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Jump started wrong


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Triplecrank
Novice

Mar 9, 2013, 10:42 AM

Post #1 of 14 (1946 views)
Jump started wrong Sign In

Hello, I was working on a 2000 Mercury Villager when trying to Jump Start it I reversed the wires, Pos to Neg... now the car wont start,

I took the battery out charged it, pulled and checked all fuses interior and under hood, Headlights come on nothing else no dash lights, horn,...when the key is turned to start I do hear clicking near the fuses, the car has a factory security system.

what to check next.


Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Mar 9, 2013, 11:10 AM

Post #2 of 14 (1938 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

Go back & double check........Sounds like you missed one of the main fuses.......It should be in the underhood box...


Triplecrank
Novice

Mar 9, 2013, 12:15 PM

Post #3 of 14 (1910 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

I pulled and checked every fuse interior and under the hood the 100 AMP & 140Amp fuse would not come out but I can see they arent blown., with the key in the on position I am getting a buzzing noise under the hood, I have power to the starter with the key off, I tried testing the power to the alternator with the key swiched to start and got no reading , not sure if I had a good conection on the alternater with the test probe , I know the ground was good as I tested it to the battery. what next?


Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Mar 9, 2013, 12:18 PM

Post #4 of 14 (1907 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

More than likely you popped either one or both of those fuses...

You can't go by looking, you need to test for power on both sides of those fuses or pull them out and check them with an ohm meter.........Some of those are bolted in, so look carefully but you next step would be to make 100% sure those fuses are good...


Triplecrank
Novice

Mar 9, 2013, 12:49 PM

Post #5 of 14 (1897 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

I could not pull out the two fuses, they looked ok and I did get the cover off the 100 Amp , from one side of the fuse to the other tests fine,

Not sure if I'm testing this right or if this helps, with the meter on the battery Pos, neg probe to the fuse I get 12Volts,

With the car switched on and Pos on the fuse, neg to battery I get nothing.


Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Mar 9, 2013, 1:14 PM

Post #6 of 14 (1885 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

If you could take a pic of your fuse box, it may help.

I can't remember the style your's has off the top of my head, but from your post, it sounds like a pal style.



The way you would test this fuse, take your voltmeter (dvom) and put the neg probe on the neg term of the battery and then touch each leg/side of the fuse with the pos probe of the dvom. There should be 12v on both legs. If one has no power, then the fuse is blown.....

It sounds like they may be bolted in so you are going to have to, carefully, see how to gain access to them. Also since they always have power to them, you want to disconnect the battery before working on them.


Triplecrank
Novice

Mar 9, 2013, 1:43 PM

Post #7 of 14 (1879 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

I took the top off the fuse and tested it no power to the fuse on either side,


Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Mar 9, 2013, 2:23 PM

Post #8 of 14 (1869 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

We're making this harder than it has to be.........More than likely you popped a fuse...

The next step is to test both fuses......The tops really aren't suppose to come off....That top cover is for a quick check to visually see if the fuse is blown....Even if it "looks" good, it still needs to be checked with an ohm meter..

We can only go so far online...... It's your call if you can access the fuses or not......If you are going to damage a good fuse or your box in the process, then it might be cheaper to have a shop check this out......If you can safely get both fuses out, then check the fuses and also check the terminals in the box for power.....


Triplecrank
Novice

Mar 9, 2013, 2:47 PM

Post #9 of 14 (1863 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

I think you're right. Before I do more damage I'll take it to a shop. Thanks for all your help!


Triplecrank
Novice

Mar 30, 2013, 8:02 AM

Post #10 of 14 (1774 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

I took out the battery had it charged and tested to eliminate one possible problem.

As the 100 AMP fuse was not getting power, I put a jumper wire between the Positive on the battery and attached to the fuse, the door lights came on, when I turned the key dash lights came back on, Radio, fans, hazards, headlights, wipers all working, I took a chance to see if the car would start and it did, it was jumpered to the fuse I shut it off rightaway - less than 15 seconds.

The check engine light was on when it was running. I had cleared some codes prior to jumping this wrong. Would codes come back if the battery was removed?

So now I know the problem is between the Battery and inside the underhood 100 Amp fuse, two heavy wires run from the Positive into the fuse box, and a very thick wiring harnness runs out of it.

Not sure what the next step would be. Are the insides of a fuse box beyond the scope of a person with no training, or is a tow truck still my best option?


Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Mar 30, 2013, 12:28 PM

Post #11 of 14 (1764 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

Wow....we're still not going huh...I figured you would be up & running by now...

With electrical problems, I've seen that anything is possible.....With the problem you are having, going off the info posted, the most likely scenairo is a popped fuse....The 100 amp fuse is a main feed fuse, that is usually the 1st fuse inline. If there is no power to either leg of the fuse, then the wire that supplies the power is bad......

If you can get a hold of a wiring diagram, you could trace out the wire. This is a main feed wire so it really isn't going to be that long.....

You need to be really careful when you are jumping power supplies....15 seconds with electrical is an eternity. If you are making a bad jump, usually just making the jump is enough time to do expensive damage....

Get a voltmeter or test and check both sides of the fuse.....If neither have power, then you need to look at the supply wire. I would have to look at a diagram but I don't believe there are any fusible links upstream of that. If one leg of the 100 amp fuse has power, then you have a bad fuse, which would need to be replaced...

Whatever you find....If you can't do the repair the correct way & safely, then a tow truck would be the ONLY option


Triplecrank
Novice

Mar 30, 2013, 1:36 PM

Post #12 of 14 (1752 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

Yes this is on the back burner for now.

Neither side of the 100 Amp Fuse has power when tested to the neg terminal of the battery, the fuse does not look blown, and it tests good from one side to the other on top, I could not pull it out.

I'll try and find a wiring diagram to to check for a fusable link between the Positive terminal and the Fuse, at least now I know it will start, but realize there could be other problems, not sure If I want to open up the fuse box based on the number of wires that come out of it. If I do I'll take the battery out first, Thanks again for your help!!


Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Mar 30, 2013, 2:12 PM

Post #13 of 14 (1749 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

I'll try to find a diagram to look at.....Like I said most main fuses are 1st in line and the only thing between it & the battery is a large gauge wire....

Now you have me curious......If the feed wire was damaged and not the fuse when the wires got crossed.......That would be the same thing as stabbing a balloon with a knife.......and breaking the knife without hurting the balloon.........

I don't remember how you are testing these fuses but at this point, I think I would get a 12v test light and go thru all the fuses........one more time......(I know, I know)......

When you said you tested the 100a fuse between the neg bat terminal.......what were you using?


Triplecrank
Novice

Mar 30, 2013, 2:36 PM

Post #14 of 14 (1745 views)
Re: Jump started wrong Sign In

I was using a voltage meter.






 
 
 






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