Hello people,
Sorry to interupt but I have a problem. My husband charged the battery in our car and put it in backwards cause he was tired and tried to start it. He realized his mistake and corrected it. Now it cranks but won't fire. How do we fix?
Thank you in advance for your gallantry.
---Aleta from the US

 

How attached are you to the car? I ask because reversing polarity on even an older car like yours can fry LOTS of stuff. Unless your husband is generally handier than he was when installing the battery, I'd recommend towing it to a shop. It's doubtful everything is fried, but the diagnostic steps to trace the damage may well be beyond him. First, check all the fuses. After attempting to start the car, pull the spark plugs and see if they are wet with fuel. If so, the problem is ignition related. If dry, I'd check the fuel pumps.

 

We are very attached to the car. No I don't hear the fuel pump running. Isn't one fuel pump located within the gas tank?

 

What do you mean you don't hear the pump running, before you try to start it? Yes, you have two pumps, one in and one out. The important one is on the outside.

So were the plugs dry?