So, my recently acquired GXL with 18,000 miles on the motor needed a new battery. No problem, it was less than two years old (barely) so they gave me a new one. I wasn't paying attention when they gave it to me and the contacts were on the wrong side for the FC. I threw the battery in the car and went to get something to drink. In the mean time my dad thought he should hook it up for me so he tried hooking it up. As you can imagine, there were some sparks and we realized we had the wrong battery. I went to grab another battery and when I turned on the car my radio wasn't working and neither was my clock. When the car is in park nothing happens but when it's in drive the backlights surge on and off. The clock is also reset every time I turn the car one (it did work just fine before). So what gives before I have my dads mechanic look at it? It's definitely not a fuse so what else could it be? I'm just trying to save myself the money.

 

Reverse polarity will pop just about every electronic gadget in the car.

 

So what can I do to fix this?

 

Go to an Automotive electrical shop. Check his references. Explain your situation, and be prepared. They will not tell you what is bad until you have the car diagnosed. Just ask the consiquences of reverse polatity.

 

I know that's the problem. What I'm asking for is a solution, not short, undoubtedly unhelpful answers.

 

Replace The Battery And Check All Your Fuses...