Hey,

I'm an idiot, and the other night, I mistakenly put the wrong leads on the battery (ie: positive to negative, and negative to positive).

I attempted to boost the car with a charger via 75 amps on Day 1 - did not work 1st time, thus did not try again. Charger smoked quickly, so I stopped after 20 seconds or so.

This morning Day 2, turned on the charger, not attached to the battery, and it smoked again, so went and bought a new charger, as I thought this was the issue.

Under daylight on day 2, with the new charger, I see that I mixed the leads.

Day 1, the car would attempt to turn over, lights attempted to work, but would not crank over. Day 2, doors will not unlock, won't attempt to turn over - ie: nothing.

Any advice?

 

You probably killed a cell in the battery for starters. At minimum you need to get a new battery.

Once you get a new battery if you connect it, and the car doesn't work, it's time to start checking fuses etc.

Take care,

George

 

Yea, there is probably at least a couple blown

 

Usually not. The reverse voltage of the charger probably fried the battery (and the charger), but electricity wont usually flow backwards through electronics.

Like I said. Change the battery and then go from there.

Take care,

George

 

oh boy not again.

 

No kidding, I've only been here a few months and I've seen this more than a few times already. Hopefully no serious damage was done.

 

Most unfortunately serious damage is quite possible to the electronics with polarity reversal.
Oh, and the alternator. There's been another posting recently about this...
Leedsman.

 

Yes - rookie mistake.

On the negative lead, there is a Red Tag taped to it for some reason, that mixed with no light and lack of brain....

All seems well with the girl, though a new battery is certainly on the horizon. Started up fine once charged. Just seems hard to crank over (though it is round -20 here lately)

 

A trick my late father taught me a long time ago.
In cold like that, turn on the headlights (or the key on for the electronics to be on) for 5 mins or so before cranking the car. The electrical current flowing through the battery will warm the battery and make cranking easier.

If the reserve / charge capacity of your battery is compromised this may not be the best idea because you will wear it down faster. BUT, if you have a good health battery, it will help.

Take care,

George

 

Turn a negative into a postive. Use this opportunity to get a heavy duty battery into the car.

 

I'd stick the biggest optima i could find in it. That's what I did...

Take care,

George