What happens when this happens to a car battery?

Question

I was helping a friend jump her car.

So when her car was running, we took the cables off of her battery (both cars are still on). So the cables are still attached to my battery and the other sides are in the hands of someone else. He accidentally touched the two wires together and there was a spark. He didn't get shocked and we kinda laughed about it.

But.... the next day, MY car wouldn't start. I didn't tried to start it since so I'm thinking that incident has something to do with the problem.

So how might it affect the car? I basically shorted out the battery for like a millisecond, just a touch. Does this most likely ruin the starter, damage the alternator, or ruin the computer... I don't know much about cars.

Answer 1

It's a sudden, rapid drain of electricity, but a short duration like you described shouldn't affect your battery.

Answer 2

you can blow a fuse for the charging system that way, after that fuse is blown, you are on battery voltage alone. start by checking for a charge back fuse, usually a large heave amp one, then look for a charging system fuse in the fuse box. if these are ok, move on to the alternator and battery tests. if you had to jump start it the battery could be ghost already.  

Answer 3

it damages the battery...

COULD have fried the alternator, but unlikely...

Answer 4

Bad battery or alternator  

Answer 5

it shouldent really hurt anything but the battery...usually it doesnt even hurt that...it may have reversed polarity ...put in a new battery and pray thats all it is..

Answer 6

Yeah man, touching two wires together attached to one battery drains the battery. It shouldnt affect the alternator, I dont think. The way the battery is hooked up to the alternator, i dont think it would back to the alternator, w/ it being DC and all. Its very possible though. If the car WONT start because of the battery incident, then theres no draw from it [since it now has nothing in it (drained bettery), OR nothing going to it (buzzd alternator), OR both]. The computer shouldnt be ruined. Its meant to record things going going on with your car, even things that go wrong, and technicians can go into the computer and read whats wrong w/ their OBD machine or whatever.

Answer 7

Just the battery, just try and jump your car if that doesn't work go to the store and get a new one. You just shorted it out.

Answer 8

usually it will burn the alternator out on one when that happens to it,you need to take it and have auto zone check it,they can tell you if its bad or not,i have seen a lot of those burnt out because of that,good luck.,,PS in some cases it will also get the battery on one,they can check this also.

Answer 9

keep trying to start  your car. if you cant then it screwed something up. Me?? i dont jump start anybodys car. too many electronics on a car.

Answer 10

Typically, that shouldn't have done much of anything to your battery. I've never seen that kind of occurance ( just a quick one like that ) have any effect. However, your battery may have been low to begin with, and using it to give your friend a jump possibly drained whatever power you had left.

Conversely, it is a good idea, when you have your battery replaced, to have the mechanic give your electrical system a thorough shake down, just to be safe.