I just changed the battery on my '97 civic CX (jdm h22a), and my buddy put on the battery terminals backwards. There was a loud pop noise, and the terminals were immediately removed. All the fuses are ok.

Since then, the car will not start 9 out of 10 times. I stick in the key, and the dash lights up., the fuel pump kicks on, but the starter does not even click. Nothing from the mottor whatsoever. It has started a couple times since this episode, but I did not have this problem at all before the battery problem. Sometimes, when the key is not in the car at all, the car will sound like the blinker is on or something... it will make a beeping-type sound (maybe like its telling me my keys are still in), but the key is not even in the car.

any thoughts?

 

any thoughts? It's been recommended to me that it's something electrical in the alternator....

 

^^^

 

Reversing the polarity is not a good thing, as you've discovered. Yes, there are diodes in the alternator that you could have shorted. You could unplug the alternator and see if that solves some of your problems. Double check the fuse box in the engine bay, especially the main fuses. Quite possible you fried one. After all that checks out, there are still quite a few things that could have gotten fried if you're unlucky.