HELP!!!Battery Install Mistake

I hooked up the ground to the positive on the battery and the negative on the battery to the positive on the car! it won't start but the headlights and some lights in the dashboard work

Ok, nobody can help you if you don't provide at least some basic informatin.

What sort of car? Make, model and year.

What lights work?
What don't?

What do you mean by not start?
Does it turn over but not fire, or does it just not turn over.


Chances are you have simply blown a fuse, find them all and check them (there might be as many as 4-5 differnt fuse boxs depending on your car).

its an 88 toyota corolla. i first installed the positive on the car to the negative on the battery then the negative on the battery to the positive on the car. The headlights work and the door open light on the dash comes on. Thanks for the help!

The Corolla is sold in almost every country in the world and each got its own model. For the 88 model year I can think of at least 5 differnt engines it was fitted with, useing everything from multipoint injection to a single carb.


However check the fuses, if they are all ok then come back with more details.

I hooked up the ground to the positive on the battery and the negative on the battery to the positive on the car! it won't start but the headlights and some lights in the dashboard work
my friend did the same thing on his car, he blew a fuse, check the fuse box, it's a 4$ replacement.