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Location: Manhattan, Hoboken or Morristown, NJ--take your pick
Posts: 22,394
Stoopid Mechanics
So, my brother takes his 1985 1st gen to an Auto Zone in Harrisinburg, VA to have his battery checked and, the monkey doing the work reverses the battery cables! and does an, AH SHIT.... as smoke billows up from the engine bay.
Now the car won't start and is completely disabled. I need some advice from you 1st Gen owners. Just how bad could the damage be? 3rd Gens have an 120 amp main fuse that, when blown, disables the entire vehicle. Does the 1st gen have have a similar safety feature. If so, where is this fuse located. Other than that, will an electrical part, like a fuse or relay have to purchased from Mazda??
My brother also said, when "Sparky" was screwing up his ride, he saw smoke coming off a box in the engine bay, located somewhere close to his headlights. Are the headlight motor circuits unprotected from reverse-polarity hts?? And, could these be fried as well??
Jezz... you'd think the mechanic ( and I use that term loosely) would've realized something was wrong when he discovered the battery posts are different sizes.!!! Hmmmm, could there be for a reason for this??!! So, any advise is welcomed... need to know something asap...
Thanks forum!!
Rich
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Last edited by GoodfellaFD3S; 03-29-06 at 07:30 PM.
rich, definatly sounds like the fusible links (one or all three or 5 if its an SE) are melted. the only box close to the headlights that i know of is the headlight occilator and that doesnt have to do with vehicle starting. teh fusible links can be purchased from mazda or you can go to a bone yard to get them. i always grab them when im at the salvage yard. you may want to ask around and see if any first gen owners have any. i sold my last set a few months back the links are in teh pic im posting and they're close to the red rag. let us know what you come up with.
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88 10AE 96K crystal white
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Make them pay for a new alt. fuses and all new electrical lines. and installation too. auto zone has money, they can spare some at their employee's expense.
The funny thing is, the battery tested "good" so I was pissed b/c I thought it had to be the alternator then. Maybe I'll get a new alternator out of this . Needless to say I am so mad, you have noooo idea. How hard would it be to replace those fuses, as in would anyone be able to do it like a monkey, and do you think Autozone or WePayForAllYourNewWiringAndAlternatorZone would have any of these fuses in stock? My quess is that they will have to order it from Mazda. Yes, don't you fellow apex seal blowers worry , I am going to make Autozone pay for every red cent of damage that they caused. I even had the manager and the employee kid sign and print their name on a piece of paper (made 2 copies) that read, and I quote "A Autozone exployee swapped the positive and negative connectors on reintalling the battery into the car, causing the car to not start. No function of any electronics, nothing. Autozone is here by liable for any damages that are in result of this positive/negative swap of the car battery."
I'll keep you guys updated, and thanks for all the info and input, I really app. it!
Ryan
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yeah that kinda sucks
iv done it but like split second ya kinda notice when the cable just reaches and looks outa place also when tightin did the worst and earthed the positive but nothin happend happend fast and gave me hella fright
The funny thing is, the battery tested "good" so I was pissed b/c I thought it had to be the alternator then. Maybe I'll get a new alternator out of this . Needless to say I am so mad, you have noooo idea. How hard would it be to replace those fuses, as in would anyone be able to do it like a monkey, and do you think Autozone or WePayForAllYourNewWiringAndAlternatorZone would have any of these fuses in stock? My quess is that they will have to order it from Mazda. Yes, don't you fellow apex seal blowers worry , I am going to make Autozone pay for every red cent of damage that they caused. I even had the manager and the employee kid sign and print their name on a piece of paper (made 2 copies) that read, and I quote "A Autozone exployee swapped the positive and negative connectors on reintalling the battery into the car, causing the car to not start. No function of any electronics, nothing. Autozone is here by liable for any damages that are in result of this positive/negative swap of the car battery."
I'll keep you guys updated, and thanks for all the info and input, I really app. it!
Ryan
Go to a lawyer and get that notorized and they have to pay or you take them to court and get an assload of cash LOL
The term mechanic has to be used crazy loosely in this instance. If you work at autozone your not a mechanic, you may have a small amount of car knowledge but IMO this does not make you a mechanic. Mistakes happen, but they made the mistake so they should fix it... However it doesn't always seem to work this way.
The alternator is the thing I would be the most concerned about. Fusible links I would consider to be a minor, inexpensive fix, but when you reverse the battery connections you can melt the diodes in the rectifier bridge of the alternator.
Since you managed to get that in writing (and I can't believe that they were dumb enough to do that) I would take the car (at their expense for towing) straight to the dealership for a full checkup. Even if you get the car running with just a fusible link, you might not find other related issues until later on...
If the dealership mentions a problem, you tell the insurance company,
"By God, it never did that before!!!! Damn autozone!"
And hell! you could get a new engine out of this
My buddies jeep got broken into awhile back. He claimed his already broken windsheild on it. He had a $250 deductible, which he had to pay anyway.... so..... why not claim as much as possible!
lol, yeah but maybe you can at least get a new alternator or starter and definatly new fusible links. thats why i do all of the work on my cars myself.
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80 LS 61K solar gold. 5spd
85 GS 142K ocean blue 5spd with 13B EGI
85 GS 150K ocean blue 5spd
88 10AE 96K crystal white
05 RX-8 Sport 33K Brilliant Black 6spd
Don't go too wild trying to get payment. I am not sure, but the Autozone insurer may limit your damages to book value of the car -- which may be more than it will cost to fix.
The worst they could do is total it, and if they do you get the option to but it back after pay out. Or at least thats what happened after I wrecked my old Camaro. You end up with money in your pocket. But as stated, dont make too outrageous claims, if it makes sense that it could have broke, then its probably okay. This claim is gonna end up being so small I doubt Autozone will try to take you to court. So thats why I think you should take them for every cent they got. But if the insurance will cover it, and you have duct tape on anything, remove the duct tape! The dealership is obligated to fix any saftey hazards, and they will add it to your claim. The Jeep stated earlier had power windows, the drivers side window motor was burned out, they were going to add it to the claim except that there was duct tape inside the door holding the window up!
On a serious note.... This same thing happened the day before I was going to pick up my car. The previous owner's "friend" swapped the cables and fried one of the fusible links and the positive cable going to the starter. Everything else was fine, so you/they may get lucky.
Keep us posted as to what happens, in the mean time I will pray for a quick rotary recovery.
Justin
Stoopid Mechanics
doing the work reverses the battery cables! 
and does an, AH SHIT.... 
as smoke billows up from the engine bay. 
Just how bad could the damage be? 3rd Gens have an 120 amp main fuse that, when blown, disables the entire 
So, any advise is welcomed... need to know something asap...
the links are in teh pic im posting and they're close to the red rag. let us know what you come up with.
. Needless to say I am so mad, you have noooo idea. How hard would it be to replace those fuses, as in would anyone be able to do it like a monkey, and do you think Autozone or WePayForAllYourNewWiringAndAlternatorZone 
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