I'm getting sparks when I hook up the battery, like something is shorted. I checked my grounds and connections at the + and - blocks and everything looks okay. Any ideas?

 

is a door open?


there is a slight draw from the radio, ect.

 

Doors and trunk are closed.

I mean sparking like it's welding. Already unhooked computer (hopefully not too late)! Checked grounds, starter wiring, alternator wiring.

There is <0.5 V from + battery to ground.

 

I unhooked the major stuff like alternator, starter, coil. Hooked battery up and no sparks, but the headlights came on, like they're getting constant power.

 

The ONLY thing connected to the positive on the battery is the alternator. If I touch the negative lead to the battery I get sparks. Am I right the only possible problem is the alternator? I took it to Advance Auto and it tested fine. Could it test fine if it had a short in it?

 

Got it solved. Took the battery to get checked and the load tester said the cables were reversed, which they weren't. The guy said the polarity of the battery was reversed. Never heard of that! Got a new one and it's fine.

 

FYI - I talked to a guy at work and he said that if a battery sits a long time (mine sat for 9 months), lead phosphate crystals (I think that's right) will start to grow on the plates, essentially creating a battery inside a battery, causing the polarity to reverse.