[Mustangdewd3.8]

Alright Guys the vehicle isn't a Mustang but it's general electric problems.

My friend has a 94 4.0 Jeep. Today she gave me a call telling me it wouldnt start I asked if she said she left any lights on and she said she left the rear reading light on I think. So When I got down where they were, they already had the jumper cables on. however they were ackwards on the Jeep and they were trying to start it. obviously not getting anywhere. so I swapped them let the battery charge up and gave the jeep some gas and got it started. I didnt have a tool set so I couldn't check to see if the alternator was dead.

So I told them don't drive it but you know girls they just HAD to go shoe shopping. so after they luckily made it back. they said none of the turn singnals worked the speedo guage wasnt working the lights werent working and then the car just shut itself off.

I have no idea what could have happened. if anyone has a clue, I can go down to walmart and get a tool set for liek 20 bucks and check the alternator after i try and get the car started again but anyone ever hear of something lie this with the lights not working and all? maybe dead battery?

Any information would be great thank you everyone!

[Mustangdewd3.8]

nvm problem solves :fried fuses and alternator fried.

[Tominator]

At the least something is wrong with the chargeing system. Hooking up jumper cables wrong is one sure way to fry the alternator.

Charge the battery again and drive it to an Autozone or your favorite discount auto parts house. They will check the chargeing system for free. If one is not close, take out the alternator and have it bench tested.


The lights will dim or cease to function as described once the battery is drained. The car may run, but there was not enough voltage to trigger the flasher relay.

Also, next birthday/Christmas present.....get her a set of jumper cables with a fail safe circuit. They cannot be hooked up wrong.

[Mana4Real]

Glad you got it fixed dude. I was gonna say take a look at the fuses, get the battery and the alternator checked. Putting the jumper cables on backwards can cause a lot of damage... Just be glad that nothing else got fried.

[Mustangdewd3.8]

Anyone know how long that new battery will last? or know a good local place to get the alternator swap. there is a chrysler dealer near town, a midas, a texaco station with a garage. Midas is a lil far away. I just dunno how long the battery will last :\

[hotwheels]

a new battery without charging will only last for a day or two..........out of the companies you listed, i would go with texaco.........probably some good ole boys that will treat ya right........if you use midas, you will get a nationwide warranty, so i recon it just depends on money...........just my .02 hotwheels of turborides

[Fiat Freak]

Originally Posted by Mustangdewd3.8

Anyone know how long that new battery will last? or know a good local place to get the alternator swap. there is a chrysler dealer near town, a midas, a texaco station with a garage. Midas is a lil far away. I just dunno how long the battery will last :\

You haven't replaced the alternator, just know it's bad? Depending on how far you go, and how much DC current you draw with brake lites, radio, etc...you may only make a one way trip. Don't leave without your cables.

Get the alternator swapped asap, if you haven't done so already.

Tell those gals they are REAL lucky they didn't blow up the battery, and spray battery acid in their faces! Maybe that will scare them enough to remember to get help....or at least put the cables on the right way. If improper hookup only means spending more money...they won't learn the right lesson.

[Mustangdewd3.8]

Well she's being bold and driving 70 miles back to jersey. I hope she makes it.

No I didn't replace the alternator. I didnt know where to get one and it way down there in the engine and I'm pretty bad at driveway fixes. i need my shop (up here at school) I told her I wouldnt drive it home but if worse comes to worse drive home with someone else if the car drives bring it over tot he side of the road and put out some white cloth get AAA to get it home.

So she's taking it home and hopefully her dad will find a way to fix it.

as for the messup it's understandable, the girls didnt do it, they asked some guy walking by who said he knew how to do it. some idiot put a red like foam ring under the neg and a green foam ring under the positive so naturally I guess he took the red for red even though there was a red wire exposed from the positve side. (i myself didnt recognize it at first but I know always check the wires. I asked the girls when I got down there "both cars running and nothing worked" they said " yeah some guys hooked us together and we tried starting nothing works." so I looked at it and soon as I touched one of cables sparks flew and I saw the wire and I said OH ****

so i ripped them off and connected them properly I said "just leave your car running the battery needs to charge" Checked my car...

came back 15 min later, I said " Alright start her up wil a lil gas" and she did and it started cept she said the radio didnt work so I said don't go shoe shopping the wrong set up may have ****** up more than we know.

but they just had to go and went came back nothing worked car died. I should have just jumped it again and tested the alternator but her dad said get a new battery so I went out bought her one put it in everything worked then i said now im checking the alternator car died and I said ****** blew the alternator.

so Hopefully the alternator and a few fuses is all she neds fixed plus one girl who was cute was liek "wow he's so confident with this **** I was so scared to put my hands in there they were all gawking it felt great "



and later my friend said that the one girl thought I was cute

so some good came of this lil mishap I hope the best for my friend though I'm going to call her now and to keep it battery safe dont run radios or anything like lights. thanks for all your help guys.!!