My battery died after 6 years, so I bought a new one from Exide. It was dark outside, but needed the car for the next day so decided to install it anyway.

Well, I reversed the polarity (put + on -, and - on +), which was very stupid. I heard a click, and the turn signals would come on solid. So I figure and hope, that it was some kind of reverse polarity protection... I also turned the key when the poles were reversed, which is when I still didn't realize my mistake...

It never occured to me that there would be 2 kinds of batteries, one with the poles reversed and one with the poles as I need them to be. I exchanged the wrong new battery for the correct new battery, and the car won't start.


Lights work, dash works, but that's it. I can't open the door with my remote, the trunk doesn't open from pressing the inside button, when I turn the key, the dashboard doesn't dim like it always does so it seems it isn't drawing any power. CEL, Handbrake, Airbag, ABS, Traction Control, are on. I can hear the LPG pump working in the trunk when I turn the key to ON, starting just won't do a single thing.


I have searched the forum and I couldn't find a meaningful answer. I expect that the fuses are blown, the ACC A30 or the 120A if I'm not mistaken (I will just change all those which are burned through, logic), but what could it be if it aren't the fuses? Where do I find this main one, somewhere under a plastic cover within the fuse box?


I will check the fuses and read out the ECU to see whether it's still alive, but I would really expect that it's just the fuses that burned through, as I cannot imagine that you can destroy some parts just by e.g. reversing the cables at a jumpstart. It should be protected against stupid mistakes like this, right?

 

One would think so.

Good Luck....

 

Found out that someone with a First Gen Miata blew the 80A fuse, replaced it, car works fine. Her alarm lights stayed on, just like mine, but wouldn't budge when turning the key. Another person also stated that they only had to replace the 80A fuse.
http://forum.miata.net/vb/archive/in.../t-184774.html


One of our users had the same problém and fixed it by replacing the main fuse 120A under the fuse box.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...-244644/page2/


So I'm fairly hopeful it's just the fuse, will replace it and report back.

 

Main Fuse 120A was blown. Bought and installed a new one which got my car running again! Except that the radio works, but there is no sound, so probably the fuse to the speakers has been blown aswell.