i did something really stupid and connected my car battery the opposite way it should be (positive clamp to negative terminal and negative clamp to positive terminal; a few sparks flew). i tried to start the car but nothing happened when i realized what i did wrong i put the battery in the right way and the car started fine. i heard that when you connect the battery the wrong way it reverses polarity or something like that and that the battery cannot be used and that it messes up the alternator too.so that raises a couple question1) do i need a new alternator?2) even though the battery starts the car is it no good?3) will the battery end up exploding or malfunctioning because of the reversed polarity?
1 if it still works don't replace it, if you still doubt it have it bench tested at an auto part store 2 have the battery load tested just to be sure it is still gonna hold a charge. 3 if it was gonna explode it would have done it when you first tried starting it. also you will want to watch out for the car acting funny because it could have messed the cars internal computer up. while its doubtful just be extra observant for a week or so for things like running rough and erratic gages among other things
Keep an eye out for developing electric issues but it seems like you got away with it make sure you check for corrosion regularly and fuses/ relays. Some cars have an auto shut off type protective system to protect the electrical system in case off accidental mistakes like this or power surge protectors.
the polarity CAN switch and cause problems, but if your car started and runs fine and is charging you probably got by with it. the battery itself should have no lasting problems, there is the possibility that you hurt some electronic components, but this would most likely show up right awayyou probably got lucky.
you obviously have an overide system built in somewhere,most likely the system realised the high current thus high resistence,and shorted its own circuitry,its common in uptodate cars as many people fall ill to that mistake and blow their e.c.u's,your lucky your also a hard worker coz the terminals are sized different making it almost impossible to put - lead onto + terminal%)
most of time when you touch the cables wrong you get sparks and you stop and most of time nothing comes of it but sparks but then sometimes you kil the battery or some other eletronic parts so if you hook pos to a neg your wrong its red to red or + its black to black - any other way not and can lead to any of the above been bad now but if you hook it up right and it starts then drive it so hook it up right and see if it wil start if it does your ok if not cal a tow truck
