i might have put the jumper cables on backwards..... nowmy car gets no power at all when i turn the key and makes no noises.... how can i tell wats wrong?? all the battery cables are good

 

fuses...check them

 

Your alternator is probably toast. I did that 2 weeks ago. Go to the junkyard and get a new one.

Just to make sure thats the problem try jumping the car to see if it will start.

 

go to the junkyard and get a "used" one or go to your local auto parts store and buy a "new one". haha just messin with you ryguy.

 

Hey, it would be new to him, now wouldn't it?
Theres no sense in buying a new alternator for a 240, unless your 240 happens to be mint. An alternator at pick n pull is under 20 bucks. A new or rebuilt alternator is over 100 easily. But to the OP, make sure the alternator is the problem first.

 

i'd forget about the alt for now and look at the fuses, starter, and battery. the alt has no function until the engine is running.

 

^I blew the voltage regulator in the alternator by hooking the jumper cables up backwards. But if you mean the car won't run with a fully charged battery then yes.

 

no... i meant the car won't start.

a car will run w/o a battery but not for very long, however it will not start with a drained battery. if the battery is dead then there is nothing to power the started nor is there anything for the voltage regulator to regulate (i think).

 

accually once the car is on it runs on the alt not the battery the battery is there just to start the car and dampen voltage spikes from the alternator

 

that's with a fully functionally alt not a fried one. and to a point they both work together to keep the car running right.

but the ts wants to know why the car wont start. i say check out the fuses, battery, and starter.

 

Check battery voltage first, if theres juice in it, then check fuses. Alternator has nothing to do with the initial start up.

But you guys already covered that.

Anyways, easiest to do is check battery to see if its alive, half dead or dead. If its alive, check fuses. Half dead, recharge battery and bring it back to life, if nothing still happens, check fuses. If its dead, well, there you go. But also check fuses still...

I am glad to hear that the battery did not explode on you when you crossed the jumper cables. One of my auto shop teachers was less fortunate and now visually impaired. He can only see your sihliouette (Spelling?).

 

He was an auto shop teacher? I'm sorry but that is FUGIN FUNNY!!!LOL
That is almost as bad as running yourself over with your own car.

 

i was thinking the same thing. i did it once and you could hear the battery whining like it was about to meltdown. lucky for me i went oh ****, and took them off. haha.

 

It was strange when people in the day time class (high school Regional Occupation Program auto shop classes) were telling us that the teacher walked in with a walking stick... He told them his story, and sure enough, he was actually teaching. He's not completely blind, just partially, but he is a really good teacher. Just recently received a teachers award for being one of Sacramento's best teachers.

I would say, he is one of the most influential teachers in this city because of the fact that he is partially blind, yet teaching in a potentially dangerous environment.

 

I guess he learned from his mistakes. He must have made a lot of mistakes to get an award. lol
I'm sorry, I still cant quit laughing.