ever leave your headlights on?

April 08, 2013, 01:13:11 AM

So, walked out to the car to go for a quick run to the gas station and nothing when I turned the key. Yup left the headlights on.

I'm in a small Montana town 20 miles from Canada and the only thing open on Sunday is the gas station and the grocery store. borrowed some jumper cables and our work truck. hooked them up and sat in the truck to warm up. I notice the cables smoking and jump out to un hook them. someone replaced the cable ends and put the other end on backwards. great.

Popped the trunk and got my cables out and charged the battery. start the car, battery light is on, power windows don't work nor do the park lamps or radio. find a burnt wire coming OUT of the fusable link (battery side of link).

Napa is closed and nothing else in town is open. bought a 3' extension cord that was 12 gauge and splice it in. circuit breakers started working and only fuse #4 blew. replaced it and the built in stereo fuse. $10 and the bird lives another day. 13.65 v's at idle with all accessories on.

Have to replace all the fuseable links when I get home just in case. I may put a fuse online with the alt just in case.

ever leave your headlights on?

Reply #1 – April 08, 2013, 10:05:19 AM

well now,, arent you the man!

dont tell me now we all have to add "check your cable ends are the same conductor" to our list of proper jump starting.

that must have sucked!

you probably have a bad battery now, id be hunting down a spare regulator for the alternator as well.