accidentally plugged battery in backwards...how screwed am I?

[mac16]

Ok guys I finally did it. While swapping batteries in my 86 vert in the dark I put the cables on backwards. immediately smoke came from I think the alternator diode? I took the cable off immediately but I shorted something because now I have absolutely no power to anything. What did I blow/short? How bad could it be? I didn't try to start the car it was prob. on there no more then 15 sec... lay it on me

 

[kevsstang]

Ah yes, i did that about 3 months ago,lol. You will need to replace the solenoid and trace the wires that are connected to it. I had to replace one of the wires, approximately 10 inches give or take. If i am remember correctly it was green. After that it fired up and no problems since, knock on wood. Hope this helps.

 

[1987stangman]

Ah yes, i did that about 3 months ago,lol. You will need to replace the solenoid and trace the wires that are connected to it. I had to replace one of the wires, approximately 10 inches give or take. If i am remember correctly it was green. After that it fired up and no problems since, knock on wood. Hope this helps.

Yep, had a friend do this to his 92'. He was drunk though so he had an excuse. He had to replace said wires from post above and to make it even more fun his wind shield wiper delay box had to be replaced too.

 

[Foxfan88]

me and my friend did that to his car a while back.
had to replace the starter solenoid and alternator.

 

[Beasty306GT]

Sounds like an exspensive screw up

 

[4G-KDMP]

I would have thought it would be more, but now I know.

 

[dp88]

i had to get my car jump started and i wasnt looking close enough and put the cables on backwards and fried my alternator before, well actually twice.

 

[87WhiteStang1]

oh ****! :Zip2::Zip2::Zip2::Zip2::Zip2: :Zip2::Zip2::Zip2:

 

[snakebite01]

why would you do that????

 

[DMAN302]

Guilty..fried alternator...killed the TFI module and blew apart wiring at the headlight switch in the car. You'll be problem solving for a while but the ECU should be OK.

 

[ACSPONY]

oh ****! :Zip2::Zip2::Zip2::Zip2::Zip2: :Zip2::Zip2::Zip2: