[geeks] car question (RESOLVED)

[Andrew Weiss]

Keep an eye on it, though.  If the new battery dies quickly it's not a 
big deal, but it could be the alternator is causing problems.  After a 
2nd bat dies and the alternator is fixed, the 2nd bat will be fine once 
recharged by the new alternator.

Andrew

(I've had my alternator go twice [bad first year design on them for my 
car model], and my ex's go once)

On Monday, March 11, 2002, at 06:27 PM, Amy wrote:

> On Mon, 11 Mar 2002, Fogg, James wrote:
>
>> Got it! Sounds like you may have had the jumper cables backwards.
>>
>> With NO battery to speak of, there was nothing to oppose the polarity
>> reversal. The engine didn't start because it was turning backwards.
>
> i think it didnt start cause the batter was so uncharged, honestly. even
> the door dinging annoying sounds wouldnt come on, the charge was so low.
>
> i'm a *badly* neurotic female. i literally lose hair when i worry. so 
> ive
> been worrying since noon about this stuff. so we went and got a new
> battery just to see what would happen in order to staunch the loss of 
> hair
> from now until thursday (payday, when a battery wouldve been more
> affordable).
>
> bill did the manly thing and installed it (i was tool girl) and the car
> started immediately, made some tic-tic-tic noise and then quietened down
> and resumed its old purring. i tried the windows, and they went up 
> when i
> pressed up :) i havent checked the top yet but will shortly.
>
> suffice to say, i'm happy. i disengaged the car alarm sometime back and 
> am
> not sure if i'll ever turn it on again, seeing as how i drive my car so
> rarely--i've only put ~600 miles on since last march.
>
> we both figure that, like you say, something was afoul with the jumper
> cables.
>
> yes indeedy, i am one happy, relieved woman...at least til i write a 
> 300$
> check to midas on thurs. ;)
>
> thanks for your help, it really does do me a world of good!
>
>> Unfortunately, if this is what happened, it can do damage. The voltage
>> regulator, radio, electronic ignition and engine management system
>> (computer) might give you trouble. If the car doesn't run with a new
>> battery, I would start checking the computer (not easy) and ignition 
>> system
>> (easy). On the other hand, these devices (hopefully) have polarity 
>> reversal
>> protection, which isn't hard or expensive to include in manufacturing 
>> and
>> design.
>>
>> I have reversed jumper cables before (twice). In my case one car (a
>> Cadillac) got very upset about it, and the other (a Ford truck) didn't 
>> care.
>> Each time the battery had some life left and let me know how careless 
>> I had
>> been (big sparks).
>
> this battery was dead. 8 feet in the grave dead. i suppose we were very
> lucky :/
>
> --a
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