No battery in van so I accidentally connected the jump box backwards, directly to the cables. Apparently the red battery cable went to the engine block which I didn't see until afterwards. Left the cable connected 30 to 60 seconds until I realized it was connected backwards. Put them on correctly and tried again and the starter did click but by now the box must have been pretty low. I noticed the courtesy lights didn't come on with the door open. What damage could have happened? Alternator fried? Fuses or fuseable links if any, blown. At least no computers to worry about.
What damage from trying to jump start with jumper cables reversed on 79 Chevy van?
- Thread starter atikovi
- Start date
Yes I turned the key to try and start it. That's why I connected the jump box in the first place.
My guess is you'll be needing an alternator very soon.
There is an ignition module screwed to the base of the distributor that may be fried now. Easily replaced in a van. A 5 minute job once the dog house is off.
JHZR2
Staff member
I once fried a handheld radio when I didn’t realize that the setting for positive or negative ground was in the wrong place.
While a 1979 van doesn’t have a ton of electronics, it has some, and I’d guess that they are suspect….
While a 1979 van doesn’t have a ton of electronics, it has some, and I’d guess that they are suspect….
Ignition module, alternator diodes, and radio could be damaged by reverse polarity.
