Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be?
#1
Melting Slicks
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Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be?
I think I killed my Vette :sad:
I really screwed up and reversed the positive and negative :banghead:
I smelt the something burning immediately and took the terminals, it must of been 15 seconds...
It seemed like an enternity.
So what did I fry? :bb
I really screwed up and reversed the positive and negative :banghead:
I smelt the something burning immediately and took the terminals, it must of been 15 seconds...
It seemed like an enternity.
So what did I fry? :bb
#2
Team Owner
Re: Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be? (Rich72)
.
So what did I fry? :bb
So what did I fry? :bb
#3
Safety Car
Re: Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be? (Rich72)
If your key was turned off, then a very limited number of circuits are energized.
The burning smell could be your alternators diodes-regulator or it could be the memory circuitry on your radio or the insulation on some of your wiring.
A fusible link might be installed between your battery and your alternator and this may now be damaged from high current.
Whatever electronics that require polarity could be damaged.
Many other electrical circuits (lighting etc..) on your car are not really polar sensitive.
Have the alternator tested and Good luck
Brent...
The burning smell could be your alternators diodes-regulator or it could be the memory circuitry on your radio or the insulation on some of your wiring.
A fusible link might be installed between your battery and your alternator and this may now be damaged from high current.
Whatever electronics that require polarity could be damaged.
Many other electrical circuits (lighting etc..) on your car are not really polar sensitive.
Have the alternator tested and Good luck
Brent...
#4
Re: Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be? (MN-Brent)
If the key was "off," you only fried your alternator diodes and possibly some stuff in your radio. If the key was left in the "on " position, Reconnect the battery and test each device. You might have been lucky enough not to hurt anything major besides the alternator. I am sure though that your alternator is now dead.
#5
Melting Slicks
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Re: Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be? (Sharky Guam)
Your headlights will now act as black holes and absorb all light from the surrounding area, and your horn won't blow, it'll suck. LOL
Seriously, it's probably the diodes you smelled. Joe
PS, that was my 1000th post!
[Modified by joe73vette, 5:33 PM 5/24/2004]
Seriously, it's probably the diodes you smelled. Joe
PS, that was my 1000th post!
[Modified by joe73vette, 5:33 PM 5/24/2004]
#6
Le Mans Master
Re: Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be? (Sharky Guam)
If the key was "off," you only fried your alternator diodes and possibly some stuff in your radio. If the key was left in the "on " position, Reconnect the battery and test each device. You might have been lucky enough not to hurt anything major besides the alternator. I am sure though that your alternator is now dead.
#7
Melting Slicks
Re: Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be? (Rich72)
i don't think you would have fried anything. Diodes are supposed to block on reverse voltage.
#8
Melting Slicks
Re: Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be? (turtlevette)
i don't think you would have fried anything. Diodes are supposed to block on reverse voltage.
#9
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Re: Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be? (joe73vette)
Your headlights will now act as black holes and absorb all light from the surrounding area, and your horn won't blow, it'll suck. LOL
Seriously, it's probably the diodes you smelled. Joe
PS, that was my 1000th post!
[Modified by joe73vette, 5:33 PM 5/24/2004]
Seriously, it's probably the diodes you smelled. Joe
PS, that was my 1000th post!
[Modified by joe73vette, 5:33 PM 5/24/2004]
#10
Re: Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be? (R. Bruno)
You probably are right on the diodes...I talked to my dad about it and he agrees that more than likely, your alternator is burned. I figure, if not the diodes because of how they are designed to work, then for sure the voltage regulator since all of the alternators that we have seen end up not working. Because of the low price, we have just been replacing the alternators with rebuilt ones and not having to take the time to open them up and replace the damaged pieces.
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St. Jude Contributor
Re: Battery terminals reversed on my car.......how bad is this going to be? (Sharky Guam)
My friend did that on is RX7 and had SOOOO many problems. After a few grand its still not fixed.