# Driving without pos battery cable connection **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 2, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-without-pos-battery-cable-connection/90481 "2015-07-02T22:17:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smashleyann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Smashleyann](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Smashleyann)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-without-pos-battery-cable-connection/90481/1 "2015-07-02T22:17:16Z")
I didn’t have the ratchet extender to remove old dead battery from my 06 crown Vic so I hooked up new battery to start it to drive to get tool to get out old battery and install new one. I got distracted in the process and forgot (doh!!) to hook up pos cable to old battery before I drove it. Now my VAPS isn’t working, car idles really rough, and really slow throttle response. I know battery regulates voltage in vehicle and I heard that the Speed sensitive steering system is very succeptible to voltage spikes so I think I may have fried the sensor but what else could I have done to cause other issues? Battery is new and alternator is at 12v. No check engine light except lean code that was there already cause I need a tune after installing bigger plenum and tb. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-without-pos-battery-cable-connection/90481/2 "2015-07-02T22:20:30Z")
Your alternator voltage is too low. It should be 14v. You fried the regulator. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-without-pos-battery-cable-connection/90481/3 "2015-07-03T20:04:02Z")
I suggest you first make sure that you didn’t blow any fuses before replacing anything. ---
**Author:** ![Smashleyann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Smashleyann](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Smashleyann)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-without-pos-battery-cable-connection/90481/4 "2015-07-03T22:14:18Z")
Sorry alternator at 14v. Not 12. Gonna check all fuses now.