# Jump starting

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/jump-starting/64124>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** gmc, pickup\
**Created:** [April 27, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jump-starting/64124 "2011-04-27T05:45:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![scottmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@scottmo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/scottmo)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jump-starting/64124/1 "2011-04-27T05:45:30Z")

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what may have my son fried by reversing the polarity while jumping the battery in his 95 GMC pickup? The smaller wire coming off the + terminal was burned through,so I spliced that. The engine cranks but there is no spark.

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 11:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jump-starting/64124/2 "2011-04-27T11:25:20Z")

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First three things tha come to mind are, anything powered off that small wire that burned through, internal components inside the distributor (do the “no-spark” test procedure from the manual) and the PCM. You do not mention if you have done a fuse check, people always say they did a fuse check.

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**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jump-starting/64124/3 "2011-04-27T13:37:31Z")

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Couldve fried ANYTHING electronic.

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**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jump-starting/64124/4 "2011-04-27T13:55:58Z")

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It’s at this point you hope that the protection mechanisms designed into the vehicle have saved your bacon. They’re not specifically designed to prevent damage in this situation but you can hope.

I would first check for bus voltage at the fuse box.  
Bad- check the fusable links in the wiring harness.  
OK- check all of the fuses.  
Then check the ECM by at least seeing if it will respond to inquiry.

Hopefully, you will discover a fault by this point in the diagnosis…