First things first.. 02 es 2.0 In California (if that matters). 222,xxx on the clock. Battery was dead the other day before I left for work. When checking the cells they were dry. Odd to me but I filled them and jumped the car with no further issues of power. No multimeter to check voltage but assumed battery was dust. (Older battery) but was going to take it in today to be tested and or replaced if needed.

While on the road yesterday strange pop noise followed by what apeared to be smoke from the cig lighter and radio area along with windshield wippers that began to go bat sh*t until loos of all power. Coasted off the road to find one of the caps off the top of the battery and what I'm assuming was water/battery acid all over top. Upon close inspection I find that there seemed to be or looks like there was short at the negative terminal. Blue ish color on terminal wire. At this point Un aware how the hell I got all this.

After getting towed home. And a bunch of reading found that a alternator overcharging the battery was the root to all of this madness. Front engine bay fuse box had 20amp fuse blown.. which I found was a fuse for the engine. I believe it was in spot 8 in the diagram. Replaced the fuse. And popped in a new battery just to see if it would start. With high hopes and much disappointment it cranked but didn't start up. In fact the power level seemed very low.

Also once the new battery was in there is power. However there are no lights.. headlights, turn signals make noise in the cluster but do not function. Dome light, clock, radio do not have power. But there was enough power to roll windows up.


So now I'm in a spot where I'm reading and searching and trying to figure out where to start. Of course knowing I have much wire chasing and checking to do I figured I'd come here and see if some of your gurus could she'd some light on the subject. Found things that tell me that it can make ecu go bat ****.. but haven't found anything where this actually happens so your guys help would be much appreciated.

 

You checked all the fuses?

 

Yes 20 amp ecu fuse under the hood was the fuse that continued to blow. Since the last post I was able to get the car started however I am lead to believe there is still either a bad ground or a shorted/burned wire somewhere in the harness. The headlights turn signals are not functional.

 

You may well have fried something, as the headlights are controlled by the front ECU (big red/green/black/grey module in the under hood fuse/relay box), while the turn signal lights are controlled by the ETACS ECU...have you tried the high beams? also have you checked all your fusible links?


and lastly, have you checked that when the system overloaded, it didn't simply burn the lights out?