- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Jump starting car - reversed cables
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:09 pm
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:09 pm
I was trying to jump off a car with a dead battery. I hooked up the cables on this battery, then on the battery in my car. The last cable I connected was the black to the good battery, and it sparked a bit more than normal.
So I tried to start the car with the good battery and it won't turn over. Without the key in the ignition I hear a clicking sound that won't stop.
So I get out and check the cables and it turns out the dead battery cables had been mismatched to the terminals, which means I reversed the polarity.
Now the car with the previously good battery won't turn over. Head lights come on but no engine movement.
I will investigate in the morning but have I done serious damage to either battery or car? The cables were warm after I disconnected everything but nothing burned or melted.
So I tried to start the car with the good battery and it won't turn over. Without the key in the ignition I hear a clicking sound that won't stop.
So I get out and check the cables and it turns out the dead battery cables had been mismatched to the terminals, which means I reversed the polarity.
Now the car with the previously good battery won't turn over. Head lights come on but no engine movement.
I will investigate in the morning but have I done serious damage to either battery or car? The cables were warm after I disconnected everything but nothing burned or melted.
22
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:14 pm to Sigma
Hopefully you just blew some fuses but that was a serious rookie mistake. You may have fried the computers.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:17 pm to Sigma
Wait an hour and let it have another go. This isn't that big of a deal.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:19 pm to Sigma
No serious damage most likely. Might have to just jump start with a third battery though 
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:20 pm to Bullfrog
Thanks. I'm hoping it's just fuses. The car with the dead battery has a carb and no computers. Maybe some trouble with the alternator but I'm more worried about my daily driver with the good battery. Or at least formerly good battery. I'll get my voltmeter out too.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:21 pm to MrSmith
I hope you guys are right. I've been reading about exploding batteries and ignited cars, fires, etc.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:21 pm to Sigma
You just EMPed your car.
That means you're fricked
That means you're fricked
This post was edited on 2/5/16 at 11:22 pm
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:23 pm to jeff5891
Aren't there built in safety features in newer cars to prevent this kind of thing from doing real damage?
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:25 pm to Sigma
Its possible to tear up the alternator on either car i think. I saw it happen once and the alternator on the good battery car got messed up
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:26 pm to Sigma
Unhook cables from good battery. Hook back up after a few minutes, hopefully get a start. If not, check ECM relay for burn, if no burn there you may be looking at a new ECM and trip to dealership for new program. If this has happened it's kinda like a lightning strike, but with less volts. Will short out the first place of least resistance which is relays/fuses, then will go to the brain if it has any volts left. It won't go any further than that on a 12 volt.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:28 pm to Sigma
You probably blew the main relay
This post was edited on 2/5/16 at 11:29 pm
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:29 pm to Sparetime
Thanks, that helps.
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:30 pm to Sigma
Wear safety googles tomorrow when you're messing with the batteries.
At least keep your sight if the rest of you gets all scarred and disfigured.
At least keep your sight if the rest of you gets all scarred and disfigured.
This post was edited on 2/5/16 at 11:38 pm
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:32 pm to Sigma
quote:You're going to need a tow truck
Aren't there built in safety features in newer cars to prevent this kind of thing from doing real damage?
Posted on 2/5/16 at 11:34 pm to Sigma
I've done the same thing (Nissan an VW color coded their positive and negative terminals differently, or I was a dumbass that night).
I didn't have the trouble you spoke of though. Once I touched the wrong negative terminal and saw the "what could be welding sparks" I quickly disconnected. Neither battery was damaged only a small lip of metal where a very high temp spark landed.
Good luck with the batteries. If you have replaced them with ones from Autozone recently, go turn them in and get new ones for free.
I didn't have the trouble you spoke of though. Once I touched the wrong negative terminal and saw the "what could be welding sparks" I quickly disconnected. Neither battery was damaged only a small lip of metal where a very high temp spark landed.
Good luck with the batteries. If you have replaced them with ones from Autozone recently, go turn them in and get new ones for free.
Posted on 2/6/16 at 12:25 am to Sigma
I'm sorry man and don't want to be an arse , but you have to be a total imbecile to do that , in fact you are the only person I've ever heard do that before ...
I mean come on my wife who can barely pump her own gas jumped off my daughters car yesterday morning ....
Btw if you are a female disregard my post and I apologize ...
I mean come on my wife who can barely pump her own gas jumped off my daughters car yesterday morning ....
Btw if you are a female disregard my post and I apologize ...
This post was edited on 2/6/16 at 12:29 am
Posted on 2/6/16 at 12:29 am to Sigma
quote:
Fairhope, AL
What year Camaro we talking about?
Posted on 2/6/16 at 12:36 am to Sigma
Likely you just fried your battery. Once you get it jumped make sure you can either take it out tomorrow and get it checked (if it jumps) and if it doesn't get a new battery immediately so you don't run into any future issues
ETA: Yes there are safety features designed in batteries that big (even small batteries like your cell phone/laptop).
ETA: Yes there are safety features designed in batteries that big (even small batteries like your cell phone/laptop).
This post was edited on 2/6/16 at 12:38 am
Posted on 2/6/16 at 12:38 am to tigerswin03
A number of years ago my wife (no pics) called me as I was driving home from work and asked me to meet her and her co-worker (no pics) at the school where they taught, as the co-worker thought she had a dead battery.
So I pull up, take out jumper cables, and get her car cranked up. After putting the cables back in my trunk and closing all the hoods, I tell the girl to follow me to Advance Auto Parts, about a mile away, and I'd be glad to help her get a new battery and install it for her.
I swear, she looked at me and said, well I don't understand why I need a new battery, you just fixed the one I have!
So I pull up, take out jumper cables, and get her car cranked up. After putting the cables back in my trunk and closing all the hoods, I tell the girl to follow me to Advance Auto Parts, about a mile away, and I'd be glad to help her get a new battery and install it for her.
I swear, she looked at me and said, well I don't understand why I need a new battery, you just fixed the one I have!
Posted on 2/6/16 at 12:40 am to Sigma
Sounds like you need to sell one piece of shite car to fix the other piece of shite car. Good luck with that.
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News