# I hooked up a battery backward

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-hooked-up-a-battery-backward/60111>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** f450, batteries, ford\
**Created:** [January 18, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-hooked-up-a-battery-backward/60111 "2011-01-18T16:35:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![seepc2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@seepc2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/seepc2)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-hooked-up-a-battery-backward/60111/1 "2011-01-18T16:35:50Z")

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This is a RV; 2003 Winnebago Itasca 29B. It is a E450 Super Heavy Duty chassis with a 6.8 liter V-10. I hooked the battery up backward and smoke came out of engine. In my brilliance I tried to start the engine as well. Now the alternator doesn’t charge and the ignition does not start the engine. I had a mechanic put in a manual start that requires the ignition turned on and a screw driver. I live in the RV so I can’t take it to the shop.

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**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-hooked-up-a-battery-backward/60111/2 "2011-01-18T16:38:50Z")

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There are RV shops that will service your rig while you’re in them. [rvforum.net](http://rvforum.net) should be able to point you to one near where you are.

Sounds like you blew a few things and will need to have them replaced.