Buddy of mine has a new to him '06 4WD 4 door LWB auto. Last week when it was cold, it wouldn't start without a jump so he figured it was the batteries. This morning it wasn't cold (~50F) and it wouldn't start again, so he jumped it again, but was distracted and crossed polarity of the cables.

He said there were some sparks and he of course pulled them off immediately, but he's concerned about the damage that may have happened.

Anyone happen to know if Dodge put a sacrificial diode in there somewhere to protect the rest of the truck?

Can anyone give me some idea of how much damage he may have done?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

 

Ok, no damage done.

 

As long as he put the cables on the battery posts, the only potential damage was to the batteries; all of them. Starting batteries are designed for very high current, so if the cables didn't melt they are likely no worse off.

 

So, what's the problem? Ya can't just leave us hanging here.

 

Haha! So it was batteries that were done with life. He put in a new pair and all seems well. We were at the gun range all afternoon and it started right up afterward, so I think he's got it whupped.

Thanks to all.

 

Yeah, a buddy did that jumping his truck. Didn't do any electrical damage, but blew his battery (blew a chunk of the battery case off).

I towed him home, and lent him my truck to go buy a battery, and all was well.

 

My kind of day! If the batteries tick you off, just blow the $$$$ out of them and Diesel on Glad it was just the batts.