AAA jump start fried my computer

Wife and I were away on vacation. Return home, truck battery dead. Call AAA they send a kid down to give me a jump. Kid emerges from his truck with a battery pak, proceeds to hook the jumper cables. That's when I noticed a big blue arc, and then he quickly reversed to poles. Looked to my eyes like he reversed the polarity.
He tells me to get in and start it. It's dead. First words from his mouth are "your alternator is gone". I'm thinking how can the alt go with the truck just sitting here for a month? The kid begins fumbling with a tablet, trying to hook up some sort of tester but that wasn't working either. In the meantime I opened the fuse box and saw the 120amp alt fuse blown along with a couple others. Kid tries to pull out the 120 fuse with pliers, but it's not coming, so I told him to hold off. He gets a paperclip and says he can fix it. Told me to go back in the truck and try it. Truck starts but runs terrible. No acceleration, bad idle. I got out I saw he jury rigged the paperclip to bypass the blow alt fuse. I shut the truck down and removed the clip.

Long story short, had AAA tow the truck to my regular mechanic. He says not only was the alt fuse blow, but the computer is fried. Here's the confusing part. AAA acknowledges it's their responsibility and will make it good. However they want me to have the work done at a reputable shop (not Toyota) and use a used computer. They said it's done all the time and the results are fine. The truck has 200,000 miles on it and has been maintained well. Last year I won a bad frame judgement and Toyota almost completely rebuilt the truck over and above the frame. So I'm planning on keeping it for a couple more years.
What's the thoughts on used computers?

 

Used computers are pulled from wrecked trucks, bumper is messed up and frame bent... Computer is fine. Used is fine. If you want to push it, good luck getting a new one.

From the first "big blue arc" I would have told him not to touch it anymore, told him to call his boss and explain himself while I called AAA and asked for another competant person.

 

Your 200k mile "computer" was used--just before it was "toast".

However, it is possible that something other then the ECU was damaged and what bothers me is that the engine did start and run. This leaves the possibility that the ECU is OK and something else is fried, or that the "adaptive learning memory" (that's what Ford calls it) was completely wiped and the ECU needs to relearn a whole lot of stuff before the engine will run correctly, or that the ECU is fine and just needs to have the tune reflashed.

Since the whole thing is on AAA's dime (and as much as I have limited faith in factory dealerships) I would insist that it be repaired by a factory authorised Toyota shop...

 

FWIW, I think "AAA approved" shops are not allowed to install used parts. I'm not suggesting that you take it to the shop of AAAs choosing. I'm suggesting that may give you leverage on getting a new computer. I also agree with having the dealer do the work. Factory authorized is going to go a long ways if you have problems in the future.

 

this is why i never let anyone else touch my vehicles......

OP id see if replacing the fuses with PROPER fuses makes your truck run right. its 100% possible that the paperclip simply could not supply the proper voltage to the system resulting in the truck running like shit.

The main fuse did its job and popped and hopefully it did so before any damage was done. Make sure to check all other fuses as well.

 

I'm a 3a driver.guy should've never done the paperclip thing. I know what a fuses amps are,but I have no idea what a paperclips is. The fact it start leans towards the ecu is ok.but with blown fuses will run like shit.funny the main fuse didn't blow or the battery fuse. Anyway unless it's actually 3a it'll be shops responsibility to repair. Used computer is fine.swapped 5 on a hyundai I use to own.didn't like ngk plugs

 

Thanks guys. I have something to add.

The shop I had it towed to was my regular mechanic. Been using him for over 25 years, and he's always been honest and does good work. He found several other fuses were blown in addition to the alt fuse. He hooked up the truck to his diagnostic equipment and it was then he learned the computer was damaged. So I'm confident the computer is gonzo.
However he didn't rule out the fact other stuff could have been damaged as well. He said the check engine light was on along with the abs light.

Another question. Who's responsible for negotiating the shop and price for this? AAA seems to be asking me to do the leg work and negotiating should I decide I want to go the authorized Toyota dealer route. Things have been fairly smooth with AAA to this point. But, do I have the right to tell AAA since none of this is of my doing, I want Toyota to fix this and YOU negotiate the price?

 

Hell yes, take it to the dealer If you want.3a has the ability to pay.

 

And to be fair as 3a drivers we get pushed to run calls fast.it was a honest mistake.I'm I'd be mad, but I've done it.and I also went and bought fuses to replace the ones I've blown. But if you want to go to dealer take it there. It's your truck.

 

Take it where they tell you to. Not sure why they are making you do the legwork if they are picking up the repair. Maybe get dealer quote then shop they want you to take it to. Either way get it inspected with certified mechanic and get it fixed right.

Crap happens that is why 3a has insurance for times like this.

 

HTF can connecting the black lead to the positive terminal, and red lead to the negative terminal be an "honest mistake"? We seem to have differing definitions of "honest mistake"--or the "tech" driving the AAA truck was grossly/remarkably/inconceivably/WTF incompetent. I'd be all over AAA like baby shit on a blanket...

 

Was it daylight? Is the plastic cover still on the positive terminal? Is there a shit load of dirt and crap on top of the battery?

 

Hey man.. he isn't saying the guy didn't do anything wrong, and him working for the same enormous company doesn't mean he's accountable for the other guys decision making.

No need to call him to task and explain what someone else did.

 

Not saying tech is right.he screwed up. But it happens. We're only human.

 

I'll be the first to tell you the way some shops look at it, just need body's in the truck. My shop doesn't,but some do. There's guys in these trucks who didn't know how to change a tire til someone like me trained them.welcome to the real world, mistakes happen.

 

Get a good warranty on the computer....no 90 days.

 

Ditto on the first point. I'd rather it be ME who screws up my vehicle, not when it's in the hands of someone else.

 

Just for giggles.. how do you warranty a used, salvaged ECU with unknown history for more than a reasonable amount of time like 90 days?

If it's bad, it's not gonna take 90 days to show it.

 

Guess he never made a mistake in his life..thanks man

 

I'm sure he has.

Just don't think I should ask anyone but him about them, and he shouldn't either.