Car help!

[ewsieg]

So I was in a hurry before I came into work today and quickly tried to jump my wife's Buick Rendezvous. Of course I didn't do it by the book. Needless to say I heard a pop and the interior lights aren't even going on now.

So i'll be heading out of work in a few hours and getting my test light out and playing around. When someone blows a fuse trying to jump a car, is there generally a particular fuse that is more likely to blow? The overall fear is that I blew up a fuse board or the computer. Didn't have much time to play around with it so I don't really know how bad it is.

Oh well, that's life! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[zimm]

your owner's manual will have a fuse box diagram that should lead you to the proper fuse without having to resort to guessing.(presuming it's just a fuse and you didn't fry your computer.)

[slim pickens]

yeah it is nothing more than a fuse. Zimm is right about looking at the manuel for a quick description. also if you pop off the fuse cover, the backside usually has a skimatic.

[berneree]

Hey sieg.....call my dad.

You remember the number.

eric

[hueytaxi]

My guess is you created a short at the negative terminal of the battery/cable connection. Remove the cable and sand the internal faces. Also sand or wirebrush the battery cathode (-). See if the lights come on now. I don't know of a master fuse that would affect all systems unless somehow you overloaded a fusible link somewhere.

[ewsieg]

Hey sieg.....call my dad.

You remember the number.

eric

Actually, now that you say it, I do! You think he'd be cool with me calling him at 12:30 tonight though, lol.

Thanks for the advice folks, I'm going to try heuy's suggestion tonight and if needed follow through with my test light on some/all fuses. Otherwise, i'll be calling your dad tomorrow.

[Biff Mayhem]

yeah it is nothing more than a fuse. Zimm is right about looking at the manuel for a quick description. also if you pop off the fuse cover, the backside usually has a skimatic.

What's a "skimatic"? Is it from Ronco? Is it only $9.99? The all new Skimatic. Helps you ski even if you have no balance. :laugh:

[G.Reaper]

shall we assume the battery in the car was dead ?
Can we also assume the cables were connected correctly as far as polarity ?
Depending on vehicle, there is either a fusible link or a circuit breaker in the starter circuit or main 12 volt power source.
Need more info...

Just a side bar, the positives should be battery to battery and the negative should be on a ground other than the dead battery.
Also the charging vehicle should have its headlights on the help obsorb any overcharge at start-up.

Good luck

G.R.

[slim pickens]

What's a "skimatic"? Is it from Ronco? Is it only $9.99? The all new Skimatic. Helps you ski even if you have no balance. :laugh:

LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dgIBJRhzVg

[Yoda]

What's a "skimatic"? Is it from Ronco? Is it only $9.99? The all new Skimatic. Helps you ski even if you have no balance. :laugh:

Funniest post of the new year!

[ewsieg]

Still not overly confident all is fine, but I got the car started last night. I cleaned off the terminals, both sides. Neither looked bad, but I scrubbed them regardless.

Now here's the weird part, I couldn't jump it again. No other issues, I took the time to do it the 'right' way right down to not starting the charging car until everything is hooked up.

I put it on a battery charger for about 90 minutes and it started right up. I'm not entirely convinced the battery fully 'took' the charge. I let it run for about 20 minutes after it started and had it on a slow charge for a few hours this morning as well. Then I told my wife if she had to go anywhere, she was not too turn off the key. I don't think she's going to go anywhere now, lol.


At least at this point I know at most, i'm buying a battery. Not too shabby.

[hueytaxi]

Still not overly confident all is fine, but I got the car started last night. I cleaned off the terminals, both sides. Neither looked bad, but I scrubbed them regardless.

Now here's the weird part, I couldn't jump it again. No other issues, I took the time to do it the 'right' way right down to not starting the charging car until everything is hooked up.

I put it on a battery charger for about 90 minutes and it started right up. I'm not entirely convinced the battery fully 'took' the charge. I let it run for about 20 minutes after it started and had it on a slow charge for a few hours this morning as well. Then I told my wife if she had to go anywhere, she was not too turn off the key. I don't think she's going to go anywhere now, lol.


At least at this point I know at most, i'm buying a battery. Not too shabby.Could be a bad cell in the battery from your description. You are on the right track.