****! I know my car has been having some wiring **** since it was broken into, something has been draining the battery so to fix that I just disconnect the battery when Im leaving the car for more than 2 hours.

So just now, I jumped the car because the battery was drained and I thought Id go for a drive (3am)

I drive for about 30 min at about 40mph. I then pull into a gas station to refill my right tire with air, I figured the 30 min of driving would have more than enough have charged the battery from its dead state. I fill the air and I get back in the car.

TURN THE KEY AND IT WONT CRANK!!! I guess the battery wasnt charging while I was driving, the dash lights come on vaguely and the car wont start.

I CALL MY BUDDY TO COME BOOST ME

When he gets there he connects his car up fine and he goes to connect mine and I get in the car and was gonna try and start it while he connected it, he says go ahead so I try and crank it and NOTHING!!! No dash lights or anything, no fuel pump prime

I get out of the car

THERE BACKWARDS!!!!! Negative was on positive !!!!

I dont know if that means my battery is now toast but we tried 5 times with it connected the right way and it dont crank or have any lights or anything.

BUT- I have an aftermarket dual powerred cig lighter thing and its power ligt is lit up, and I can plug in and run my little window heater, so I know the battery has some life

I left the car at the gas station and were gonna check from the feedback I get fomr you guys if we can fix it or get it towed home.

Ill be up bright n early. Hope to get some replies as I need to be at work at 3:30pm

Thanks

 

I probably should mention

The battery is an Optima Yellow Top and the alternator is a remanufactured only used 2 months

 

Deep Cycle batteries like the yellowtop are not like standard automotive batteries. They take forever to charge and can be damaged if used improperly.

Read why: Deep Cycle Battery FAQ

I think your Yellowtop is fried. Try a cheap standard replacement from Wal-Mart or something. If it doesn't fix the problem, you can always take it back.

 

i had a Red top Optima until last week and guess what.. i just had the same problem as you.. once you jump it you will run fine, racing it around but once you turn off car it wont crank again. It's the cold weather for me that killed it.

i drove my car to autozone and they tested it. and it only had 4-5 volts when it should of been 11.5+ UNDER LOAD to start car. and while my car was running it show 14-15volts which is perfect.

So what i did was buy an all season normal battery like Exide and i put it on right in the parking lot and my car been fine for a week. lucky it isnt something else.

 

By having the jumper cables on backwards you blew your main fuse. Thats why you arent getting any power to anything.

Your main fuse is in your fuse box in the engine bay. Its one of the big fuses. I believe its a 60amp in the '88-'91 civics(I know in my '92 its an 80amp).

 

oh yeh forgot about what his friend did. the night i changed my battery my wife almost did the same thing until i sat down and said to myself "hold on let me take the extra time to do it myself." she was upset a little that i challenged her mentality but something about her asking me if this is correct when im in the car stirred me up lmao, but i saved myself a fuse.

Slopoke

 

 

**** I wonder if I can get one of these fuses right now, Ill just go grab it and take it with me

I hope for **** my battery isnt dead for good but i wont mind buying a new oe

 

Those fuses are like $6 ea. from the dealership...

 

Ya I found em at Canadian tire for $4 and I picked up 2

Changed the fuse and ended up just buying a battery, Motomaster 875 cranking amps with 3 year warranty replacement and 3 year roadside assistance for $105

Problem solved, got my car back, thanks for the info guys

**** Optima

 

Optima is a great battery for performance and audio but not for cold and everyday wear longetivity.

I just wasnt happening for us. lol

 

I've had my redtop Optima for six years...still works flawlessly.