STUPID mistake! I was checking to see if a wrench would clear before attempting to change the seal of the drivers side valve cover. In the picture you can see the lug next to the relay box. The cover was off, and I touched the wrench to it. A spark flew! Now, there is NO power at all to the car. Its as if I had removed the battery. I have gone from one end of the car to the other , looking for a blown fuse but they all appear to be ok. I check this box, the one on the other side of the engine bay. Both of those on each end of the dashboard, All of those in the boot, PLUS the Power Control Module 500 amp and 175 amp in front of the spare tire. I then checked from the battery red terminal to that module and got continuity. I checked across the battery, and got 10.5 volts. Which is low, but it has been disconnected for a week. I hooked the battery back up and saw 2.5 volts from the ground wire to all points on the Power Module fuse box. Could I have destroyed the battery when I sparked the wrench? Or is there something I have not looked at? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Picture two of the relay box and fuses and exposed lug is where I touched the wrench. The other picture is the module where I measured 2.5 volts from the battery.

 

I don't think you will have done something so awful.

10.6 is very low, though - way below acceptable.

I'm not sure what is wrong (apart from the awfully low volts) but don't despair.

 

I burned a hole in the firewall of a different car connecting it to the plus terminal through a wrench momentarily. Melted the end of the wrench too. But the battery and car were no worse for wear.

 

I put the battery in to be tested. Lets see what happens!

 

Boy, this reminded me of my XJ6. They ran the metal sheathed throttle cable past the + battery terminal, just inches away. I managed to bridge that gap with a jumper cable clamp for a fraction a
of a second- pow! managed to weld the throttle cable and sheath together instantly!

I'm sure you will be ok. Did anyone mention the 50amp fuse protecting that terminal?

John

 

No, I didnt know about that. Where is it located? I thought I had found and check every fuse.

 

Tod, it is in the trunk. I may be wrong on The value could be 250 amp, but it is definitely fused in the trunk.

I remember learning when I first got the car: don't use that terminal to jump start the car because of the fuse.

john

 

I checked that fuse. On mine there is a 500 amp and a 175 amp. I put a meter across both of them with the positive disconnected adn they were good. I had continuity. I am worried that the battery is bad. It showed 10.5 volts and connected with the meter from the ground on the chassis to the input terminal of the fuse I got 2.5 volts. I took the battery to a shop where they are testing it.

 

Ok good luck with it!

John

 

I bought a battery load tester years ago and it has been one of the more used tools I have.

They are inexpensive and will tell you the state of your battery without messing with the shop. They automatically put a load on the battery and then test it. The true condition will be exposed then.