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Sam Howard Posted on Mar 25, 2014
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Plugged battery wrong way car wont start

The car was off and i connected the neg to the pos and the pos to the neg. i saw some sparks and immediately removed the cables. the lights all work but the car wont start. I found only one burnt out fuse and replaced it but still no change. i couldnt find the alternator fuse. can someone please help?

1 Answer

montehammons

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  • Toyota Master 5,531 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 25, 2014
montehammons
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It could be a very expensive mistake. Easy to destroy certain parts of the alternator that way. But even with a bad alternator, it could still start and run-until it runs the battery down. It is cranking over, isn't it?
And more worrisome is the health of your computers on the car. Begin by testing the ignition system-that is controlled by the computer. You need to check for spark on the spark plug wires. If you have a blue, snapping spark, the ignition system is probably good. If no spark, you had better have a person with a digital volt- ohm meter and a wiring diagram of the car examine it, and check the pcm.
I'm not sure about that alternator fuse. Some cars even have an in line fuse, and some still use fusible links as protection between the alternator and the battery. Sorry I can't help you more. Check for spark.

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 57 Answers
  • Posted on May 19, 2009

SOURCE: wont start after changing the alternator, battery, and MAF sensor

Sometimes the alarm thinks the pos. battery cable has been cut so it kills the ighition. You will have to look in the manual to see how to reset the alarm. You may need a code. If its not the alarm, you may have blown a fuse or worse, fried the computer when you put the alt. in. start at the begining. Check the battery cable connections, battery voltage, alt. wires and connections. if the headlighys work but the car won't start, it's prob. not a "connection" problem.

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Anonymous

  • 4669 Answers
  • Posted on May 27, 2009

SOURCE: car wont pass smog.

Is it running rough? Is the check engine light on?

Anonymous

  • 104 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 02, 2009

SOURCE: my mr2 won't start. no accessory lights on.

The positive which is normally red goes to the starter solenoid. The negative or ground (black wire) bolt to the engine and body.

Anonymous

  • 22 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 13, 2010

SOURCE: Engine won't start, headlights go on, radio off,

you've learned a valuable lesson; never let your dad touch your car!

Anonymous

  • 228 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 03, 2010

SOURCE: I pluged my battery the

when you pluged the connections in reverse,did you here a pop?if you did ,look for a blown fuseable link in the wiring under the hood! Check all the fuses in the interior of the car under the dash ,under kick panels,where ever there is a fuse block. check for power to the fuses on one side to see if supply circuits are ok.you may have more blown fuseable links or burnt wiring.with ignition sw on. you may also have bad regulator and rectifiers in the alternator.Check all pigtails off the positive battery cable for blown fuse links.or any wiring coming from starter relay,solenoid. .

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