VENTING/NEED a little advice with electrical prob.

[Picaso]

what's good nico fam? we all need to vent once ina while so here i go, well just yesterday i got my car back from the shop which was doing transmission and motor work. everything was running smooth not to mention i recently just got a new paint job. so some friends and i decide to go for a little cruise and everything was going well, feelin good, slappin some music, enjoyin the night and as i'm waiting at a stop light, my friend next to me on the other lane yells, "watch out!!" so i quickly turn my head and notice the person in front of me at the light is BACKING UP because her car was in the middle of the cross walk. i HONK like crazy, keep in mind this is downtown and i can't back up myself as there's cars behind me. so i'm stuck watching what i wish was a nightmare happening in slow motion and all i hear is crussshh from my front bumper/fender. and OH YEAH to top it off she has no license and highly doubt she has insurance so most likely i'm gonna being paying for this out of my pocket.



ANYWAYS.. when she hit my passenger side both my tail lights and dash stopped lighting up. i looked at the turn signal and the negative wire was torn so i figure it's possible that it could have caused a shortage?? idk that's where i need your advice because i'm not knowledgeable in the electrical area. (checked fuses and they all check out) also did a search but found no direct solution. so any help would be appreciated, thanks!!

[Hijacker]

Repair the wire and see if that fixes it. The marker lights and dash lights are branched off the same 12v signal, BUT they should all have separate grounds to avoid the issue you mentioned. Check your grounds, and double check your fuses again, cause it sounds like a short in the system could cause it to pop. Lastly, you may need to check the lighting switch. I doubt it's your problem, but it's the only other common link.

BTW, do your tails light up when you step on the brake pedal? The stop lights should be on a different circuit all together of the marker lights in the rear tails.

[Picaso]

thanks for the reply, yeah i repaired the wire and had no luck with that. when i step on the break pedal the tail lights DO work but other than that they're off. turn signals/hazards work but aren't lit up in the front like they used to be, dash lights don't work but the check engine light does along with the open door, seat belt,brake ETC.

from searching i saw people mentioning something about a TCU. not to familiar with that but i figure it can't be a switch issue since it wasn't even a big impact. I'm just wondering what the worst case scenario could be, is it possible that wiring could of gotten fried or something?? i'll check the fuses again but so far all the ones in the kick panel seemed good.. still need to try the 75a but i have a feeling that won't do the trick.

[Picaso]

hey thanks for the reply, yeah the tail lights work when i press on the brake pedal, that's really the only time they light up. my symptoms are the same as many describe on here but i just don't see how it could be the switch or TCU since it was just a minor accident and not a big impact. i re-attached the negative wire on the side marker that was spliced on impact but no luck. i'll check the fuses again. i just wanna know what the worst case scenario could be, is it possible that my wiring could be fried and need to be rewired? or could it ONLY be a loose ground or fuse?

[dccse3k]

I assume you mean the ECU (computer) instead of TCU(trans control unit?) and it seems unlikely that a fuse wouldnt blow if you shorted something and save it from being damaged but you never know. Do you know anyone with the same model? you could try to use it and rule out the ecu. As hijacker was saying test your power and grounds with a multimeter on various lights that don't work to make sure its not a grounding problem(just check for continuity between ground wire and any ground on your car).

[Hijacker]

Tcu = timing control unit. Atcu = auto trans control unit

It's possiboe that the tcu could cause issues. But it's more closely related to the blinker aspect of the lights. Not the marker lights

I'm still pretty sure the issue is either in the wiring itself or you've popped a fuse. I doubt you've fried any wiring, but look for areas that are cut and rubbed near the impact.