Can you reverse a battery's polarity?
My neighbour bought a very clean and low mileage Rover 25 (2004) from his local dealer 3 months ago for £3,200.
After not being run for 2 weeks, he found the battery flat when he next went to start it.
He removed the battery, placed it on overnight charge and - when he came to refit it in the car - there were sparks from the connection as he placed the second terminal on.
His wipers then burst into life along with - as he recalls - his indicators and now his car wouldn't start. The dealer is claiming he must have charged it up the wrong way and "reversed the battery's polarity".
My neighbour is as certain as he can be that he didn't do this - so, could there be any other explanation?
After not being run for 2 weeks, he found the battery flat when he next went to start it.
He removed the battery, placed it on overnight charge and - when he came to refit it in the car - there were sparks from the connection as he placed the second terminal on.
His wipers then burst into life along with - as he recalls - his indicators and now his car wouldn't start. The dealer is claiming he must have charged it up the wrong way and "reversed the battery's polarity".
My neighbour is as certain as he can be that he didn't do this - so, could there be any other explanation?
Asked on 23 March 2011 by Dev
Answered by
Honest John
The symptoms are that he did reverse the polarity.
Tags:
technical issues
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