Help my truck won't start

[Richard123]

So I accidentally hooked my battery up backwards in my 1995 ford ranger. It was acting like the battery was bad weak starting. It blew a few fuses and broke the wire from the selinoid that goes to the alternator. I replaced the fuses and repaired the wire with a crimp connector and put a new battery in. It worked for about a week but still weak starting and now it won't start at all. It clicks the starter like it wants to but won't turn over like the battery is dead. Battery says full charge when hooked up to a charger but is low on the gauge when I turn the ignition on. I'm guessing starter or alternator but I'm far from a mechanic I'm just a shitbox enthusiast that can turn a wrench and follow instructions lol. Please help this is my daily driver.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

So I accidentally hooked my battery up backwards in my 1995 ford ranger. It was acting like the battery was bad weak starting. It blew a few fuses and broke the wire from the selinoid that goes to the alternator. I replaced the fuses and repaired the wire with a crimp connector and put a new battery in. It worked for about a week but still weak starting and now it won't start at all. It clicks the starter like it wants to but won't turn over like the battery is dead. Battery says full charge when hooked up to a charger but is low on the gauge when I turn the ignition on. I'm guessing starter or alternator but I'm far from a mechanic I'm just a shitbox enthusiast that can turn a wrench and follow instructions lol. Please help this is my daily driver.

Get the battery load tested.

 

[Richard123]

Get the battery load tested.

It was 12.8 when I was messing with it last night.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

It was 12.8 when I was messing with it last night.

Yeah but whats the voltage drop to when you try to crank it?

Having it hooked up wrong coulda cooked a cell or something.

 

[Richard123]

I put a brand new battery in it last night

 

[gaz]

@Richard123
Replacing the wire that you repaired may be what takes; if I have the right wire in mind it is 12g-ish stranded copper wire, an Al crimp is not going to conduct current as well.

 

[Richard123]

I thought that might be It. Just not passing enough current.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I put a brand new battery in it last night

Oh i thought you hooked the new battery up backwards

 

[Richard123]

Well I did the other day and bought a new yesterday.

 

[superj]

did you replace that wire? did it fix it?

 

[Richard123]

did you replace that wire? did it fix it?

Not yet. Gonna try that tonight.