I had hooked up jumper cables to jump my car to start it after my battery was dead. I accidently hooked them up backwards and now my car wont start. All the lights come on and the car turns over like it is going to start up, but I doesnt. If you turn the key as if you were going to start it and hold it, then it will run. I had the ignition relay replaced and that wasnt the problem. We have checked the altenator, battery, fuel pump. I dont know what else to do? I obviously burt a fuse or something, but my dad (who is a machanic) can't figure this one out. Please help if you have any info..

1986 Camaro V6 2.8 , Multi-Port Injection

Thanks@!

Best be gettin a schematic and a digital volt meter. If you suspect a short circuit somewhere, remove a battery cable and insert a test lamp. The lamp should not light up unless there is an electrical drain such as from a short or dome-light etc. The alternator will be suspect. That's a good way to fry the diodes. ECM could be damaged as well.

Not a short, an open. Electricity is not flowing somewhere it should.
Shorts let too much electricity flow in the wrong place, usually accompanied by smoke and that nasty smell, until whatever is shorting out burns up and becomes an open.

If that 2.8 has a carb, then you fried the module in your distributor. Check for spark while cranking.

If it's injected (it would be a TBI) then you're gonna have to scann the computer, see if it's alive.

I zapped a fuse-able wire once when I reversed the jumper cables.

Not a short, an open...

I didn't read his post carefully enough. Most likely though it was once a short (such as a forward biased diode) that became an open.

It's not the distributer module if it will stay running if he holds the key.

Very possible ignition switch issue. Check your power to your ignition box or distributor when the key is on. I bet you have power cranking and not in the forward position.