Rep Power: 0

It's been wicked cold in the Toronto area the last week or so and my car would not start for two days so i decided to change my battery since it was getting pretty old anyways and swap it out with a new one.

I have a Civic SI (American EX I believe) and they gave me the 2.0 instead of the 1.7 liter batter I had asked for so the terminals were switched. I had to turn the battery so that the terminals were now closer to the bumper of the car rather than the engine bay. I got my terminal connectors on, tightened everything up and went to start my car expecting everything to be OK again but alas I have no battery power whatsoever. I checked my ground and it is in great condition, the negative ground seems to be in pretty good shape. It could be better but I don't see it being in bad enough shape to fail. I can't really see the positive wires much to give it a good assessment. I tried to wiggle the wires around to see if I was missing a connection somewhere but I got nothing from that.

Does anyone have any ideas what else I could be overlooking that could render my car from getting any power at all from a new battery? I am desperate for help!

 
Rep Power: 368

If you short battery, does it give sparks?
Not sure of battery poles switched, but why not go back to store and have right one?!?

 
Rep Power: 0

Yes it will give off little sparks if I switch up the terminals. Unfortunately I can't get to the store until Saturday. However, if the battery still doesn't work when i get one, I am wondering if there is anything else I am missing.

 
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fuse?

 
Rep Power: 519

What does it (your car) do if you connect jumper cables from a good car?

 
Rep Power: 368

Yes.

Op, did you connect wrong at any time? Switched poles, I mean.

 
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Potentially could be a fuse. Would that control all the power to my car? Like nothing is working at all. Before I switched out the old battery my lights worked and the engine semi turned over.... maybe something shorted?

 
Rep Power: 0

I did touched the wrong terminals so it sparked lightly but that shouldn't short it out would it? I've done that before and it never did anything.

 
Rep Power: 519

Oh yeah.
Get a flashlight.
Look at the 80A or 100A main fuse, whichever it has in the engine compartment fuse box. See that the element inside is gone, melted away.


If it is blown, I think the only things that will work are the hazard and brake lights and the horn.

 
Rep Power: 0

The 80A fuse does look like its blown. Do you think that is what is causing my issue? Would that shut down almost all my power to the car?

 
Rep Power: 519

I know the car can't run until that fuse is fixed and the battery is correctly connected.


You might find other fuses blown after you get the 80A fixed too.

 
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Well froma quick look it seems the others are OK. My GF is picking me up early and we are going to the parts store to grab the fuse. I am hoping that helps. Thanks for your help ezone!

 
Rep Power: 519

You may want to remove it and take it with you to be sure you get the correct one.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yep I did and it worked. Car is running now It's amazing how only one parts shop had the fuse I needed. All the others had the copper plate too long so I couldn't align the screw holes.

Thanks again for your help!