Wrong Battery Terminals

[gootchanater1324]

It was finally time for a new battery for my 91 S13, so I bought one from Autozone today. The moron sold me one that he "guaranteed would work" but it didn't. Not till after I installed it and tried to crank it over, I realized he had sold me one where the + and - were switched around.

During cranking over with the wrong connected battery, it made a whining noise for about 10 seconds and then stopped. I then returned the battery for the correct one and installed it. All it powered up was my headlights, and they didn't even pop up. The connecter to the - was a little loose but not enough to make something go wrong.

I am really hoping having the wrong connections just blew a fuse or something and didn't fry my ECU. If you guys have any ideas of what could be wrong please let me know, I really appreciate it.

[Jez]

It was finally time for a new battery for my 91 S13, so I bought one from Autozone today. The moron sold me one that he "guaranteed would work" but it didn't. Not till after I installed it and tried to crank it over, I realized he had sold me one where the + and - were switched around.

During cranking over with the wrong connected battery, it made a whining noise for about 10 seconds and then stopped. I then returned the battery for the correct one and installed it. All it powered up was my headlights, and they didn't even pop up. The connecter to the - was a little loose but not enough to make something go wrong.

I am really hoping having the wrong connections just blew a fuse or something and didn't fry my ECU. If you guys have any ideas of what could be wrong please let me know, I really appreciate it.

Why would you just hook it up and take it for granted that the spotty teenager knew what he was talking about?

Go back and tighten both the terminals up, a loose ground could be enough "to make something go wrong"

[Frank_Jaeger]

Here's a thread from 15 days ago: http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/502004-crossed-battery-terminals-car-wont-start.html

Why would you just hook it up and take it for granted that the spotty teenager knew what he was talking about?

Go back and tighten both the terminals up, a loose ground could be enough "to make something go wrong"
Did you read his post or just zone in on "the connector was a little lose." Lol. A lose cable is the least of his problems.

[KoukiMonsta]

Here's a thread from 15 days ago: http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/502004-crossed-battery-terminals-car-wont-start.html


Did you read his post or just zone in on "the connector was a little lose." Lol. A lose cable is the least of his problems.

yea i was about to say this JUST happened...


SEARCH YOU SILLY NOOBS

[gootchanater1324]

Thanks guys, I'm going to check the fuses today and see whats going wrong.

[Jez]

Did you read his post or just zone in on "the connector was a little lose." Lol. A lose cable is the least of his problems.

Yes I read it, just figured loose connections can cause all sorts of problems.

Better to start with the simple stuff!!

[todd5854]

you better make those motherfuckers fix it for you, Im tired of those dumbasses recommending shit they know NOTHING about

I have friends who applied for jobs there, there is not ONE requirement on their job skills that is related to cars in any way.

[fliprayzin240sx]

you better make those motherfuckers fix it for you, Im tired of those dumbasses recommending shit they know NOTHING about

I have friends who applied for jobs there, there is not ONE requirement on their job skills that is related to cars in any way.

Umm...who installed it? I'd blame myself first for not fucking verifying the positive and negative terminal.

[gootchanater1324]

Umm...who installed it? I'd blame myself first for not fucking verifying the positive and negative terminal.

I realize that yes, I should have checked it before I connected the battery. But if I was sold the right battery for my car, I wouldn't be in this situation right now.

My alternator fuse is for sure blown, so I have a working one and an ignitor chip on its way in the mail.

[codyace]

I realize that yes, I should have checked it before I connected the battery. But if I was sold the right battery for my car, I wouldn't be in this situation right now.

My alternator fuse is for sure blown, so I have a working one and an ignitor chip on its way in the mail.

Even if the parts guy sold you the correct battery, you could have still put it on backwards and made a mess.

[gootchanater1324]

Even if the parts guy sold you the correct battery, you could have still put it on backwards and made a mess.

No, not really. The battery only fits one way, terminals aren't in the dead center of the battery. If it was flipped around the other way, the connectors wouldn't have reached.

Anyways, aside from the trolling, I installed a new ignitor chip and alternator fuse today. The alternator fuse fixed all the electrical issues (lights, signals, pop ups, radio etc.) but it still didn't crank over after the ignitor chip was installed. A couple of friends helped me push start the car, and it started up like a champ! So a new starter is on the way.

Thanks for the input guys, I was able to diagnose this problem and now I won't be stuck here at school for spring break!

[codyace]

I'm not trolling, I just know my 5 year old cousin understands that you put the + and the - to the corresponding spots on his video game controller, as the other way around it will not work :P Atop of that, each terminal is a different size, you undoubtedly had to 'open up' the one connection to make it hook up.

Either way, you didn't check and screweed up. It's ok, we all make mistakes...I've done plenty of dumb shit in my time, so dont' worry you're not alone :D Take this as a simple ball busting, no need to get defensive.

Hopefully the starter fixes your issue, but I'd take the time to check the little signal wire that connects to the starter, as well as your main leads/wires to it. Sometimes even a marginal connection makes it not start, and if that little signal wire isn't hooked up it'll never turn over (and they are known to pop off)

[scumbag]

smh thats why a battery has a plus and a negative sign

[mad-ass]

You know... the Positive and Negative terminal posts are different sizes?

If you try to put the Negative clamp onto the Positive terminal, you'll have to force it down. and the Positive clamp will be extremely loose around the Negative terminal.

This is the Zilvia I come back to after two days of it being down? man..

[gootchanater1324]

Hopefully the starter fixes your issue, but I'd take the time to check the little signal wire that connects to the starter, as well as your main leads/wires to it. Sometimes even a marginal connection makes it not start, and if that little signal wire isn't hooked up it'll never turn over (and they are known to pop off)

Didn't mean to get offensive, just not happy about being stuck at school two hours away from home, and having to deal with my car. I'll definitely check the wires to make sure I have no bad connections, thanks for the idea. I'll let you know what I find.

smh thats why a battery has a plus and a negative sign

Who the fuck are you? No need to repeat obvious statements.

These dudes with 1,000+ posts are allowed to troll, so sit your 116 post ass down.

You know... the Positive and Negative terminal posts are different sizes?

If you try to put the Negative clamp onto the Positive terminal, you'll have to force it down. and the Positive clamp will be extremely loose around the Negative terminal.

This is the Zilvia I come back to after two days of it being down? man..

That's what forums are for, to help people. If you don't wanna help people who are having car problems, then get out of the tech section.

By the way, I had no idea because my battery terminals are slighty smaller than my old ones, so they slipped over and I actually needed to go buy shims to get both of them to fit. I would change the connectors to smaller ones, but I don't have the resources at school to do so.

MODS lock this up, troubleshooting is over with and problem is solved.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Consider yourself lucky and let it be a lesson. I've known folks whos done this and ended up junking the car since they had all kinds of electrical gremlins afterwards. Also, remember, trust but always verify...ultimately, its gonna be your ass on the line in the long run.

[gootchanater1324]

Consider yourself lucky and let it be a lesson. I've known folks whos done this and ended up junking the car since they had all kinds of electrical gremlins afterwards. Also, remember, trust but always verify...ultimately, its gonna be your ass on the line in the long run.

Once again Mods lock this up since some people can't fucking read where it says "the problem has been solved".

I mean, if being redundant and and pointing out a mistake that has been pointed out numerous times is what makes you feel good, I'm sure you can find a different thread to do it in.

[KiLLeR2001]

Mods, don't lock this up so we can make fun of this guy some more. Goddamn hes butthurt.

[gootchanater1324]

Mods, don't lock this up so we can make fun of this guy some more. Goddamn hes butthurt.

No one is "butthurt" here, theres just no need to repeat the same thing 100 times.

[gootchanater1324]

The starter is replaced and the car runs like a champ now. The only thing not working is the radio, so I have to replace the fuses behind it but everything else works like it should.

Thanks for all the input guys. Sorry about all the bitching, I was worried I would be stuck here with it for a while and not make it home for spring break. Being stuck at school 2 hours from home and a broke ass college budget does not work well when combined with car troubles.