"DaveM" wrote in
:


"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.


you can get a good ECU from a junkyard,for a fraction of wehat a dealer
would charge.
you MUST match the part numbers for your specific model and engine.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net