Battery hooked up wrong, is my car fried?

Mzen · Post by **Mzen** » 17 Sep 2017, 19:32

Hi, I need help...

The brakes went out in van I was driving, so I decided to use the Volvo 740 GL, 1990. I put the battery from van into Volvo, it was heavy but I measured first, there was room, the cables would reach the posts. I was pretty sure I had the red side on red side in Volvo.....But when I tried to connect it. Huge sparks! So, called road service, explained van has no brakes, I need to switch to Volvo, needed help connecting battery and tires filled up, they all looked a bit low.

Young guy gets out here, he says work order is to jump the battery &. fill up tires on *van*.= I need to call in and get correction cos of liability things. I say ok, lets see if the car starts first, I am sure it will, then I will call.

Ok he checks sure enof huge sparks. He askes if lined up, I say yes, but you can check old battery & make sure. He says ok, naw, glanced at old battery.

Then he puts the sparkling side battery hook up on, needed to hammer it a tiny bit, then the non sparking side...
huge smoke, smelled like burning.

He quick unhooks, looks at it says a critter was chewing in alternater lines. I am in shock but I think it looks burned wires, ... he gives me card for his cousin who has his own business...( I know the volvo needs tie rod thing.)

I am just in shock... sign his tablet work order & he leaves, .... I didn't worry abt the low tires at that point.

I think I should call my auto insurance, State Farm, and tell them what happened. Cos after searching online, .... I knew what to double check for and yes, that battery fit fine, but the pos/neg posts were on opposite sides!

Is my car toasted?
I am completely stranded, I don't have anyone to call...

I should have 2 more road service calls for this yr, I can get it towed in somewheres, after they move the van out of the way.... is the battery safe to use just to move the van... ? (Back brakes only front brakes go to floor).

Think that covers it.
Can I put a claim out on the road service to at least fix what they toasted?. Should the road service dude ... as the emergency rescue service, know to double check? Trust me, I don't look like a knowledgable mechanic!

OMG.
Taking taxi to groc.
Feel panicked.
Thanks for your help.

Post by **tryingbe** » 18 Sep 2017, 03:23

I think you need to decide which vehicle you want to keep and focus on getting one fixed.

Yes, your Volvo is toasted.

Post by **abscate** » 18 Sep 2017, 04:36

You have probably hurt your alternator or regulator with reversed polarity. It is worth putting the battery back in correctly and seeing what happens. Likely, the car will start and run but the battery light will be on.

lummert · Post by **lummert** » 18 Sep 2017, 10:44

Volvo uses reversed battery posts, just like Ford. As in group 40-R.

Mzen · Post by **Mzen** » 18 Sep 2017, 10:57

tryingbe wrote: ↑18 Sep 2017, 03:23 I think you need to decide which vehicle you want to keep and focus on getting one fixed.

Yes, your Volvo is toasted.

Well, I thought the van = but its too rusted, rust on top of van body where the strut is... I took it in cos brakes went to floor, instead of fixing them, they replaced brake lines, ... brakes went to floor again, now ..NOW they say gee it might be the master cylinder. I have had the shocks redone, the stablizers redone, and it needs the front struts, ... they say its the motor mount, the body is terribly rusted. My mom bought the van new, only little local errands, = only 72,000 miles, its ... not worth putting more $ into it. ????? I put over $700, and it needs over $600 ( I think the brakes will be more than $200?) just to try to fix things, that will cause rust to come off. I love my volvo, why I did not try to sell it. (Love my Mom, but I have learned over the yrs,... her way if being doesn't always help me... this time, danger van?!)... Love the van, Dodge caravan. My Moms van... but if volvo is toasted, lol, maybe just kill myself. My credit card would cover that. LoL!

Mzen · Post by **Mzen** » 18 Sep 2017, 11:01

abscate wrote: ↑18 Sep 2017, 04:36 You have probably hurt your alternator or regulator with reversed polarity. It is worth putting the battery back in correctly and seeing what happens. Likely, the car will start and run but the battery light will be on.

Ok,... I can't lift battery it out.
This means I should call the car insurance & try get them to do something.

Gosh, ... omg, my Volvo! I have been so upset. Thanks.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 18 Sep 2017, 12:59

Alternator is near certainly trashed. The rest of the car you won't know until things are checked over. I glanced at the electrical diagram for this one. It's not nearly as reliant on computerized modules as the newer cars to run every little thing, so unless you turned the key ON while the battery was connected backwards many things would have been in an open circuit thus undamaged. A GOOD mechanic will be necessary to properly assess the vehicle. They will have to start by disconnecting the alternator and regulator wires, inspecting all fuses, and attempting to power the vehicle (all accessories and engine off) with a low amperage 12V power supply with a current indicator to check for/repair shorts before attempting to start the vehicle. If any of the fuses for the main computerized/logic modules which get constant power (Injection ECU, Ignition ECU, ABS, SRS) are blown those modules are likely shot.

Mzen · Post by **Mzen** » 18 Sep 2017, 13:22

Ok! Wow, huge thanks! No key was not near the ignition!!!! Yeah!!!!

I called car insurance, since they provide the emergency road service .... and they are going to contact road service, and call me back. He agreed the road service dude should have double checked for the plus, minus things. ...» Hopefully this won't cost me a ton!«. And hopefully it can be fixed,= all you found, plus battery!!?! Junk yard for parts (but not battery), so I have heard. Oh wow, my dear Volvo, I (don't lol) have been in tears!. Thanks for yr help. I need to know what to watch as mechanic is doing the "repairs"!

lummert · Post by **lummert** » 18 Sep 2017, 17:02

Mzen wrote: ↑18 Sep 2017, 10:57
tryingbe wrote: ↑18 Sep 2017, 03:23 I think you need to decide which vehicle you want to keep and focus on getting one fixed.

Yes, your Volvo is toasted.
Well, I thought the van = but its too rusted, rust on top of van body where the strut is... I took it in cos brakes went to floor, instead of fixing them, they replaced brake lines, ... brakes went to floor again, now ..NOW they say gee it might be the master cylinder. I have had the shocks redone, the stablizers redone, and it needs the front struts, ... they say its the motor mount, the body is terribly rusted. My mom bought the van new, only little local errands, = only 72,000 miles, its ... not worth putting more $ into it. ????? I put over $700, and it needs over $600 ( I think the brakes will be more than $200?) just to try to fix things, that will cause rust to come off. I love my Volvo, why I did not try to sell it. (Love my Mom, but I have learned over the yrs,... her way if being doesn't always help me... this time, danger van?!)... Love the van, Dodge caravan. My Moms van... but if Volvo is toasted, lol, maybe just kill myself. My credit card would cover that. LoL!

Dodge Caravan Strut towers can be repaired or replaced in some cases. It's always the drivers side due to the location of the battery.

lummert · Post by **lummert** » 18 Sep 2017, 17:05

Mzen wrote: ↑18 Sep 2017, 13:22 Ok! Wow, huge thanks! No key was not near the ignition!!!! Yeah!!!! I called car insurance, since they provide the emergency road service .... and they are going to contact road service, and call me back. He agreed the road service dude should have double checked for the plus, minus things. ...» Hopefully this won't cost me a ton!«. And hopefully it can be fixed,= all you found, plus battery!!?! Junk yard for parts (but not battery), so I have heard. Oh wow, my dear Volvo, I (don't lol) have been in tears!. Thanks for yr help. I need to know what to watch as mechanic is doing the "repairs"!

I've had good luck with junkyard batteries that are less than 3 years old.