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Battery connected with reversed polarity - now what?

Posted: April 21st, 2011, 4:07 am
by surreyboy
I just got a 1995 Mazda MX3, 4 cylinder.
Long story short the replacement battery's posts were on the same side as the one I took out but the polarity was reversed and I connected it wrong.
Now nothing lights up when the key is turned but the battery is installed correctly and has 12V plus.
I'm guessing it's fried, not just some little fuses blown.
Anybody know how to go about fixing this?

Re: Battery connected with reversed polarity - now what?

Posted: April 21st, 2011, 9:16 am
by Ryan
Check the main fuse.

If all your fuses are good, then you probably let the magic smoke out of the ECM and will need a replacement.

Re: Battery connected with reversed polarity - now what?

Posted: April 21st, 2011, 10:17 am
by Daninski
So am i looking for a 4cyl ECU at the pic n pull as well. :P

Re: Battery connected with reversed polarity - now what?

Posted: April 21st, 2011, 10:46 am
by surreyboy
thanks for the replies.
OK - there's an 80 amp fuse blown - but it's the only fuse that wont come out of the housing.
Is it supposed to come out?
All the others do.
Or are you supposed to remove the entire fuse-housing module?
The blown 80amp fuse is black in color.

Re: Battery connected with reversed polarity - now what?

Posted: April 21st, 2011, 10:56 am
by Ryan
Its bolted on. Just look around, you'll figure it out.

Re: Battery connected with reversed polarity - now what?

Posted: April 21st, 2011, 11:05 am
by surreyboy
Got it.
Have to go get a socket set now.
I hope its just the fuse but I doubt it.
I'll swap that out and report back.
Wish me luck ...
:)

Re: Battery connected with reversed polarity - now what?

Posted: April 21st, 2011, 12:54 pm
by surreyboy
I swapped out the main fuse and it started right up - wuhu!
:)

thanks for the help.

Re: Battery connected with reversed polarity - now what?

Posted: April 21st, 2011, 12:59 pm
by Daninski
Next time, 'martin up'. :wink:

Re: Battery connected with reversed polarity - now what?

Posted: April 21st, 2011, 1:02 pm
by Ryan
you must now paypal everyone who posted in this thread $10 because we saved your a--!

Just kidding! Glad it was so simple for ya. Troubleshooting the whole system at once is probably the worst job :)

Re: Battery connected with reversed polarity - now what?

Posted: April 21st, 2011, 6:12 pm
by surreyboy
yeah - that was my fear - diagnosing the entire electrical system, replacing part after expensive part and it still not working.

i spent all morning driving around like mario andretti.
vroom!
it's handling qualities are vastly superior to my last car, a jurassic-era 1500kg, V8 powered Bonneville.

like a cigarette boat vs the forrestal.
well, not quite, but you get the point.
8)