When having my battery jumped there was a huge spark/crackling sound, now Malfunction Indicator Light is on

Tiny
JASMINE ELISE
  • MEMBER
  • 2017 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 75,000 MILES
I called roadside assistance because my battery went dead from listening to music without cranking my vehicle. Roadside guy shows up to put the jumper cables on my battery and not even a second later there was this huge spark/crackling sound. So he tries again and this time it charged smoothly. I was able to crank my car, but now my gas pedal isn’t giving gas to reverse or drive, also my “Malfunction Indicator Light” is on, which it wasn’t before until all this happened. What can be the causing my car to do this?
Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 5:30 AM

13 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good morning,

The guy hooked the cables up wrong. That was the sound you heard.

By doing that, he damaged the system for the pedal controls.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/reduced-power-limp-mode

I need the code that is set so I can narrow the area of failure for you. It could be the throttle body or the pedal sensor that has failed from the voltage surge.

Roy
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Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 5:43 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Did you respond? I got an email but nothing came through.

Roy
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Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 6:25 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Same thing again.

Roy
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Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 6:34 AM
Tiny
JASMINE ELISE
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
He tried to blame the corrosion on my battery is the reason why it sparked so bad. Thanks to you. My instincts was correct about him attaching it to the wrong terminals.

How can I go about getting this code to fix the problem?
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Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 7:40 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You would need someone with a scan tool to read the code from the diagnostic connector. Once that is done, I can help narrow the area of failure.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

A parts store will read it for free for you.

Roy
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Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 7:57 AM
Tiny
JASMINE ELISE
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Why thank you! That is very helpful. I will not be able to get it read until tomorrow morning. So hopefully you will still be able to help me then.
Also, the company who gave me a jump start just called; I explained to them what happened. He says it’s impossible for a portable charger/jump starter to blow a fuse in a car. It does not matter if it’s connected to the wrong terminal. The safety function within the portable charger/jump restricts it to cause any damage to the battery or etc. Is that true?
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Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 1:25 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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That is inaccurate information. Is possible for it to happen.

It will not blow the main fuse but will cause surge.
.
Roy
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Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 1:30 PM
Tiny
JASMINE ELISE
  • MEMBER
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Okay, I appreciate that Roy.
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Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 1:33 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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+1
Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 1:36 PM
Tiny
JASMINE ELISE
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Hey, I finally have the code.
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 2:00 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Okay, can you post the code on this post so I can look it up for you?

Roy
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 2:04 PM
Tiny
JASMINE ELISE
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
This is it.
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 2:08 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Okay, this code could be either the throttle body or a bad battery supplying low voltage.

Make sure the battery has 12.6 volts and the charging system is good.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Beyond that, you will need to check the items in the flow chart.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Roy
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 2:52 PM

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