I crossed my battery wires!

I need help bad! My 2000 Plymouth Neon wouldn't start, I realized my battery was worn so I bought a new battery. When trying to connect the new battery at night I connected the wires to the wrong posts! I got a spark then saw fire & smoke. I quickly removed the wires & corrected the connection. When it was properly connected the car started. The next day the battery indicator on instrument cluster came on. My friend disconnected the battery ground wire while the car was running, this caused the engine to stop. He said that alternator was bad. I bought a new alternator had my friend install it & now the same problem. It seems that the alternator is not charging the battery. Do you think I fried something?

I need help bad! My 2000 Plymouth Neon wouldn't start, I realized my battery was worn so I bought a new battery. When trying to connect the new battery at night I connected the wires to the wrong posts! I got a spark then saw fire & smoke. I quickly removed the wires & corrected the connection. When it was properly connected the car started. The next day the battery indicator on instrument cluster came on. My friend disconnected the battery ground wire while the car was running, this caused the engine to stop. He said that alternator was bad. I bought a new alternator had my friend install it & now the same problem. It seems that the alternator is not charging the battery. Do you think I fried something?
You saw fire and smoke!!! You are asking if you fried something? What do you think?

Any idea what I may have fried, which might affect the battery charge process?

Hmm... check the fuse block under the hood, and Relays

Fusible link in the alternator power wire....

The fuses and relays under the hood, none of them were linked to my problem. They were for fan blower, A/C, etc. This fusable link to the alternator is located near the alternator or near the battery?

the 12v wire going to alt normally a red wire may have a fusible link inside the wire itself.check to see if you have 12v at the alt.if not & probobly wont check & repair the wiring.a volt/ohm meter will tell for sure.also check all fuses inside/outside of cab.good luck & let us no!!!BTW if you saw fire/smoke then it should'nt be to hard to find

You saw fire and smoke!!! You are asking if you fried something? What do you think?

It's kindda funny how electricity works. Although it will flow through copper, it will only do so in the presence of smoke. Once the smoke is let out of any given wire or component, it will no longer function properly :icon16:

Oh no, he let the smoke out!

Yes good advice, to see if you have 12 v. to the alternator.
Use a volt meter to see if the system is charging, do not disconnect the battery while it is running.
Was OK for the older cars but not today with the computers.
Tony

Thanks everyone. I'm still at work and havn't had a chance try anything. When I get home it will be night, just like when I got into this mess. I'll take a look in the morning.

Sometimes the main fuse is located in one of the main fuse boxes. Big old 80 or 100 amp sucker. I did this with my 7 once, and lucked out that i popped the fuse instead of the ECU.

OK everyone, I was unable to find what is causing my charging system to not function properly. So I decided to drop the car off at my local mechanic's shop on Monday. I am hoping he will call me today with good news. Maybe its just a blown fuse or burnt out wire.

Oh no, he let the smoke out!

This may help.
http://www3.telus.net/bc_triumph_registry/images/Smokekit2.jpg

This may help.
http://www3.telus.net/bc_triumph_registry/images/Smokekit2.jpg

Oh man, I almost died. :lol:

Thanks 72chevelleohio you were dead on! Fusible link in power wire to alternator. Now I'm good to go!

You may have fried something that you can't see, probably wrapped up in a wire bundle somewhere. I've undone them to find one or two wires fried and all the ones around them were fine.

You got off lucky, I've seen (other mechanics) short out an electrical system by dropping an exhaust pipe on something hot or hooking up the wrong thing. The one with the exhaust was a Mopar and the firewall harness was turned to ash within seconds.

Bob