I reversed battery polarity, now it won't start

HerbieJ

Cadet
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
19
Tried to hook up a battery while lying on my stomach under the boat cover, in the dark. Realized I had reversed the battery terminals as soon as I touched the second cable to the post and saw the little orange sparks. Now I have no power to the engine, except the tilt/trim switch. Can't turn it over. What did I do??? What will have to be replaced?
HerbieJ

1995 Mercury Mariner 4 cylinder, 4 stroke, 50 HP.
 

j_martin

Admiral
Joined
Sep 22, 2006
Messages
7,474
Re: I reversed battery polarity, now it won't start

Tried to hook up a battery while lying on my stomach under the boat cover, in the dark. Realized I had reversed the battery terminals as soon as I touched the second cable to the post and saw the little orange sparks. Now I have no power to the engine, except the tilt/trim switch. Can't turn it over. What did I do??? What will have to be replaced?
HerbieJ

1995 Mercury Mariner 4 cylinder, 4 stroke, 50 HP.

There's probably an inline fuse under the cowl near the solenoid. Reverse polarity on the rectifier would have blown it. Hopefully that's the only damage.

hope it helps
John
 

slasmith1

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
1,028
Re: I reversed battery polarity, now it won't start

check all fuses and circuit breakers if they did their job it should be your only problem.
 

HerbieJ

Cadet
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
19
Re: I reversed battery polarity, now it won't start

FOUND THE FUSE!!! Problem solved. Someone please cancel this post: I don't know how.

HerbieJ
 

Barnacle_Bill

Admiral
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
6,469
Re: I reversed battery polarity, now it won't start

Check your charging circuit now. There is a chance you blew a diode(s) in your rectifier.
 
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