Out: Tail, Reverse, Instrument Lights - Short?

[ordway]

1995 Eclipse RS

First my reverse lights were out, then my instrument lights this morning, followed by the tail lights tonight-- went out in sequence. My battery also died today and I had to replace it, although it was old and the guy at the shop said I was getting juice from the alternator.

Can going to a shop and hooking up to a computer tell me anything? I don't want to spend a fortune having somebody diagnose this manually.

Got some wires hanging off the front driver side where I got hit and the signal used to be. Could that be shorting out the rest of the system?

Any help greatly appreciated. MC

[david-b]

Could be it. You definitly have a electrical problem. WIth what you lost, you blew a fuse. I think its in the engine compartment. Cap all the wires hanging, then replace the fuse... see if that works. If that the problem, you shouldnt have any other shorts. If the problem persists... take it to a mechanic. Have them test it. With the battery dying, and your lights not working, you have a constant short, meaning it's draining your battery even when the car isnt on. So your battery can charge and be good when driving, but when off, the battery just drains.

I'm definitley an electrical man. lol