{"id":104293,"date":"2024-04-06T06:34:40","date_gmt":"2024-04-06T13:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=104293"},"modified":"2024-06-24T17:51:53","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T00:51:53","slug":"what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens When You Connect a Car Battery Backwards?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column_0de188-00 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_0de188-00 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_0de188-00 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_0de188-00 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_0de188-00 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_0de188-00 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_0de188-00 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_0de188-00{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_0de188-00 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_0de188-00 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_0de188-00 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-7b8d95  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-ca76fd\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_652f04-be, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_652f04-be[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_652f04-be\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_652f04-be mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_652f04-be[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_652f04-be\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_652f04-be img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_652f04-be[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_652f04-be\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading_652f04-be summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_652f04-be\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Accidentally inserting a battery backward can have a lot of consequences for your vehicle. If you&rsquo;re lucky, you might just get away with a blown fuse and nothing else.<\/li><li>After connecting a battery backward, you&rsquo;ll need to check components like the powertrain control module (PCM), and alternator, plus your vehicle&rsquo;s fuses and relays for damage.<\/li><li>You&rsquo;ll need to find all the damaged components and either fix or replace these before continuing to drive your vehicle. This can be a daunting challenge for any DIY mechanic, so we recommend leaving this task to a trained professional.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you connect your vehicle&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/battery-cable\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"battery cables\">battery cables<\/a> to the wrong terminals, it can cause a wide range of issues. Reverse polarity in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/battery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"car battery\">car battery<\/a> occurs when the positive and negative terminals are&nbsp; incorrectly connected, often leading to electrical system malfunction. This can happen when you jump-start your vehicle or if you install a new battery on your vehicle. This can also happen when you get a new battery with reversed battery terminals.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column_5a8667-3e > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_5a8667-3e > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_5a8667-3e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_5a8667-3e > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_5a8667-3e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_5a8667-3e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_5a8667-3e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_5a8667-3e{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_5a8667-3e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_5a8667-3e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_5a8667-3e kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var( --global-kb-row-default-top, 25px );padding-bottom:var( --global-kb-row-default-bottom, 25px );padding-top:20px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;padding-right:32px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;padding-right:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}#kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-rowlayout alignnone pro-tip-wrap\"><div id=\"kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d\" class=\"kt-row-layout-inner kt-layout-id_9fab8c-0d\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-gutter-none kt-v-gutter-default kt-row-valign-top kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-m-colapse-left-to-right kt-mobile-layout-right-golden  kt-custom-first-width-10  kt-custom-second-width-90\"><style>.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_936903-8e{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column_936903-8e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_936903-8e kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image_4a1dbd-45.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image_4a1dbd-45 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image_4a1dbd-45.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image_4a1dbd-45 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image_4a1dbd-45 figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image_4a1dbd-45 .image-is-svg, .kb-image_4a1dbd-45 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image_4a1dbd-45 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image_4a1dbd-45\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column_3074e5-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_3074e5-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_3074e5-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_3074e5-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_3074e5-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_3074e5-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_3074e5-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_3074e5-cb{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_3074e5-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_3074e5-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-2 kadence-column_3074e5-cb pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\nAlso, if a battery was drained all the way to being totally dead and somebody connected the charger backwards and charged it back up that way, even connecting that battery the right way can cause the same kind of damage as connecting a battery backwards.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To better understand the potential risks and consequences of reversing battery polarity, let&rsquo;s go through the components that are directly affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a battery is connected backward, a positive charge is applied to the other end of a device&rsquo;s circuit, which typically connects to the battery&rsquo;s negative terminal. This is typically used as a ground source for various vehicle electronics and devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&rsquo;ll typically see a welding machine-grade spark when you make your final connection if you&rsquo;re connecting the battery backwards. If this happens, you need to stop making that connection and hope you didn&rsquo;t destroy anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The diodes in the alternator will feel the surge before anything else does, but today&rsquo;s vehicles are loaded with dozens of modules that are easily destroyed this way, so pay close attention to what you&rsquo;re doing and don&rsquo;t connect the battery backwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Caution:<\/em><\/strong><em> Never work around a car battery without eye protection under any circumstances.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Consequences of Connecting Car Batteries Backwards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So you&rsquo;ve hooked up the battery backward and now the car won&rsquo;t start. As previously mentioned, connecting a car battery backward can damage a range of components. The devices that can be immediately damaged include the powertrain control module (PCM), several fuses and relays, and wiring that isn&rsquo;t rated to handle high-voltage circuits. The alternator and some sensors can also get damaged. The battery itself can even fizz out and leak toxic acid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&rsquo;t consider reconnecting your battery the right way hoping nothing was damaged. If any damage has occurred, you could just potentially worsen it by reconnecting your battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>From Richard McCuistian, ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician:<\/em><\/strong><em> One 1998 Taurus that had the battery connected backwards came in with these complaints: &ldquo;Wipers, fuel gauge, and power windows inoperative. Power steering feels stiff.&rdquo; The car had to have several modules replaced to repair the damage. The car would still start, but there were several other problems.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Should You Do If You Connect a Car Battery Backwards?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&rsquo;re wondering what happens if you hook up a car battery backward, the answer is a lot of bad things. If you think you just made a fatal mistake and your battery is connected backward, you should do the following steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Note:<\/em><\/strong><em> <\/em><em>If <\/em><em>the car<\/em><em> won&rsquo;t start, have it towed to a shop. You probably won&rsquo;t be able to fix it on your own, but if you want to try, <\/em><em>you can do the steps below.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remove Your Vehicle&rsquo;s Keys From the Ignition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should also ensure that the engine is turned off. The first course of action is to remove the battery. First, carefully disconnect the cable connected to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/heres-why-you-need-to-disconnect-the-negative-battery-terminal-when-working-on-your-car\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"battery&rsquo;s negative terminal\">battery&rsquo;s negative terminal<\/a> to prevent any further damage to your vehicle&rsquo;s electrical system. Then, you can proceed to remove the positive terminal. It&rsquo;s recommended that you do this immediately, as leaving the battery connected can continue to damage your vehicle&rsquo;s electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inspect Wiring, Fuses, and Relays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Connecting a battery backward is a fire hazard, since this can cause certain components to catch fire and create smoke. This is why you should immediately disconnect your battery as soon as you&rsquo;ve realized that the terminals are incorrectly connected. Otherwise, you&rsquo;ll be applying high-voltage currents to sensitive components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should also inspect the visible wiring harnesses in your engine compartment for signs of damage like burnt wires or melted insulation. When wires melt or burn, there&rsquo;s also smoke and a burning smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, check your vehicle&rsquo;s electronics such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/fuse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"fuse\">fuse<\/a> or relay box. There are usually two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/fuse-box\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"fuse boxes\">fuse boxes<\/a> in a vehicle. One box is underneath the dashboard, while the other is beneath the hood. You should refer to your vehicle&rsquo;s owner&rsquo;s manual to verify each box&rsquo;s precise location. From there, you&rsquo;ll need to open them and check the integrity of the fuses and relays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vehicle wiring harnesses also have a fusible link, which is a wire that acts like a fuse and protects circuits during a short circuit. When a battery is inserted incorrectly, these fusible links will typically be blown. The vehicle&rsquo;s alternator will also typically short circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If this happens, some vehicle manufacturers have a fuse that&rsquo;s designed to protect all other devices. If your vehicle is equipped with this fuse, there&rsquo;s a chance that only this fuse was blown and other components weren&rsquo;t damaged. Depending on your vehicle this fuse can be replaced by simply unscrewing the old fuse and screwing in a new one with the same amperage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Test the Powertrain Control Module<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In rare cases, the PCM can get damaged. If this is the case, you can connect a scan tool to find trouble codes that can help you diagnose the issue. However, sometimes a scan tool might not work when the PCM is damaged. You might need to send it out to be tested and repaired since you can&rsquo;t test this computer without the right equipment. Alternatively, it might need to be replaced, which is going to be expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If any of the previously mentioned components have been damaged, you&rsquo;ll need to replace or repair them. If not, faulty relays and fuses will prevent certain vehicle electronics from functioning, which include components like the fuel pump and starter. Computers like the PCM are an integral part of a vehicle. Without it, the engine simply won&rsquo;t function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A shorted alternator will also prevent your vehicle battery from charging properly, so you&rsquo;ll need to diagnose and repair this as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, accidentally inserting a battery backward can have a lot of consequences for your vehicle. If you&rsquo;re lucky, you might just get away with a blown fuse and nothing else. In a worst-case scenario, you might need to replace expensive components like the alternator or PCM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nevertheless, you&rsquo;ll need to find all the damaged components and either fix or replace these before continuing to drive your vehicle. This can be a daunting challenge for any DIY mechanic, so we recommend leaving this task to a trained professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get a New Battery for Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A battery leaking toxic acid is arguably the most significant consequence of connecting it backward. If you encounter this issue, it&rsquo;s best to get a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/battery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"high-quality replacement battery\">high-quality replacement battery<\/a> immediately. Luckily, you can find and order a top-notch battery at <a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a> in just a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take your pick from our wide selection of direct-fit batteries sourced from the most trusted aftermarket brands. Our batteries also passed the highest quality control standards from industry professionals to ensure you&rsquo;re getting your money&rsquo;s worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enter your ride&rsquo;s year, make, and model into our vehicle selector to start browsing our catalog of high-quality car batteries. You can also use the search filters to narrow down the results according to your preferred brand, price range, and more. Shop now and check out securely with a few clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get your order delivered straight to your doorstep in as fast as two business days. Our products also come with a low-price guarantee, so you don&rsquo;t need to worry about going over budget for your repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&rsquo;t miss out on the best deals on the market. Shop for a new battery at CarParts.com today!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>If you connect your vehicle&rsquo;s battery cables to the wrong terminals, it can cause a wide range of issues. Reverse&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":104413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3744],"tags":[73],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":["post-104293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-diy","category-ignition-system","tag-battery","entry"],"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Happens When You Connect a Car Battery Backwards? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Reversing polarity in a car battery can cause a lot of problems. Let\u2019s see which components can be affected and how to fix possible issues.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Happens When You Connect a Car Battery Backwards? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Reversing polarity in a car battery can cause a lot of problems. Let\u2019s see which components can be affected and how to fix possible issues.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-04-06T13:34:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-25T00:51:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/car-battery-terminal.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com Research Team\",\"jobTitle\":\"Expert Automotive Writer\",\"description\":\"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com&#039;s thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/thecpteam\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom, https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/CarPartscom, https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/, https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"Richard McCuistian\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/richardmccuistian\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\\\/, https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/McCuistian\"}],\"headline\":\"What Happens When You Connect a Car Battery Backwards?\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-04-06T13:34:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-06-25T00:51:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1503,\"commentCount\":1,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/04\\\/car-battery-terminal.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"battery\"],\"articleSection\":[\"DIY\",\"Ignition System\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/\",\"name\":\"What Happens When You Connect a Car Battery Backwards? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/04\\\/car-battery-terminal.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-04-06T13:34:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-06-25T00:51:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"Reversing polarity in a car battery can cause a lot of problems. Let\u2019s see which components can be affected and how to fix possible issues.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/04\\\/car-battery-terminal.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/04\\\/car-battery-terminal.jpg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"car battery terminal\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":398,\"caption\":\"CarParts.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Happens When You Connect a Car Battery Backwards? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"Reversing polarity in a car battery can cause a lot of problems. Let\u2019s see which components can be affected and how to fix possible issues.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Happens When You Connect a Car Battery Backwards? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","og_description":"Reversing polarity in a car battery can cause a lot of problems. Let\u2019s see which components can be affected and how to fix possible issues.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/","og_site_name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","article_published_time":"2024-04-06T13:34:40+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-06-25T00:51:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1500,"height":1000,"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/car-battery-terminal.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@carpartscom","twitter_site":"@carpartscom","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"CarParts.com Research Team","jobTitle":"Expert Automotive Writer","description":"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com&#039;s thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/thecpteam\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom, https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarPartscom, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/, https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom\/"},{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"Richard McCuistian","jobTitle":"ASE Master Automobile Technician","description":"Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian"}],"headline":"What Happens When You Connect a Car Battery Backwards?","datePublished":"2024-04-06T13:34:40+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-25T00:51:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/"},"wordCount":1503,"commentCount":1,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/car-battery-terminal.jpg","keywords":["battery"],"articleSection":["DIY","Ignition System"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/","name":"What Happens When You Connect a Car Battery Backwards? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/car-battery-terminal.jpg","datePublished":"2024-04-06T13:34:40+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-25T00:51:53+00:00","description":"Reversing polarity in a car battery can cause a lot of problems. Let\u2019s see which components can be affected and how to fix possible issues.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/car-battery-terminal.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/car-battery-terminal.jpg","width":1500,"height":1000,"caption":"car battery terminal"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"CarParts.com","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","width":2048,"height":398,"caption":"CarParts.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/x.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/car-battery-terminal.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/car-battery-terminal.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-connect-a-car-battery-backwards\/"},"authors":[{"term_id":2607,"user_id":1651,"is_guest":0,"slug":"thecpteam","display_name":"CarParts.com Research Team","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/thecpteam.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/thecpteam.jpg"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/thecpteam\/","last_name":"","first_name":"CarParts.com Research Team","job_title":"","description":"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust."},{"term_id":2985,"user_id":1646,"is_guest":0,"slug":"richardmccuistian","display_name":"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","last_name":"McCuistian","first_name":"Richard","job_title":"ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","description":"<div class=\"auth-social-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"linkedin\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"instagram\" aria-labelledby=\"instagram\">Youtube<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\nRichard McCuistian grew up in Alabama learning from his father who ran an automotive repair shop. Richard has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others (published every year since May 2000). He has developed training courses and written or edited training material for companies in the U.S. Canada, and the Netherlands, and even Bulgaria. He maintained an \u201cask a mechanic\u201d website for 10 years answering questions emailed to him from all over the world.\r\n\r\nRichard has an instructional automotive YouTube channel \u201cMcCuistian\u201d with 13,500 subscribers and over 1,300 videos. Much of his professional work requires photography and videography in shop environments, but Richard also enjoys taking pictures of landscapes, skyscapes, old barns and houses, small towns. He has produced a coffee table book of digital watercolors called \u201cMemories of South Alabama\u201d created from his personal photos, along with a dozen Christian fiction short original novels and a collection of short stories, all available in Kindle or softcover format. Richard has written a 2,500-word Bible study every week for the past 20 years and uses it to teach a small group at his church every Sunday morning.\r\n\r\n<strong>Credentials:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"author-list\">\r\n<li><p>ASE Certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Professional Mechanic\/Technician for 25 years with experience on diesel and gasoline engines, vehicles and equipment (including hydraulics).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Spent 5 years in fleet maintenance, 20 years in independent shops and dealerships (VW, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln), specializing in driveability and electronics for the last 14 years of his career at the same dealership.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Senior Contributing Editor at Motor Age Magazine, first published in Motor Age in May of 2000 and every year since. He has won two International Automotive Media Awards for technical articles published in trade magazines.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has attended hundreds of hours of automotive training from OEMs including GM, Volkswagen, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Chrysler, as well as additional training at events like KC Vision and MACS (Mobile Air Climate Systems Association).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Taught college level auto mechanics for 19 years.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has written for automotive training companies (including course development work for training companies in Canada and the Netherlands) and has been hired to teach professional trade show technician courses at multiple training events in Texas and Alabama.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>While still teaching at the college level, Richard launched a new automotive program in Geneva, Alabama, setting up a dual enrollment department in a new building, organizing the shop and classroom, teaching morning classes to high school students for 2 years while still teaching at the college in the afternoon.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Richard\u2019s college program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College worked at professional shop speed during his tenure to prepare graduates for production level work in the real world.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104293"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104293\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104293"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=104293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}