[geeks] car question (RESOLVED)

[geeks at sunhelp.org]

Glad it worked out. I hate car problems.

Just an idea, but Shell has little guides about car maintenance (like
changing tires). They have one for jumping batteries. Not that you and Bill
don't know how to do it, but a mistake can be very painfull so its good
review first. When I made my two reversal mistakes I was in the business of
car repair and I jumped hundreds of cars a year and I still fscked up. Shit
happens. Batteries can blow to hell (spewing hot acid in your face) in a few
seconds when shorted or reversed.

James Fogg, Network Engineer
Vicinity Corporation - New Hampshire
(603) 442-1751

~ -----Original Message-----
~ From: Amy [mailto:scoobydoo at ohno.mrbill.net]
~ Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 6:28 PM
~ To: 'geeks at sunhelp.org'
~ Subject: RE: [geeks] car question (RESOLVED)
~ 
~ 
~ On Mon, 11 Mar 2002, Fogg, James wrote:
~ 
~ > Got it! Sounds like you may have had the jumper cables backwards.
~ >
~ > With NO battery to speak of, there was nothing to oppose 
~ the polarity
~ > reversal. The engine didn't start because it was turning backwards.
~ 
~ i think it didnt start cause the batter was so uncharged, 
~ honestly. even
~ the door dinging annoying sounds wouldnt come on, the charge 
~ was so low.
~ 
~ i'm a *badly* neurotic female. i literally lose hair when i 
~ worry. so ive
~ been worrying since noon about this stuff. so we went and got a new
~ battery just to see what would happen in order to staunch the 
~ loss of hair
~ from now until thursday (payday, when a battery wouldve been more
~ affordable).
~ 
~ bill did the manly thing and installed it (i was tool girl) 
~ and the car
~ started immediately, made some tic-tic-tic noise and then 
~ quietened down
~ and resumed its old purring. i tried the windows, and they 
~ went up when i
~ pressed up :) i havent checked the top yet but will shortly.
~ 
~ suffice to say, i'm happy. i disengaged the car alarm 
~ sometime back and am
~ not sure if i'll ever turn it on again, seeing as how i drive 
~ my car so
~ rarely--i've only put ~600 miles on since last march.
~ 
~ we both figure that, like you say, something was afoul with the jumper
~ cables.
~ 
~ yes indeedy, i am one happy, relieved woman...at least til i 
~ write a 300$
~ check to midas on thurs. ;)
~ 
~ thanks for your help, it really does do me a world of good!
~ 
~ > Unfortunately, if this is what happened, it can do damage. 
~ The voltage
~ > regulator, radio, electronic ignition and engine management system
~ > (computer) might give you trouble. If the car doesn't run with a new
~ > battery, I would start checking the computer (not easy) and 
~ ignition system
~ > (easy). On the other hand, these devices (hopefully) have 
~ polarity reversal
~ > protection, which isn't hard or expensive to include in 
~ manufacturing and
~ > design.
~ >
~ > I have reversed jumper cables before (twice). In my case one car (a
~ > Cadillac) got very upset about it, and the other (a Ford 
~ truck) didn't care.
~ > Each time the battery had some life left and let me know 
~ how careless I had
~ > been (big sparks).
~ 
~ this battery was dead. 8 feet in the grave dead. i suppose we 
~ were very
~ lucky :/
~ 
~ --a
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