HELP! Hooked up battery backwards!!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,922
Likes: 153
You're surprised someone can make an honest but absent minded mistake? Must be nice to be perfect all the time.
The negative cable terminal easily slips onto the positive terminal. Then, all it takes is slight contact with the positive cable to the negative terminal and zap goes the fusible link. Seems very easy to "figure out" how someone could do this.
The negative cable terminal easily slips onto the positive terminal. Then, all it takes is slight contact with the positive cable to the negative terminal and zap goes the fusible link. Seems very easy to "figure out" how someone could do this.
Oh, and the pos. battery post is the big one so the neg. terminal will not slip on it.
If we can't ask a question or make statements then whats the point of the web site ?
8th Gear
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Reverse battery
My dad while the truck was parked at his place, noticed what he thought was a backwards hooked up battery.
Decided to switch it, I drove it and it killed the lights.
The next morning with light, I looked under the hood to inspect and take the headlamps out and noticed the mistake.
After switching lights to new ones and hooking battery back to positive ground. The headlamps still blew out. Truck starts fine, all other electric that worked still works.....where should I start?
Decided to switch it, I drove it and it killed the lights.
The next morning with light, I looked under the hood to inspect and take the headlamps out and noticed the mistake.
After switching lights to new ones and hooking battery back to positive ground. The headlamps still blew out. Truck starts fine, all other electric that worked still works.....where should I start?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,309
Likes: 364
From: Kansas
you might want to start your own, new post for visibility....and give a clue as to what you're working on...
start with explaining what you mean by "positive ground"? I haven't seen a positive ground system in a long time. Negative (-) battery lead should attach to engine block...it is usually black in color. Positive (+) should connect to front large lug on solenoid...this is assuming you are working on a 73-79 ford!
If the pos and neg cables were indeed switched, something would have fried so I'm not sure what got changed...
as far as headlights "blowing out" have you tested the bulb with a meter and confirmed absence of continuity? As these trucks get older, higher current loads cause the circuit breaker in the headlight switch to open and close. Also the dimmer switch can get corroded/worn where the lights will appear to go out all at once....
start with explaining what you mean by "positive ground"? I haven't seen a positive ground system in a long time. Negative (-) battery lead should attach to engine block...it is usually black in color. Positive (+) should connect to front large lug on solenoid...this is assuming you are working on a 73-79 ford!
If the pos and neg cables were indeed switched, something would have fried so I'm not sure what got changed...
as far as headlights "blowing out" have you tested the bulb with a meter and confirmed absence of continuity? As these trucks get older, higher current loads cause the circuit breaker in the headlight switch to open and close. Also the dimmer switch can get corroded/worn where the lights will appear to go out all at once....
Last edited by dlburch; Oct 6, 2025 at 03:01 PM.
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