SA993

After 2 weeks of not driving the car; the 8 year old battery is flat, so I promptly got a new a battery and decided to install it myself. I have never changed a car battery before, but how hard can it be? Here goes: Head below the hood, I connected the black cable first, then the other cable which resulted in lots of sparks flying everywhere and the cable getting very hot making it difficult to secure it. I gave up and ripped it off. Looking up from the under the hood, seriously contemplating my decision to DIY, the whole friggin garage is filled with white smoke! Eyes burning I look around and found the smoke coming from the bottom of the engine somewhere. Thankfully; the smoking stopped before I could return with a fire extinguisher.

Now, those of you in the know and when you have stopped laughing (since when is black positive??) What do you think have I toasted? The car runs fine, only three things don’t work anymore: the clock, the radio and the alarm. I confess I haven’t checked any fuses yet.

Falcondrivr

I'm replying so I can see the responses from someone who might know. I don't. First I thught it should be just fuses. But I'm not sure that fuses protect from reverse current, just over amperage.
Hopefully one of our resident electrical engineers will see this.
Just as hopefully, I hope it's just fuses and relays...

geolab

LoL
To start with, do not start the car anymore before replacing all grilled fuses, you should have 3 busted or 4.
The smoke you have, came from the alternator, behind the motor metallic central fan.

96PCarrera993mg

+1 on replacing the grilled fuses. But don't forget to change the battery cables with the correct colors. I hope the alternator didn't get toasted.

H.H.Chinn

THIS

SchnellAuto

did you get the proper battery type...those guys in the autozone once pulled the wrong battery for me...the positive and the negative ...might have been reversed..

2cents.
Lemon

96PCarrera993mg

THREAD

deekay911

IS

Mr Swed

useless

LexVan

Might need your radio code for this one in the end.

MDamen

Sounds like the battery got hooked up backwards.
Was it a lithium ion battery?
You're not driving a 787 are you?

IXLR8

For future attempts...

When removing a battery: disconnect ground first, then disconnect the positive last.

When installing a battery: install the positive first, then install the negative last.

Less chance of you becoming a professional welder.

It is in this case and on my other cars.

Now I am wondering, did you swing a wrench from the positive terminal into the frame (while the negative was still connected) to cause a short, or did you connect the battery backwards.

The positive battery terminal has two black cables coming off it. The ground is a copper braided cable.

You my friend, are not having a very good day. Can you name the movie that line is from?

IXLR8

If you reversed the battery cables, looking at an alternator schematic, it looks like you fried the rectifier/power diodes in the alternator and wiring going to it.

MarkD

Sounds like cables were installed reversed...

Sorry man.
Not fun.

The engine harness melted at the alternator.
You will need to purchase the engine harness and an alternator
The harness can be had for about $100, last I checked.
You want 000 043 204 61
This is the part # for the harness update. The normal harness part # will be much, much higher for the same part.

Swapping the harness is a "fun" job

Good luck...

SA993

Thanks for all the replies. Yes, that is what happened - cables the wrong way around - Duh!

Now, if the alternator is toast; shouldn't there be a warning light?