Jumper Cables hooked up wrong.

Probably blew a main fuse.

It would still have blown a fuse.

Maybe

Maybe

Huh????

Don

It would seem to me, Don,that if he put the jumpers on wrong, he is essentially connecting the batteries in a series circuit and is darn lucky that a battery didn't explode.

I am not sure which 'main fuse' he might have blown out with this setup, but I guess anything is possible.

I was also wondering what a 'ballast resistor' might be in this case.

wrote in news:Bmj7i.6055$y snipped-for-privacy@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net:

An ignition device in a fairly OLD system, that's what. Like from 1975 or earlier.

OP did not give age of either vehicle in this dust-up.

Don't think Mitsubishi ever sold a "Mirage" in North America. OP appears to be posting from South-Eastern US, so the car may be a gray-market import.

I knew that. The reference as to whether or not its "external to the voltage regulator" makes no sense. A backwards battery jump would not hurt it in any case.

They did for more than 15 years.

Don

Fuck that. A better technique is to learn the difference between red and black. Unless it is pitch dark with a new moon and somehow the car with the good battery has no working headlights, this is trivial.

The Mirage will require that every electrical component with any semiconductors be checked. That includes the alternator, engine computer, ignition system, fuel pump, etc.

Good call. Definitely check the fusible links! Also check battery cables themselves.

Don wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

I've never questioned your knowledge. You've forgotten more than I've ever known.

Maybe it's just because I'm in Canada and don't usually get to see US- market cars, but I thought they were known as the Dodge/Plymouth Colt in the US. That's what they were called up here, anyway.

I always thought Mirage was one of the non-US names for that car.

That is pretty old. I remember the oil Kettering systems had resistors that decreased current during 'run', but were switched out of the circuit during 'start' conditions. I guess that is what he was referring to. But if so, it has nothing to do with a backward battery jump.

Yes, until you encounter the car whose owner used a red cable as a ground connection because that's what he had around that day. I'll tell you, THAT was an exciting experience.

Yup.

--scott

Typical crappy jumper cables will limit the peak current. Probably were crappy since they melted. If they had been "00" gauge with really stout clamps a battery explosion would be more likely and the jumpers would not have melted.

Fuse for alternator output and possibly other functions -- frequently blows and saves the alternator.

Don

wrote in news:eVz7i.10427$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr14.news.prodigy.net:

I believe it cut battery voltage to the coil to 8V during run, but was bypassed to allow a full 12V during crank.

So Don has said, too.

Wow....

OK, normally when that happens the fuse link wires blow out.

These wires are normally at the end of one of the positive battery cables either at a power distribution box or starter solenoid.

These wires will be on the same bolt as the batter cable and are about

8" long, fat and soft with a big tube crimp connector where they join the harness pieces they protect.

The fuse link wire can be bought in bulk and new pieces crimped in or sometimes the dealers sell them. At the cost the dealers want, I usually visit the junk yard first.

Mike

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I dont believe I have such a fused circuit in my car. Will have to look at the schematic. Battery hooks directly to the alternator.