HELP! Trouble Starting & Keeping Engine Running!

I have a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse with a 4 cylinder engine. Recently my headlight multi-function switch went out, so my dash lights and running lights stayed on. This happened overnight, without a good reason. I'm waiting on payday to get the part, so for the time being I have been unplugging the positive battery cable when the vehicle will not be in use for more than a few hours. This is not my big problem however. Today after dropping my fiance off at home, I was attempting to leave my driveway, but apparently my car had other plans. It died on me, and would not restart. I was thinking maybe my new battery terminal had made a hole into the hood's insulation and grounded out. I checked some of the fuses and one of my engine fuses, as well as my A/C fuses were blown (Both are 20A mini fuses). I replaced the engine fuse and the car started. I went inside to tell my fiance I was leaving and when I came back out, the car had blown the fuse and cut the engine off again. I pulled fuses from other places to replace the engine fuse for troubleshooting, but have had no luck. I am yet to completely replace all the fuses with the corresponding Amped fuses. Any ideas on what could be causing this issue? Hopefully it;s nothing to big. Is there a major underlying issue that I should check out? Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I have a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse with a 4 cylinder engine. Recently my headlight multi-function switch went out, so my dash lights and running lights stayed on. This happened overnight, without a good reason. I'm waiting on payday to get the part, so for the time being I have been unplugging the positive battery cable when the vehicle will not be in use for more than a few hours. This is not my big problem however. Today after dropping my fiance off at home, I was attempting to leave my driveway, but apparently my car had other plans. It died on me, and would not restart. I was thinking maybe my new battery terminal had made a hole into the hood's insulation and grounded out. I checked some of the fuses and one of my engine fuses, as well as my A/C fuses were blown (Both are 20A mini fuses). I replaced the engine fuse and the car started. I went inside to tell my fiance I was leaving and when I came back out, the car had blown the fuse and cut the engine off again. I pulled fuses from other places to replace the engine fuse for troubleshooting, but have had no luck. I am yet to completely replace all the fuses with the corresponding Amped fuses. Any ideas on what could be causing this issue? Hopefully it;s nothing to big. Is there a major underlying issue that I should check out? Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Sounds like you might have a wiring issue on your hands. Does the car still start now when the fuse is replaced before blowing the new fuse or does it blow the fuse immediately? I would start to check the wiring around the engine for melted spots in the loom or cut spots. You might have a cut wire that is grounding out blowing the fuse. I had this issue once when my O2 sensor wiring melted on the exhaust.

You can check continuity between ground and the pin on the fuse (Dont use the Pin where the power comes in from) If you are getting a low resistance then you have a short somewhere.

Please do not post threads in two different locations, it clutters up the forum.

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