Electricity and car quick question.

[sniper7]

Most of the jump pack units have circuitry to disallow current flow if they are on backwards. See if yours has this.

this.

definitely check this. would solve any problems you have if it has that function.

[fitz19d]

It's a Westward 3LE85R. Chinese made Grainger unit. Couldnt find anything saying it did have it.

Been going around with a few others theoryizing.

Basically what I know: Battery replaced by son day before who's mechanic in Greeley (Honda dealership?). Was a Honda, not sure what other than a 2000+ model. First jump, it died when she put it in gear. Second jump, when I had her turn lights on they were very dim but the engine remained running while I was there several minutes off the charge pack. She was then saying how she was hitting the gas and not getting any rev and I couldn't hear any noises like it was trying. The claim is that I in the second jump had it on wrong and it was shooting sparks.(No) Our pack is still good and the vehicle had the engine running when I had to leave while she was talking to son about a tow.

Theories from assorted places: Main idea being out of warranty, looking for deep pockets to do her repairs.

Son putting battery in (top terminals) had it in reverse initially, fried up some stuff. Car ran enough to make it to work but otherwise got worse and now borked. (Why did we only get a call a week after the fact? What's been done to the vehicle since we had it on property? With a new battery what was wrong with it in the first place to be dead, and then die again after the first jump?)

Car just had an existing issue with charging system or other components, new battery got the car to work, but jumping it from pack not enough for it to get up and go? (But if I'd done the damage she said, wouldn't it not even start I'd think?)


My thoughts include from what you guys said and online. If I'd put it on wrong, and somehow ignored a cascade of sparks. The charging end I thought takes most of the damage (pack is fine), the dead battery could be damaged, and then yes the fused link could burn open. I don't have all the details yet from my boss other than a claim of something like the whole engine? needs replaced or just the entire computer system. (Not clear on this). This was from the dealership/shop son works at. They've told them they need at least 2 more estimates/appraisals from other shops before we'll even begin to debate with them on liability.

My employee and then me following him in turn did fuck up in not having her sign a release. Status quo for most the department had kinda become that we didn't have that book in our car and no one messed with it. (I thought idea had become the little form for check for service (jump/tirechange)and signature wouldnt hold in court?) Being an employee being jumped and knowing how to do a jump I'd always figured not really any risk. Too innocent and didn't consider doing it right, but still being targeted for taking blame. So corporate seems to be ready to leave me on my own so looking at if she wants to try it potentially a civil suit. Hopefully since it's already a he/she said combined with some of the points above that'd throw enough question into it. Was hoping there had been a definitive way of proving that her claim was impossible.

[sniper7]

Sounds like they are trying to pull one over on your guys. I'm interested to see what they are wanting replaced.

[ray1970]

Make up some unpaid invoices and put a mechanics lien on their vehicle.

[newracer]

I do not think it would have started at all if you had the connections reversed. Obviously there were problems with the car before you got there or they wouldn't have called you.

Is it possible when the new battery was installed it was not fully charged and it killed the alternator? I have heard this can happen but have never actually seen it.

[CO Hugh]

Basically what I know: Battery replaced by son day before who's mechanic in Greeley (Honda dealership?).

So a Mom blames her son for damage: unlikely!!

Whole problem solved, all you need to say is when she sues you, son and dealership will be brought into lawsuit.

[Irving]

I know Toyota's have that 100 maxi-fuse that will pop to save the whole system from taking damage. Costs about $100 to replace that fuse, but whole car is disabled at that point.