[UK PONY]

Ok so lets get my stupidity out of the way first - after giving the battery from the "new" '90 a good charge I placed it carefully on the battery tray & didn't realise I had it in backwards. Net result, lots of sparks, some smouldering wires and a very shameful look on my face. In the words of the great Homer J Simpson - DOH!!

Now for the diagnostic help. After putting the battery in the correct way around the daytime running lights came on & stayed on the whole time the battery was connected - probably as a result of the earlier DOH moment. But when I came to start the car the starter spun (maybe a little too freely) but the car wouldn't fire up. THe previous owner did say he thought the tranny had gone but before I fork out $300 for a used tranny I thought I'd seek the collective knowledge available on here.

Any thoughts guys & girls?