I'm trying to trace a short to ground on my '90 Civic EX. As you probably all know, the Hayne's manual is sorely lacking in wiring diagrams! So, I have some questions.

1. What are the w/r and w/g wires coming off the battery + terminal? They're always hot. I'm not too worried that they're the problem since they're right on the terminal and are presumably meant to be hot. But, what are they for? (I've got them unplugged while searching for the short.)

2. Besides a stereo, what else draws power when "everything" is shut off? (My radio fuse and the stereo itself are unplugged at this point.) Does the ECU require a constant power supply? Something is pulling power through the big 60 amp fuse in the underhood fusebox.

I'm pretty sure that the problem is with my hazard flasher. The hazards are not working and power is flowing through the hazard fuse with the switch off. I would like to know what all the other power is for, assuming I've got this right so far.

Thanks,
Dean

 

the white/green goes to the hazard fuse and the white/red goes to the dash fuse box

 

i guess i misread what you said - are these wires right on the battery terminal? - there shouldn't be any wires other than the battery cable that are connected right to the battery

 

1 those wires are for your power seatbelts
2 the clock?

 

These two wires are on the "terminal". There's a plastic plug bit on the positive cable end. This has two fuses and these two wires running out. They're both 12ish guage wires.

 

sounds like someone added wires for a stereo system or some other accessory like an alarm

 

sent you instant message

 

If the wires are for the belts, why would they draw power when not actually moving?

The clock. Doh. The clock is on the same circuit as the radio, though, so there's something else.

 

you have to be ******* kidding me. of course the ecu needs to have constant power, how the hell else is it supposed to recall codes and fuel trim?

 

The avatar does say Noob! I only mess with the Honda when something breaks. That doesn't happen very often, so I don't have much need to learn about it.

How is an ECU different from a PC, which does store info when unplugged?

JLI - Thanks for the info. I left the hazard fuse out last night and the car started fine this morning. I replaced the flasher and put the fuse back in. Hopefully, all will be well tomorrow.