"Cleo Frank" wrote in message
news

"Mike" wrote in message
news

"Cleo Frank" wrote in message
...
Background: 1990 Mazda Protege, very well maintained, very clean
under hood. Last night it started as usual. I drove it to the dumpster
at the edge of my property to dump some trash, stopped the car,
and cut engine. When I tried to start it back up, I got the usual
click of a dead battery; digital clock very dim etc.

Went to NAPA today and bought topnotch battery (the same
kind that came in car when new). I did accidentally install
it backwards (neg lead to pos post and pos lead to neg post),
got some sparks, but the battery is now securely connected.
The lead clamps are pretty clean and don't appear damaged.
But no power whatever, clock dead, nothing.

Ideas?


Check all your fuses first and replace the ones that are blown. If you
replace all the blown fuses and still have problems you may have damaged some
electronics.

Thanks, I just checked some of the pertinent fuses and, unfortunately,
they are okay. I wonder if replacing the lead clamps might make
a difference. They're pretty clean, but are old enough to vote!

This car is a good old boy and I hate to trash it.



Nope... The battery clamps are probably OK. There is a chance that the heavy
cable from battery negative to chassis (or engine), or the cable from battery
positive to the starter or starter relay is loose. Check the connections on the
other end of those wires. If they're tight and clean (not corroded), then they
are likely not the problem.
That said, there's a 99.97% chance that you've damaged the car's electronics
(computers). Your ECC (Engine Control Computer) is the guy that controls almost
everything under the hood. If he's dead, then your car is essentially dead.
Haul or tow the car to a *qualified* service facility for a thorough diagnosis.
If it's the ECC, make sure your Master Card and/or Visa are in good standing.
Judging from your description of events, the car might be beyond economical
repair.

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in the
address)

Experience: What you get when you don't get what you want