Help with electrical system

[gery]

While jump starting the car (it sat idle for 2 month) my dad reversed polarity on the cables while attaching it to the rear point ( in the engine bay).

Now the starter does not work, but everything else seems to be working.

I checked all the fuses related to the engine and they all ok. Blown radio fuse was replaced.

There is a set of relays above fuse box, and I wonder if one of them is blown.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

:oops:

[Danyol]

Sounds ominous, no reply 'cause I'm sure many of us fear the worst

Electronics do not tolerate reverse polarity, the engine management modules could be fried.

Hopefully you are lucky, let us know.

:)

[gery]

I am a bit optimistic, engine was not running when charge was applied and I did not try to start it during the mishap. All other electronics seems to be working so I still hopeful that it's just a relay or some inline fuse.

I had the same thing done to my toyota 10 years ago and there was master fuse that was burnt and everything else was ok.

I was trying to avoid flatbeding car to a dealer. But it looks like Wed. I will call dealer for transportation... :cursing:

[P.Viby]

Okay, lets try to help here....

If you did not turn the key, then the starter motor itself can not be damaged. You say that everything seems to work now. Can you describe what happens when you try to start it now, any sounds from relays, bat level ?

[gery]

All electrical things, like lights, dashboard, radio ( after I replaced fuse), hvac, headlights all work.

Convertible top just clicks in the back, so I suspect it's relay.

When I turn ignition key dashboard lights up. When I turn to start engine nothing visible happens and I don't hear anything. The headlights if are they are turned on will dim and there is nothing else going on....

Since relays and there are several visible above fuse box and some in the back are not easily testable and I lack electrical diagrams, I would not even venture into testing all of them.

Thanks for the effort....

[P.Viby]

Just to make absolutly sure......the battary is 100 % charged and okay. What you describe is exactly how a partly dead battary would do.

There is a current distribution point where there is some current limiter fuses. I would check those one, the only problem is that I am not 100 % sure where to find them. Anyway the relay for the starter seems to be build in together with the starter motor itself.

Please check fuse C2 and C3.

Was the key turned at all, when you connected the power cables wrong ?

[PTEC]

Why try and bother with jump starting the battery from the rear? Just hook it up to the battery in the front. Its so much easier and your a lot more apt to get a good ground.

Edited February 19, 2005 by PTEC