I put the battery into my 91 mercury capri backwards and i try to start it, smoke came out of the dash behind the radio. Now it won't turn over or start at all. The lights, fasher and some other components work, back but I don't think I'm getting any power to or from the ignition. What could be wrong.

check for fuel at engine and fuel pump circuit

Its behind the dash. A haynes manual from partstore xplains. Or chiltonbooks at the library. Since its not an easy job..hav the blowermotor, evap and heatr core inspectd..old car

Main fuse panel is under the dash, drivers side.

The order is
ENGINE / STOP / POWER WINDOWS
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ / METER / HAZARD
HTD BLIGHT / CIGAR / TAIL
ROOM / DOOR LOCKS / AUDIO
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ / FOG LAMPS / AIR COND
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ / COOLING FAN / WIPER

If the fuse is good, it could be the fan relay is bad. It's in the engine compartment, behind the left headlight assembly, the connector to it has 4 wires, yellow, yellow & green stripe, black, green with red stripe.

Or a bad fan...not usually...good luck...

The problem is that once the top is back and almost in the holding area it won't fit in. The trick is to grab the center bow and manually push it backwards. Once it is repositioned, the top will fit into the compartment...good luck...Chris

Replace the ignition switch,the electrical part,not the lock and key.

Has to be a cable connection issue of some sort. Check the other end of the battery cables, either the ground connection to the chassis, or power connection to the under hood fuse box. Could be that one of the battery cables has broken inside the insulation yet the connector looks good. Try using a cheap ohm-meter to see if there is a break in either cable ...keep looking!

Put in a new crank sensor, this is what puts the power to the coil.

Could be the belt or tensioner(if so equipped) was too tight and then it may have warped the pulley or ruined the alternator. The belt smoking could definately be overtensioned or the bearings are shot in the alternator and creating the friction in your belt. Check the tension specs for most vehicles is usually between 1-1/2 to 2 inches of play. Thats how far your belt can be moved up and down by hand after tensioned. Too tight and you risk burning up bearings in other places or too loose and you hear squeeking and the vehicle may not charge properly or even overheat from water pump not turning well enough.

Power for the fuel system comes from the ECU. I would start by trying to read the fault codes. If you can not get the reader to communicate with the ECU, I would replace the ECU. Warning: it is expensive. I get mine from wrecking yards.

All things Capri are at //www.techcapri.com/
The manuals are there - check them out ...

Regards
Richrobi