Save the flaming until after this is done. I won't give the story.

Long story short: when replacing the battery, the + and - were mixed up when the battery was put in backwards. Terminals were connected, but obviously to the wrong terminals. A spark or two ensued, the horn went off, turned the battery around correctly, connected it, and now the car won't start.

Told it could be any of the following:

fried ECU
blown fuse*
fried alternator
battery cell out, battery dead


When checking the obvious fuses under the hood i.e. the 80A Battery and the 40A Ignition, we found the 80A battery fuse was blown. Replaced it. But one of the two screws holding it down was lost in the process. Could this be all that's preventing it from starting now?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by barefootbilly &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> , we found the 80A battery fuse was blown.

Could this be all that's preventing it from starting now?


</TD></TR></TABLE>
Probably, that's usually what happens. Saves the rest of the components most of the time.

 

there is a good possiblity the ECU was almost ready to be burnt up, but the main relay might be blown also.

 

ok, but we replaced it, but lost one of the screws that holds it down. I assume this screw holds the ground for the fuse?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 99blackcivicSi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">there is a good possiblity the ECU was almost ready to be burnt up, but the main relay might be blown also.</TD></TR></TABLE>

and where would i find that?

 

find a relay at the dealership or auto parts store same thing happened to me last week and I dropped a screw too but I found a matching one inside my house.

 

no, i mean where is this relay in the car? next to the ECU?

 

drivers side near the under dash fusebox

 

ah crap. probably not going to find it.


anywho, new question about the fuses under the hood. For the few fuses that are held down by screws, what happens if one of those screws is not connected? would the fuse not work? does it ground the fuse?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by barefootbilly &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ah crap. probably not going to find it.


anywho, new question about the fuses under the hood. For the few fuses that are held down by screws, what happens if one of those screws is not connected? would the fuse not work? does it ground the fuse?</TD></TR></TABLE>

you answered your own question. btw don't bother going to the dealership to buy a fuse, just go to any honda/acura junkyard. Best bet and cheaper too.

 

no, i got the fuse yesterday, replaced it, but lost one of the screws in the process so the car still doesn't start.

by the way, i'm driving my girlfriend's car today, 2002 civic. Went to it right now to test out the missing screw theory. I took one out of the Ignition 40A fuse and the ignition didn't work. Put it back in. Then took one out of the Battery 80A fuse (like mine at home) and it still worked. ?????

 

i can't speak about honda's on this but i did this to my 99 cavalier Z24 in 02, and there was a fuseable wire going to the starter. if you cross wired it this wire would melt preventing starter damage. i would be willing to gamble that hondas incorporate this same feature, give it a try if it wont crank over.

 

yes you need that screw
Also check your main relay.. they are known for going bad

Is the fuel pump kicking on? Does the CEL come on and then go off when you turn the key to on? When you turn the key on, do you hear any relays clicking on and off?

 

by not starting what do you mean?

Car doesn't crank?

Car cranks but doesn't fire?

 

If I remember correctly, if the main fuse(the 80 amp) is blown, you wont have power to anything. No lights, radio, etc.

So if your getting power to your accesories, then the problem is elsewhere.

If your getting no power at all(and you've got a new fuse), then chances are, the missing screw is preventing it from getting a good connection.