Hey guys, I'm stumped trying to get a diagnosis on my friends tC. Here's the problem.

Him and a friend we're changing the battery... at night, and they crossed the cables accidentally. Black to Red, Red to Black. In result, the car won't start now. He's replaced the battery and it hasn't turned over and came to me for help. I have no clue though what the problem could be. I went with him to check it out and when he tried to turn the car over the only thing that worked was the wipers. The catch is they moved at a really slow, constant speed at every setting.

I was thinking it might be the starter, because when he tried to jump the car it worked, so I was thinking it might be that or one of the fuses or something. Any ideas? So far i've considered the ECU, starter, or maybe the ignition.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

Try checking the ECU fuse or ignition fuse!

 

most definitely^^^ Check the fuses, your friend probly burnt a fuse. In any case that its the starter I have one laying around that Im trying to sell...I took it off my car with 11k miles on it after I crashed...its in perferct working condition and I will let it go for cheap

 

I'd agree that it's a fuse if you crossed the wires like that on the battery

 

It is a FUSE, thats what happens when you cross a ground wire with a hot wire. It's called a short circuit. Replace the FUSE that you popped and everything should be ok.

 

fuses went *POOF*

check ALL of them, replace as necessary.

 

Yeah definitely check every single fuse under the dash, by the knee pop out cover, and underneath the hood. Replace the bad ones and try to start it. If it starts and runs go to autozone or advance auto and have the test your alt because you shorted your electrical system the diodes in the alt are probably fried. It is very possible with the sensitive electronics on our cars that you might have damaged some sensors and even the ecu, but start by checking every fuse in the car look in the owners manual if you have to and see where all of them are.

 

Your fuse should've protected all the electricals. They would all blow before your ECU wipes out. I hope.

 

I am not saying it wiped out for sure but mixing the battery ends on the wrong sides will normally blow diodes