Looking at fixer upper where someone didn't know how to connect the battery. Obviously fried something cause now it won't start. Anybody have ideas what to look at replacing?
1990 vintage.
Might check fuses and fusible links first. As stated the ECU or any other computer in the car may be damaged, stereo system (if on at the time), alternator field polarity and regulator circuit. The relays and starter should be OK.
Do the usually investigation for a no start engine. Check for spark and fuel. A Toyota service manual would have troubleshooting data to run a no-start engine down to the ECU.
Assume the worst and price the car accordingly. Then find a parts car, or friendly junkyard to get parts a reasonable prices.
Anything with a diode will be fried if you reverse polarity. This includes radios, AC units, locking mechanisms, Coils, Alternator/Generator, Starter motor and more importantly the ECU. The other thing that will go is anything with an Electrolytic Capacitor (If you dont know what these are - it doesnt matter too much) as they are polarity sensitive too. This will include the Ignitor, Distributor and Starter (although i think these are sometimes a ceramic Capacitor).
Hopefully the fuses died first. But seeing as the fuses only blow when there is electricity running thru them (too much to be exact), this is probably not the case as the diodes will fry when you reverse them regardless (They are getting electron flow the wrong way). But check the fuses to start with... If they are OK, you will need to check ALL electrical components.
Good Luck finding the problem...
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- 2001 AU Ford Fairmont Station Wagon (The Family Taxi)
^yeah, I doubt fuses have been blown, they only blow if they heat up too much (as in a short cicuit, or too much juice), but I didnt want to discourage the OP.
Check you main fuse/fusable link, or check for 12v at the fuse box. If you dont have any voltage there with the key on, you can narrow things down a great deal.
well like spud said, reversing polarity won't effect fuses, it only effects polarity dependant components like electrolytic caps and diodes, basicly, under worse case scenario, it fried all the parts in the car that have a PCB, and anything that involves more circutry that just wires and terminals. i dont understand how someone could hook the battery up the wrong way though. one of the things that you learn as almost a fact of life is that red wire goes to red wire, and black wire goes to black... almost as important to know as "don't run into the street w/o looking" :P
My neighbor did that to his Lexus. After checking all fuses (and replacing 4 of 'em) we got the car started but various electrical items (dash guages, shift solenoid, etc.) still were malfunctioning. After racking our brains for two days he took in to the dealer (it drove..). Only thing still bad was the alternator...
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