Be lucky that you did not fry the PCM...

 

Not only that, but it safeguards the the electrical system in the vehicle that is doing the jumping when the jumpee starts the vehicle.

 

In my manual, it says to connect the Pos cable to the alternator on the jumper truck.

 

That's fine, so long as it is NOT connected with +/- to -/+ or any other battery-to-battery method.

If you want to get technical, imagine you're jump starting a vehicle that has *Positive Ground* (ie. an old Ford). What do you do?

 

Umm! Ask for quarters? LOL

 

Not saying you are wrong, but I have never unstood why this is supposed to be the way you hook this up. The only reason I can think of... is that usually the negative cable is the last cable you hook up, and it will spark when connected. If it were over the battery - and there was hydrogen leaking out of it, yeah... I can see an explosion. But hydrogen is only generated when the battery is charging... and if the battery is dead - I don't see that happening. Yes, the battery charges after the cable is connected, but that happens after the spark from connecting the cable.

Cartman

 

OK, here's the deal. The battery has to crank out enough amps to turn the starter, and once the vehicle fires up, the alternator takes over. By connecting battery to battery you introduce the opportunity for venting Hydrogen to explode. I know a guy who used to roll his eyes at wearing safety goggles when working around batteries until he jumped a vehicle whereupon the battery DID explode. Why? Connecting the negative lead sparked and BOOM.

By connecting the charging vehicle in the manner prescribed a charging circuit is being created and completed in the proper manner.

 

Just to put my oar in the water here, when the jumper cables are disconnected from the battery a spark can also be generated, not just when the connection is made prior to starting the engine. Hydrogen can be present at this point and can ignite/explode at that time. Why take a chance with your health or eyesight when it is just as easy and a lot safer going one lead to the battery and the other to the block? Just always remove the one on the block first because it will still be able to draw a spark at the battery.