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Topic: I am an Idiot: Starter Solenoid Replacement and Fried Everything (Read 3481 times) previous topic - next topic

I am an Idiot: Starter Solenoid Replacement and Fried Everything

1988 Cougar, I replaced the starter solenoid but put the wire from the battery and the wire to the starter on the wrong ends.  I also might have connected the other wires on the wrong side. I realized my mistake after it was too late: I reconnected the positive cable and there was a large spark and I heard things click that shouldn't click when you reconnect the battery.

I reconnected it correctly but the damage is done: the whole car is dead.

I am away from my EVTM, does anyone know if I blew all the fuses?  Or anything worse? Please help.
pro-five-oh

88 Cougar XR-7...5.0HO, T-56, and much more                             
85 Thunderbird 30th...#2471, 29k, all original and might actually stay that way

I am an Idiot: Starter Solenoid Replacement and Fried Everything

Reply #1 –
Probably just blew the fuseable links. They are very close to the starter solinoid and are easily replaced.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

I am an Idiot: Starter Solenoid Replacement and Fried Everything

Reply #2 –
I did that to an '89 Cougar after I replaced the head gaskets. Replaced a few fusible links and it was good as new!

I am an Idiot: Starter Solenoid Replacement and Fried Everything

Reply #3 –
You guys are right!  I have a fair number of fusable links to repair, if the EVTM (which I now have, but didn't at the time of the repair) isn't lying to me. :)

Off to the parts store I go.
pro-five-oh

88 Cougar XR-7...5.0HO, T-56, and much more                             
85 Thunderbird 30th...#2471, 29k, all original and might actually stay that way

I am an Idiot: Starter Solenoid Replacement and Fried Everything

Reply #4 –
Thats not idiotic at all...I had a part time job at a garage and I stayed very late one night replacing head gaskets and a clutch.  @3 am I took the car off the lift and left the drivers door open.  It caught on the oil change drum and poof....i had a lambo door!  I had to Dukes of Hazzard style get in and out of it for weeks!

I am an Idiot: Starter Solenoid Replacement and Fried Everything

Reply #6 –
I was staying in Montana for work and we just finished a big month long job. It was like -10°f outside and we were celebrating finishing the job by hitting a bar the night before we left. I finished up my paper work and met the guys at the bar. The hotel was in the same parking lot and like an idiot I left my lights on. 5 or 6 hours later I go to fire the car up to drive it back to the hotel a crossed the parking lot and its completely dead. I ran in and got the keys to one of the trucks from the guys and dug around for some jumper cables and went out to jump the car. By this time it was really, really cold with 40+mph winds and big snow drifts. We were in a little town called cutbank Montana, 10 miles or so from the Canadian border. It had a grocery store and two truck stops, and that was pretty much it.

I apparently jumped my battery backwards. I swore I had it right, the same set of jumper cables disappeared so I was never able to test them, but one end just had the clamps replaced and I think they were done backwards. After 20 mins or so of sitting in the truck warming up I go to try to start my car and nothing happens. My dome light came on for a second when I opened the door then went out. I grab my volt meter and check the battery and get -12 volts and instantly I knew what happened. Luckily I didn't crank the key over or anything. I swapped leads on my now backwards battery and tried the headlights and they lit up. Went to start the car and it fired up, but every fuse was blown and the alt light was on. I started probing around and found I blew only my alt fuseable link. I drove to the truck stop and bought every fuse they had on the shelf and a cheapie green extension cord from the discount bin full of left over Christmas light stuff.

I ended up with a 30 amp fuse in every fuse holder and an extension cord doubled up and simply twisted around the old wires on either side of the fuseable link and covered in electrical tape. I made the 1920 mile drive home fine the next morning and didn't tell anyone what happened because I was embarrassed thinking I reverse charged the battery hooking the cables up backwards. But I made it home, fixed it with what I had and even had a radio and heater for the drive.

So yeah, I think we have all done something similar at one point. Just be careful with the wires and double check everything. From what I remember the whole fuseable link setup is replaceable. I pulled one out of a junkyard car when I got home and it worked fine with no issues, but I don't remember exactly what I had to do. I think it only took me a few minutes and I think I pulled the harness out of a crown Vic or f150.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

I am an Idiot: Starter Solenoid Replacement and Fried Everything

Reply #7 –
I was staying in Montana for work and we just finished a big month long job. It was like -10°f outside and we were celebrating finishing the job by hitting a bar the night before we left. I finished up my paper work and met the guys at the bar. The hotel was in the same parking lot and like an idiot I left my lights on. 5 or 6 hours later I go to fire the car up to drive it back to the hotel a crossed the parking lot and its completely dead. I ran in and got the keys to one of the trucks from the guys and dug around for some jumper cables and went out to jump the car. By this time it was really, really cold with 40+mph winds and big snow drifts. We were in a little town called cutbank Montana, 10 miles or so from the Canadian border. It had a grocery store and two truck stops, and that was pretty much it.

I apparently jumped my battery backwards. I swore I had it right, the same set of jumper cables disappeared so I was never able to test them, but one end just had the clamps replaced and I think they were done backwards. After 20 mins or so of sitting in the truck warming up I go to try to start my car and nothing happens. My dome light came on for a second when I opened the door then went out. I grab my volt meter and check the battery and get -12 volts and instantly I knew what happened. Luckily I didn't crank the key over or anything. I swapped leads on my now backwards battery and tried the headlights and they lit up. Went to start the car and it fired up, but every fuse was blown and the alt light was on. I started probing around and found I blew only my alt fuseable link. I drove to the truck stop and bought every fuse they had on the shelf and a cheapie green extension cord from the discount bin full of left over Christmas light stuff.

I ended up with a 30 amp fuse in every fuse holder and an extension cord doubled up and simply twisted around the old wires on either side of the fuseable link and covered in electrical tape. I made the 1920 mile drive home fine the next morning and didn't tell anyone what happened because I was embarrassed thinking I reverse charged the battery hooking the cables up backwards. But I made it home, fixed it with what I had and even had a radio and heater for the drive.

So yeah, I think we have all done something similar at one point. Just be careful with the wires and double check everything. From what I remember the whole fuseable link setup is replaceable. I pulled one out of a junkyard car when I got home and it worked fine with no issues, but I don't remember exactly what I had to do. I think it only took me a few minutes and I think I pulled the harness out of a crown Vic or f150.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

I am an Idiot: Starter Solenoid Replacement and Fried Everything

Reply #8 –
If you need anything the local yard got an 88 Cougar in last week. I haven't gone out to check and see if it's a 5.0 car but I plan on doing so Wednesday.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

I am an Idiot: Starter Solenoid Replacement and Fried Everything

Reply #9 –
I must be missing something here. I can't understand how what you describe you did could damage anything.
If the battery cable is not on the terminal with the power distribution wires and fuse links, the car will be completely dead.