Spent hours and hours doing mechanical work, got rid of the smoke and bad idle. Except for an exhaust leak that makes it sound like something other than a Lexus, my 1995 LS400 was running great.
But I reversed the cables when I tried to jump a dead battery. The car hadn't been in running condition when I did this, so I didn't know the extent of the damage--and still don't. When I got everything back together, I replaced the alternator fuse, replaced the battery, and I thought I was good to go.
But the climate control system didn't work. Neither did the audio. Or the power exterior mirrors...or the keyless entry. Every time I tried to plug in the 15A AC/ECU2 fuse, it blew.
But I thought the car still ran. I drove it around for a while before it finally died on me about $45 away from my mechanic's shop--the one I was driving it to to have that Fuse #36 issue diagnosed. As I've been typing this, the shop called me to say I destroyed the new battery and new alternator. They can't tell me anything else at this point.
So...what else do you guys think I blew? With the battery charged, it ran great--so I'm hoping the computer and other expensive things are okay. This is more a Please Hold My Hand post than anything, as it's in the shop right now. But I just can't wait!

 

For some folks it is cheaper to originally have a shop do the fixing. Some times DIY ends up costing way more.

 

What's funny is, the simplest thing I did in the whole job ended up screwing things up royally. I replaced all these complicated components and...put the charger wires on the wrong doggone posts. I installed a timing belt in a 32-valve V8, actually did it right, but I wet the bed on hooking up a battery charger.
It is clear what I must do now: own up to this so my wife knows it was MY fault and not the car's.

 

Was the ignition switch turned on at the time that all was done? It is easy to goof up when connecting a battery charger or jumper wires.

If the shop is going to cost too much you could go to the Toyota site and down load the necessary service info you need to give it a go fixing it.

 

The ignition was off, key out. Good idea about going to Toyota; given that this is a Craigslist project, DIY is kind of how I have to go after a point.