AAA screwed up my parents' Highlander

[USSEnterprise]

Earlier tonight, my father was about to leave his office, but his 2005 Highlander's battery was dead. He called AAA and they came to jump it. They did so, but switched the positions of the positive and negative leads.

The car, with my dad, is being towed home, and they'll be home in about an hour. What kind of damage is likely to have been done? AAA will be paying for damages.

 

[leftyguns21]

what idiots. how do they not know? this is common sense stuff.

i dont know what/how much damage would be done from doing this though. i would imagine there is some sort of safety device installed in case this happens. blown fuse something simple maybe?

 

[USSEnterprise]

On looking at it today, the Check engine and VSC lights are on solid. In park and neutral, the car won't go higher than 1400 RPM, and in drive, 1200 RPM. I am going to try and pull codes off the computer now.

 

[brian2sun]

It could blow fuses, fry the ECM and/or the alternator.

 

[Uneek]

Leaning towards fried ECU... but also check major fuses, maybe it could be simple. They should've just dropped it at the Toyota dealer for diagnostic.

 

[Pikeman]

you need to file a claim with AAA right away so they can file against the Tow company. I had one flat tow my Cherokee one time and blew up my transmission and t-case. They replaced both at no cost.

 

[rook]

Hopefully, the ecu is not fried and the engine is in "limp home" mode.

Seriously, how the heck does someone screw up a simple jump start?

 

[jwyshrek]

how and why?

Why do they put warning labels on Preparation-H not to take orally???

 

[Pikeman]

Now I did have someone I was trying to jump start hook up the cables backwards on a Mazda I had once and it burnt out the Main fuse on the fuse block in the engine compartment $30 fuse and all was good. Please keep posted what happens though.

 

[XJeepguy]

I would have insisted it be towed to a Toyota dealer .Why would they even tow it home considering what they just did. I wouldn't even touch it considering the circumstances.

On looking at it today, the Check engine and VSC lights are on solid. In park and neutral, the car won't go higher than 1400 RPM, and in drive, 1200 RPM. I am going to try and pull codes off the computer now.