this sucks

[jeep90]

so my dad was going to sell his cj5 but summer is coming now and he wants to keep it. the battery in the 5 was completely shot so i told my brother to go get the one out of my samurai from my switch them. he installs the battery and calls me up because it wont turn over. i went to look at it today and when i turned the key and the only thing that happened was the parking brake light came on. upon further inspection i noticed that he had the battery terminals backwards. we switched them back and still nothing. what could have happened because of this. i dont think that it was a main fuse because this 80 cj5 probably dont have one. any ideas?

oh yeah before this it wasnt getting any spark to start either if you have any ideas on that too.


thanks in advance

 

[jeep90]

Re: Cheap YJ

btt

 

[jeep90]

anybody? would this cause the starter to spin backwards? replace the starter? kick it? beat it with a hammer? call it names?

i feel so alone

 

[XJNick]

soundbar question

anybody? would this cause the starter to spin backwards?

It depends how your starter motor is wound.
For example series wound DC motors spin the same direction regardless of polarity. I don't know if starter motors are series wound or not... even if it were a type of motor that would spin backwards, it is completely possible that the motor never saw the reversed polarity power since some solenoids and relays won't function with incorrect polarity.

Being a CJ-5 I doubt it has many electronic components... this is good for you because certain components such as an ECM (computer) can be damaged by reverse polarity.

Also, note that fuses won't blow simply from reversed polarity.

Anyways, sounds like that had nothing to do with your problem, if you weren't getting spark before hand.

If you could go into more detail exactly what it is and isn't doing when maybe I'd be able to be of more help :mrgreen:

-Nick :!:

 

[avyoung]

I would first see if you battery has reads 12 volts on a multimeter.

Then I would start by checking the fuses just in case something was blown. Then I would disconnect the terminals from the battery and hook bumper cables to them (make sure the posative is somewere were it won't touch metal.) Then see if you have any power to the vehicle. The reason I would completely disconnect the terminals is that if there is something wrong with the battery it will not affect this test. If you get power at that point then the try to start it. If the starter even clicks then you are getting close to getting it started. If the battery checks out with 12 volts then hook everything back up and try to jump it.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

I did this accidentally with my old '77 F-150 (previous owner had replaced cables and put red to ground, black to hot), and it smoked a bunch of wires coming off the alternator and burned the voltage regulator to a crisp in just a matter of seconds.......I hate electricity and electrical problems. My nickname came from a bad experience with medical electricity. Read my webpage to find the story.

Anyway, sorry I'm not much help....I can do basic troubleshooting, but electrical problems throw me, so I tend to sell a vehicle once I get bad electrical problems. It's simpler that way.

 

[jeep90]

well i got it running, not sure how but i did. pulled the starter ran it to autozone to test it, and they said that it was fine. reinstalled it, took apart the hei dist cap, checked all the wires, put everything back together, they some jumper cables on the battery. i let it charge for a few minutes and tried to start it and it turned over. she is running like a champ now.

 

[Special_K]

Center Console Replacement

Try going downstream (down circuit) and check for current at key points to isoate the actual problem area/component.

I had a similar problem with my old CJ when I was trying to boost it. I thought it was an starter problem or something and spent hours trying to figure out what the problem was...until I tested for current on the other end of the cable (past the battery terminal, but before the starter) and found there was no current at that point. Then I checked just before the solenid...still no current. I realized that current was never leaving the battery. As it turns out a transparent coating that was on the battery clamps (clamps I had used many times before) was effectively acting like an insulator in this case. Once I realized this, it litterally just took a light scrub, giggling the clamps and about 30 seconds later...VROOM. Problem solved in under a minute for $0.

Good luck.

Ken

 

[cliffn]

I had same symptons once on my cj7. I replaced the starter and solenoid, still nothing. Then I really cleaned up the terminals and connectors. Still nothing. Next day started on the first try, I was baffled. Drove it to get gas and wouldn't start back up. The battery ground on the block had worked itself loose and the oily block leaked all over it not allowing a connection. I took it off, cleaned it and made sure it was nice and tight. Haven't had starting problems since. maybe that helps?