Battery problem or other?

[NWPA Jeepy T]

Monday, my son hooked up his new winch. Tuesday night on his way home from his Krav Maga class (he'll get his black belt Thursday 12/19) he smelled an electric burning smell and the radio was tripping out.
Pulled it over, looked, and sure enough, the winch cables had rubbed on a bolt or something, rubbed through the insulation and were touching each other and the bolt. He didn't mention arcing, but it's possible. He moved everything around and re-insulated the cables.
Last night when he went to start it after church, no lights or ignition or anything. He slammed his door when going to the hood & it lit up.
Could he have damaged something?
Where to start checking things out?
Fuses, or worse?
Thanks in advance

Edit
2001 Sahara

 

[mjbcomp]

Put a volt meter on the battery to see if it has a charge. Its possible the battery was hurt when the + and - cables were shorted together.

Also check from the + terminal on the battery to the frame to make sure the body is actually grounded to the battery. It just sounds like a battery issue or possible a blown fuse.

 

[NWPA Jeepy T]

Put a volt meter on the battery to see if it has a charge. Its possible the battery was hurt when the + and - cables were shorted together.

Also check from the + terminal on the battery to the frame to make sure the body is actually grounded to the battery. It just sounds like a battery issue or possible a blown fuse.

My jumper cables have a built in meter, would those work? Red & black on the battery then move the black to the frame to check both those charges?