Hyundai 2000 Accent. My father installed battery backwards, just touched the leads on the terminals for a very short moment. A big spark came from around the altenator. Car will start up but shortly die. Fuses are all good, altenator seems alright, charging, battery, ok. Found code p1623 diagnostic lamp power stage fault. Is this related? I seem to think it has something to do with the starter solenoid, and the ignition..... Arent they tied together? Any help will be appreciated! He has a parts car with every part neded for replacement!

It goes to all the things you mentioned and then some. Sounds like you may have hooked the battery terminals up backwards.

Seen this "mystery drain" many times. Check spark at the battery to see how big the drain is. For this simple test, blow away any (explosive) battery charging fumes. Leave one terminal on and gently touch the other to its post in fairly dark surroundings. Then try it again with the wires taken off the alternator. Your spark is now probably much less. Usually bad diodes leaking electricity backwards through the alternator cause this drain. Replace the alternator or the diode pack inside it. Some mechanics recommend actually measuring the drain.... hahaha. OK whatever.

Check the ground wire, a black connected to the ( - ) pole, it might have been disconnected. Clean the battery clamp and battery terminals from rust and oxidation, tighten up the TERMINAL. Remember ( + )positive pole is RED and negative ( - ) pole is black, sometimes no plastic cover!
Taaah!

battery could have internal short. Try pulling a terminal off and see how big is the spark when you touch the cable to the terminal. If you get a big spark, the short is in the truck and not the battery. If short is in the truck, see my tips at http://www.fixya.com/cars/r5925550-dead_battery_troubleshooting
Reply with any questions

It is a 121R group 121 r for reverse terminals. Autozone Advanced dont show a battery Oreilleys and interstate batteries may have them.

take some large pliers and twist the terminal off...if side connection type....use vise grips and later replace side terminal...with a new one when reinstalled

Chking for a power robbing short.

turn everything off in the car, remove keys from ignition. open hood and make sure there is not a dome light on in the cab or, one under the engine compartment hood. these must be off so the is not power be drawn from the battery. Remove the neg terminal from the post and the lightly touch it back to the battery post for just a second. If you see a arc, then you more then likely have a short in the electrical system and will need a tech to track it down. You could pull fuses1 at a time and then redo the arc check to narrow the system envolved with the short.

Check under the hood at night to see if any sparks are getting away anywhere, especially around distributor, coil, leads area.

1. Disconnect the negative(-) battery terminal. 2. Remove the tailgate trim.
3. Remove the 5 bolts, disconnect the wire connector and then remove the center high mounted stop lamp

4. Installation is the reverse of removal.

hi the correct sequence for disconnecting any cars battery is always the earth lead first ! then the positive lead then to reconnect ? positive first then earth if you wish to ?? just disconnect earth lead for o/night this will be safe hope this helps ?