Attached Battery Backwards, Sparks
#1
Attached Battery Backwards, Sparks
I was installing a new Odyssey 34 PC1500 battery in my LR Disco II 2004, and yes, I made the terrible, horrifying, frightening, gut-wrenching mistake of attaching the battery cables wrong. I attached what I thought was positive to positive, and upon throwing on the negative cable, sparks flew, the horn blared, and a small trail of smoke appeared somewhere two feet away before I was able to pop the cable off about three seconds later.
I've now learned that there are multiple configurations of terminals, and I had ordered the reverse of what I needed, and had put the battery in how it fit, not how the terminals matched up with the battery wires. Didn't even check... Gah! Man I feel like I accidentally poisoned the family pet.
Is there any built in protection against idiot moves like this? What damage might I be looking at? I'm freaking out.
Getting the correct battery on Thursday.
I've now learned that there are multiple configurations of terminals, and I had ordered the reverse of what I needed, and had put the battery in how it fit, not how the terminals matched up with the battery wires. Didn't even check... Gah! Man I feel like I accidentally poisoned the family pet.
Is there any built in protection against idiot moves like this? What damage might I be looking at? I'm freaking out.
Getting the correct battery on Thursday.
#2
I did the same thing when I jumped off a Blazer at what. Couple weeks ago. Even looked over to make sure the guy had his side hooked up right first. Doh!
Luckily mine was just a touch. Three seconds is a long time. The smoke isn't a good sign, but it might not be too bad. Could just be from sparking. Did a really horrible electrical burned smell accompany the smoke? If yes, you might've fried something. If the smoke appeared a few feet away in the engine bay then I'd guess a fuse. If it came out of the cab... Get ready to possibly fork out some dough.
You may be fine. I was after my embarrassing incident. Hook a new one up and see if it works after you get a new one in her.
Luckily mine was just a touch. Three seconds is a long time. The smoke isn't a good sign, but it might not be too bad. Could just be from sparking. Did a really horrible electrical burned smell accompany the smoke? If yes, you might've fried something. If the smoke appeared a few feet away in the engine bay then I'd guess a fuse. If it came out of the cab... Get ready to possibly fork out some dough.
You may be fine. I was after my embarrassing incident. Hook a new one up and see if it works after you get a new one in her.
#3
#4
Don't try and start it. Just watch, listen and smell.
Report back what happens.
Do you have a way of reading fault codes? If you get to the ignition lights stage, see if any have been stored. I would guess yes. Turn off, and research the codes.
I've never done what you did so have no other advice. Burning smell could just be wire insulation melting. But if it's got to that stage I would put money on the computers being toast, I don't know.
I thought the battery terminals were different sizes so it couldn't happen. Or at least you could touch them, but not actually leave them on for any length of time.
#5
#7
I still have 2 Alfas, a spider and a GTV!
#9
If there was no other battery attached to the truck, just the one you put in backwards, it most likely didn't do too much damage. fuses don't care if they are in backwards, but the alternator and computers might not like it. Wouldn't hurt to check the wires where you saw the smoke and see if any of them looked burnt or bumpy.
There is a 'smoke theory' for wiring. All wires are full of smoke. That is what makes them work. If you let the smoke out of the wires, they won't work anymore.
There is a 'smoke theory' for wiring. All wires are full of smoke. That is what makes them work. If you let the smoke out of the wires, they won't work anymore.
#10
If there was no other battery attached to the truck, just the one you put in backwards, it most likely didn't do too much damage. fuses don't care if they are in backwards, but the alternator and computers might not like it. Wouldn't hurt to check the wires where you saw the smoke and see if any of them looked burnt or bumpy.
There is a 'smoke theory' for wiring. All wires are full of smoke. That is what makes them work. If you let the smoke out of the wires, they won't work anymore.
There is a 'smoke theory' for wiring. All wires are full of smoke. That is what makes them work. If you let the smoke out of the wires, they won't work anymore.