area.

Circled in this picture.
View attachment 52816


Here is that same boss with threaded hole on a '97 3.0l block.
View attachment 52817

Sweet, thank you! I'm gonna go look for that right now

 

[Snoranger]

Has anyone ever replaced the battery cables?
Half assed mechanics will just cut the old cable and hook up a new one to the easiest place they can.

 

[Curious Hound]

Has anyone ever replaced the battery cables?
Half assed mechanics will just cut the old cable and hook up a new one to the easiest place they can.

I did that with my alternator cable because of its placement. Are you calling me a... ?

 

[Dirtman]

Fight! Fight! Fight!

 

[Uncle Gump]

I did that with my alternator cable because of its placement. Are you calling me a... ?

I'm pretty sure he did....

 

[Snoranger]

I did that with my alternator cable because of its placement. Are you calling me a... ?

What do you do for a living?

 

[Uncle Gump]

oh boy...

 

[Dirtman]

 

[adsm08]

Has anyone ever replaced the battery cables?
Half assed mechanics will just cut the old cable and hook up a new one to the easiest place they can.

I did that with the ground on one of my vehicles. Old clamp failed, I had a cable with an end that was much too short to read the OEM location at the starter, so it is held down by one of the alternator bolts. I have no electrical issues.