Kid asks me to jump his car, wires his battery backwards...

[MrGeekFreak]

As I was leaving school on my way to work today, a kid ran up to me and asked if I could jump his car because he left his lights on in the morning. I agreed, as I've been in that situation many times before.

He had the jumper cables on his car already, so I went to work on mine. When I got them on, there was a slight spark but nothing more.
I start my car, go back and check his hook-ups, and...

He had it wired backwards.

So I turned my car off as quickly as possible, undid the cables, and told him to find someone else to jump it, as by that time I was already late to work and I didn't want to deal with someone who couldn't probably hookup jump cables.

My car started and ran fine, but what are the chances that something is screwed up? The ABS fuse comes to mind, just from experience of how easily it blows, but nothing else.

[FLG]

If nothing is blown now chances are your fine.

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[Thizzelle]

Lol why did you just not swap and have him turn key? It was a matter of 10 seconds

[wikkid]

I would never let anyone else hook up cables that would also be hooked up to my vehicle! Your story shows why - glad you didn't fry things.

[MrGeekFreak]

Lol why did you just not swap and have him turn key? It was a matter of 10 seconds

I was actually in the process of switching his cables back around the right way (and lecturing him on the importance of double-checking the polarity of the cables) when a friend of his pulled up and said he'd handle it.

When my alternator went bad a few months ago, I had to get a jump multiple times every day, just to get around while the replacement was being shipped. Since then, I sort of made it a mission to always try and help people with non-functioning cars.

[FLG]

My guess is his battery was VERY dead hence no major issues.

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[LivingLegend06]

If he put the cables on his car first then its your fault for not checking it. Its not like you have to put black to ground just as long as you do both batteries cars the same.

[dashboardmonkey]

You should be fine. I would never let any one touch shit that is being hooked to my car.

[Court M3]

And you didn't check? Gotta remember, not everyone is car savvy these days.

[Exodus_2pt0]

And you didn't check? Gotta remember, not everyone is car savvy these days.

Most don't even know where there own hood release is.

[dannyyisntt]

I always enjoy giving people jumps because they look at me crazy when I back up to them.

[reelizmpro]

My old high school mechanic shop teacher was dumbfounded when he tried to hook up an engine analyzer to my 325e. He could not find the battery. I then told him it was in the trunk and he just said "crazy Germans."

[Exodus_2pt0]

My old high school mechanic shop teacher was dumbfounded when he tried to hook up an engine analyzer to my 325e. He could not find the battery. I then told him it was in the trunk and he just said "crazy Germans."

Weight distribution is over rated, right?

[Herr Faust Schinken]

I was actually in the process of switching his cables back around the right way (and lecturing him on the importance of double-checking the polarity of the cables) when a friend of his pulled up and said he'd handle it.

When my alternator went bad a few months ago, I had to get a jump multiple times every day, just to get around while the replacement was being shipped. Since then, I sort of made it a mission to always try and help people with non-functioning cars.

wait you didn't just go down to napa mine went out one day, went down to oreily bought a bosch reman friend slapped it in , in about 15 minutes and i was on my way

[ST1G]

I always enjoy giving people jumps because they look at me crazy when I back up to them.

Haha You're not the only one. I enjoy that as well