What have I done. Please advise!!!

[gibbo]

Hi all,

I swapped my battery yesterday and got the polarity ALL WRONG!!!!! Idiot!!!!

I heard a sparking sound from beneath the rocker cover/injection/spark plaug lead area (i.e. central part of the engine) and then some white smoke puffed out. I quickly removed the leads off the battery and the smoking stopped. Not smell of burning at all, but when i placed the polarity correctly, the battery light was lit up on the dash, and also lit, but very faintly were the oil and parking lights. These are all lit WITHOUT the key in the ignition!!!!

If i turn the kley trying to start the car, it tries and tries, but it doesn't seem to produce that 'spark' that starts the engine. It tries to start, but nothing.

All fuses are ok. No burning smell around the engine. Any ideas?

One guy said i knackered the alternator (voltage regulator). Another said the spark plug leads. Please help me out here.

I guess the fact the 3 LEDs i mentioned about are lit even without the key in the ignition means something.

One last guy suggested a "fried" ECU. I refuse to believe him

PLEAS PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP!!!

PS. 8v engine 1994 LHD.

[4x4Turbo]

could be the alternator diode, ive shorted mine out a couple of times and it blew a fuse which left them lights on i cant remember now what fuse it was i know you say youve checked them but it may be worth another look, also you could check the earts where they bolt to the end of the injector rail it might jhave fried one and thats where the smoke was coming from thats all i can suggest mate

olly

[4x4Turbo]

not shorted the alternator diode that sounds a bit confusing i meant shorted the battery a few times which blew the fuse! sorry!!

[steve3000]

Oh dear. That sound's bad. [img]/sad.gif[/img]

If lights are on without ignition, then the voltage regulator on the alternator has blown. This happened on my old V6, and was also accompanied by a smokey smell.

Other things may have been damaged (ignition coil?), but I'd start by getting the alternator replaced, because if you run the car without a voltage regulator it will cause more damage (and will eventually blow all the light bulbs in the car etc).

Good luck.

Steve

[gibbo]

How can i test each of the possible probs. i.e. voltage regulator, ignition coil, etc. etc