VW Golf 1.4 05 Plate - Have I screwed my car up?

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 20:27
VW Golf 1.4 05 Plate - Have I screwed my car up? - oopsididitagain

So my battery ran flat after my wife left the charger on, not the first time it's ahppened and I usually pop the battery out, give it a quick charge and all is well until she does it again.

However this time I did it in the dark and connected the battery the wrong way around - there were sparks, the indicators flicked on briefly and the car horn sounded.

I took the battery out, charged it for another 20 mins (until the charger said fully charged) then reconnected properly.

The car starts fine but the battery light on the dash and the engine light are on.

Am I OK to drive it? I heard this can possibly frazzle the alternator but not sure how I check that. Or perhaps it's a blown fuse?

Any help greatly appreciated.

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 21:00
VW Golf 1.4 05 Plate - Have I screwed my car up? - elekie&a/c doctor

Best case scenario is you have blown the main fuse on top of the battery,worst case is the alternator is toast.As for the engine light,it may be on as it has detected a low battery voltage.No problem driving it,but suspect the alternator is not charging,so you are on battery power only.and will not get very far.

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 21:07
VW Golf 1.4 05 Plate - Have I screwed my car up? - oopsididitagain

Thanks, how would one check the top fuse is it with the others?

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 21:24
VW Golf 1.4 05 Plate - Have I screwed my car up? - elekie&a/c doctor

Between the top plastic battery cover and the battery is an electrical distribution board.There are several metal "strip"fuses here.Hopefully you will find one blown.

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Fri 14 Oct 2016 10:40
VW Golf 1.4 05 Plate - Have I screwed my car up? - oopsididitagain

Thanks I'll have a look.

I drove it today for about 1 mile, the steering started to get heavy then it suddenly went and every light on the dash lit up, it now won't start.

Nightmare!

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Fri 14 Oct 2016 11:01
VW Golf 1.4 05 Plate - Have I screwed my car up? - elekie&a/c doctor
As I said you were on battery power only and you won't get very far
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Fri 14 Oct 2016 12:52
VW Golf 1.4 05 Plate - Have I screwed my car up? - Railroad.

Check the 110A fuse on top of the battery which could be blown. Also check the charge rate with a voltmeter. Make sure you have battery voltage at the alternator main terminal. If you do and it's not charging the alternator is probably toast.

Edited by Railroad. on 14/10/2016 at 12:57

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Fri 14 Oct 2016 13:21
VW Golf 1.4 05 Plate - Have I screwed my car up? - Cyd

Luckily for you, electronic modules in most cars are reverse polarity protected. Your alternator might have had a heart attack though.

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