Jumper cables hooked up backwards!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 251
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From: Houston, TX
Jumper cables hooked up backwards!
So I have a 2001 C5 that has been a garage queen for many months and the battery had essentially drained to nothing. A buddy of mine pulled his car up to give me a boost, but I wasn't paying attention and he hooked the jumper cables up backwards. Almost immediately I saw smoke coming from the Vette where the cables were attached and unhooked the cables right away, but the cables were hot and it definitely smelled like something was getting cooked.
I haven't tried again because I'm not sure what kind of damage may have occurred. How bad is this? Is my electrical system toast or did I just burn up a fuse? I'm ticked off because this is such as rookie-a$$ed mistake, I just hope the electronics aren't completely roasted.
I haven't tried again because I'm not sure what kind of damage may have occurred. How bad is this? Is my electrical system toast or did I just burn up a fuse? I'm ticked off because this is such as rookie-a$$ed mistake, I just hope the electronics aren't completely roasted.
Last edited by WestTexas; Jul 8, 2008 at 10:30 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,987
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From: Kerrville, Texas USA Hook 'em Horns!
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
If West Texas wasn't so far, I would come out there and slap ya. 
I'm sure you have been slapping yourself though, so on to the cure.
If your battery wasn't toast, it is now. Get it out of there and get a new one. Your fuse box is next to your battery. Check it and see if you blew any fuses. I don't think you would, but you never know.
Just to make sure, do not pull more than one fuse at a time.
I'm sure you have been slapping yourself though, so on to the cure. If your battery wasn't toast, it is now. Get it out of there and get a new one. Your fuse box is next to your battery. Check it and see if you blew any fuses. I don't think you would, but you never know.
Just to make sure, do not pull more than one fuse at a time.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 145
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From: Scottsdale AZ
Boom
I had a girlfriend that did that for me once when I was a stupid 19 year old. Blew the top right out of the center of my battery in front of me. It still started the car and was able to keep it for a few days that way. Dumb luck. Everything else was ok. Girlfriend has been long gone.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 463
Likes: 5
From: Parkville Missouri
Most likely it was just a good lessen. Assuming you still have your original AGM battery which is a recombination battery the pressures would have to build up to damage the battery or an intercell connect would have to open. If the battery was still sparking the cells were still intact. Batteries are very robust and can withstand a good amount of abuse. The AGM SLA battery which is what we have is extremely durable and can be used for many thousands of cycles if maintained.
With respect to damage to the Corvette, GM recognizes this error and spends a good amount of paper in the manual to explain how to correctly connect a jumper cable. Inline fuses will protect any voltage spikes that were produced. Just clear the codes and recharge the battery.
With respect to damage to the Corvette, GM recognizes this error and spends a good amount of paper in the manual to explain how to correctly connect a jumper cable. Inline fuses will protect any voltage spikes that were produced. Just clear the codes and recharge the battery.
