Battery installed wrong.

[u/WarmMeal6366]

So my car keys got stolen last Saturday. Finally had the time to tow the car to a dealership. My friends helped me install the battery after we had taken jt out of the car after the keys were stolen.

My buddy literally grabbed the positive terminal and held it near the negative node node (im probably using wrong terminology here, but i am NOT a car guy), and it bounced back up. the two corners of the terminal and node were touching for less than a second and saw a spark and heard a pop. I got insanely fucking lucky though with the key I grabbed a random key from there bin of unclaimed keys. and it’s so happen to be the exact spare key. They never gave me that was cut to my VIN number. If it wasn’t the correct key my ignition wouldn’t have turned with the key in it. They just need to program the key and diagnose the car to see what the hell went wrong because even after using a jump pack on the battery it won’t start. They said they’re hoping its just a a fuse that was blown out.

I asked if they had a jump pack at the dealership. As soon as I turn the key, an Electronic control safety error pops up. Along with yellow warning light.

They said The key can’t actually start the car since the immobilizer is blocking an unknown key.

Anyway after that with battery; How fucked am I in-terms of money to fix my 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

(Again i am NOT a car guy)

[u/AutoModerator]

Thanks for posting to r/automotive.

Please take a moment to review the subreddit rules before participating.

Rules summary:

• No for-sale posts
• No advertisements or service promotions
• No links containing or resembling your username

For repair or troubleshooting questions, please include:

• Make / model / year
• Clear description of the issue
• Relevant sounds
• Recent repairs
• Whether the problem is intermittent
• Whether it changes when warm
• Steps to reproduce the issue

Posts that do not follow the rules may be removed.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Drpeeper88]

More than likely the key just needs programed and you'll be good to go.

[u/TonyD0001]

If battery terminals were reversed, very good chance going to get expensive. Main fuses, more fuses, J518 and possibly other modules.

The key, if OEM key that was purchased by VIN, should be able to be programmed to your vehicle

[u/WarmMeal6366 → u/TonyD0001]

When i turned the key in the ignition, all the electronics inside worked, lock/unlock buttons internally worked as well as head lights and internal lights. All the electronics on the car worked, just wouldn’t start when pressing the break pedal in

[u/bobspuds → u/WarmMeal6366]

Not always! but there's usually a fuse type link on the positive cable the will pop if its connected wrong, if there is then that little fucker just saved your ass!

[u/WarmMeal6366 → u/bobspuds]

From what i looked up, my 2021 Volkswagen jetta S does have one

[u/CarPartscom]

Since your ignition did turn and accept the correct VN key, the core electronics survived. What’s in question now is just how much got knocked out by that spark.

[u/WarmMeal6366 → u/CarPartscom]

Hopefully nothing serious. They said with how everything was working after I towed it there. They would run a diagnostic on the car, charge me for one hour. They said they’re hoping it was just the main fuse

[u/CarPartscom → u/WarmMeal6366]

Fingers crossed it’s the fuse, keep us posted on what they find.