[Captain Buumer]

As i own couple of retro cars (1966 year) and they have battery polarity reversed.

Since there is still demand for those batteries they are still produced and you can mess stuff up.

Almost the same thing happened to me too when my old battery died in cold winter morning and needed to get to work quickly. Then took good condition one from my old retro car. It fits perfect in the battery tray but the obvious + and - sign do not match the colors of the car connector.

See image below where polarity is reversed:


For reference below is normal battery our cars use:

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by charleskeyz

I work as a lot Tech at a local used car dealership. I have BimmerCode BimmerLink a box full of obd2 basic code readers. A couple heavier duty scan tools. I just got a K/D-CAN cable with a switch. I have a laptop and am currently installing INPA and ISTA on. Yes I have a multimeter.

I figured out the fuse mixup and got it to start. Drove it to the post office… realized none of the windows work, the headlights don’t work and the heat doesn’t work. Pulled the footwell out and sent it to a euro shop in Hollywood, FL that reprograms FRM3 modules.

Before I pulled the footwell, I checked the codes…. It was throwing like 30 codes. I cleared them…. 15 popped back up.

I’m praying the footwell is not too damaged and they are able to reprogram it. Also praying this fixes everything. Not holding my breath tho. I have already been checking salvage yard inventory for 3 series’s.

Oh I forgot to mention this all started because a loose quart of oil leaked on my battery lol. ����‍♂️ I replaced the fusable link and dumped a bucket of diatomaceous earth in the trunk and soaked up the majority of the oil. All before I got it started.

My concern was that the car was losing power on my drive back from the post office. So I might have more than a few problems still.

Thank you guys for all the help. This is an amazing forum with some of the best people. To everyone who took their time to respond to my post thank you.

I will post updates when I get the footwell back.

Eh worse case it's a 600$ module. I had to replace my FRM shortly after I got my current car.... it was working on it's last leg and even with having it repaired, eventually it let go completely.

But yeah I suspect it's not the only modeule.

If you scan with ISTA it should be pretty telling which modules are the issue IMO.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by charleskeyz

Yup I know. I literally shaved the terminal down and pounded the connector on with a hammer, not realizing the entire battery was dropped in 180 degrees backwards. ����‍♂️��������‍♂️ it was dark and cold.

Yup, when I work on my car in the winter I suddenly lose a few mechanic skill levels I can't wait to get a insulated garage.

I got a Mr heater big buddy this time around hopefully it helps a bit having it next to me.

[jsunma]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Yup, when I work on my car in the winter I suddenly lose a few mechanic skill levels I can't wait to get a insulated garage.

Yes indeed. Totally agree. This goes to - and this thread has wound up at - a place where perhaps there's less interest among the purely technically-inclined and/or those who don't choose to reflect upon our foibles as humans. That is at a place where we can think about the things that we all do under pressure and in the less than ideal circumstances that we all (whether we admit it or not) find ourselves in at one point or another.

Because I'll admit that is me more often than I'd like, I have no issue maintaining that I have more than once done something stupid.

I'll confess to those occasions where it's cold, I'm tired, I'm stressed and I just do something like pound on the battery terminal to get it to go on - even when under different circumstances I'd think again and not do that. It's easy to call that dumbs**t, but it's the dumbs**t that we all do whether we admit it or not.

I'm glad that the OP has a good attitude, has probably figured out his car's problem, and hopefully comes back here to suss out future problems...with us human beings. :-)

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by jsunma

... Because I'll admit that is me more often than I'd like, I have no issue maintaining that I have more than once done something stupid. I'll confess to those occasions where it's cold, I'm tired, I'm stressed and I just do something like pound on the battery terminal to get it to go on - even when under different circumstances I'd think again and not do that. It's easy to call that dumbs**t, but it's the dumbs**t that we all do whether we admit it or not...

And then there are the guys who "Never make a mistake" (never take the time to think), or "I alone can fix it" (who cant fix sh*t, but cause a LOT of problems for others to fix).

Glad to know there are still some folks who actually THINK about what they do, and are objective/rational enough to identify/admit their mistakes.
George

[charleskeyz]

So just to give an update on the progress.

I found a place to do the FRM3 on eBay for $50. It took less than a week. The majority of it was me not thinking and mailing it UPS normal ground instead of overnighting it. I installed it, windows work…. But now the car wouldn’t start at all. I jumped it, it started… then when I removed the cables… it died. So that has to be the alternator. Which would explain why I was losing power on my way home from the short trip to the post office.

Autozone was solid and let me swap my battery out for a brand new one. We have a comm. Account and they will just damage out the other battery. Super thankful for that.

I’ll be purchasing an alternator today and installing it. Then installing my new battery correctly. I’m making sure I get this done earlier in the day when it’s still light out and warm.

After that, we’ll see if I have any more issues. I might not be out of the woods yet.

[TeeUp]

Sorry to hear that. I’m really curious how the cables reached the wrong battery posts.