Does any one know how I can get into a 12 year old e250 ford van? the key locks are all stuck for one reason or another ,and the battery is so dead the automatic locks  with the fob wont work .if i could somehow pop the hood,without using the latch release it would be good ,because then i could jump the battery and use the automatic locks. its not the battery in the fob.or if i could use a hanger from the outside of the door with the windows up,and somehow lift the lock. Thanks!

If the starter has the solenoid mounted on top of it, the large wire that connects to the starter will be connected to the positive terminal of the battery.  You can connect the positive terminal from a charger (or jumper cables or battery booster) to the wire/nut, and then the negative terminal to a ground.  Then let the battery charge for a bit and try the remote.

Any positive wire that is connected to the battery can work if the starter has a remote solenoid mounted elsewhere.  My Chevy Avalanche has a dedicated connection point for the positive battery terminal when jumping the car, and it most likely could be reached from underneath.

You may also be able to find the cable that activates the hood latch, and trip the latch so the hood can be opened.  

Dave , I looked at the starter and there was a big red wire on the solenoid. I hooked a charger to it ,and when i used the auto lock opener on the fob it opened . That was a good feeling. I think my boss will be happy too ,because yesterday he broke the key off in the door . Thank you very much!!

Dave, I hate to be the kinda cheap, low life I am, but, dangit, I'm
Done buying stars to put in your column. Either you send me a pack or you don't get no more.

Well, that's nice of you to say so.. sometimes I don't answer, I wait, and just See what some of these guys come up with. I don't think I'll ever be able to actually tune a carb right without asking.

Good one Dave, I'm putting it in my long term memory in case I ever need it.

Dave wrote on 12/02/15 at 15:51:15:

We must be car-brothers, 100k is typical of most cars I buy even now
Thanks goodness modern drivetrains last so long

Well my older cars didn't fare so well at thise mileages, but usually weren't to the point of needing head work (maybe because I loved the big V8 'murican cars)
Of course I ripped into some of those anyway "MOAR POWER!"
my last car, a 2001 Lumina, was running strong at over 300k
Of course I'd never think of rebuilding an engine in that, like you said, good used engines available at the scrappers
Dunno the mileage on the Ranger, the odo doesn't work