Jumpstart Error

2004 TOYOTA COROLLA
98,000 MILES • AUTOMATIC
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HAN NGUYEN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
My friend jump started his car with my car but connected the cables wrong on my car. The rubber on the cables lit on fire and after we put it out, we had realized the mistake. The cables burned both front bumpers and neither car will start now. The car with the dead battery was a Ford truck and mine was a 2004 Toyota Corolla. What is the potential damage in both cars from this error?
Aug 12, 2016 at 11:53 PM
Repair Safety Notice: This information is for general instructional purposes only. Vehicle repair can be dangerous. Verify all information, follow manufacturer service procedures, use proper tools and safety equipment, and consult a qualified repair shop when needed.
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CARADIODOC
  • AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 34,308 POSTS
Start with a pile of blown fuses. Computers have diodes, which are one-way valves for electrical current flow), in them installed backward so it is like they are not even there. When the polarity is reversed, the diodes turn on and act like a dead short which forces fuses to blow to protect the rest of the circuitry.

The generators have diodes in them too for a different purpose, but they too will look like a dead short when the battery voltage is reversed. Look for a really big bolted-in fuse for those, or a fuse link wire. To test a fuse link, pull on it. If it acts like a wire, it is good. If it acts like a rubber band, it is burned open.
Aug 13, 2016 at 12:48 AM
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