Electrical Problem?

Question

My 95 Civic had a short circuit, and now my lights don't work, my turning signals don't work, my speedometer don't work, and my transmission is locked, so i can't put it in Drive, Reverse or Neutral. can someone help me?

Answer 1

You probably have a bad ground or broken ground wire. The headlamps, turn signals and brake lights are on separate circuits; the headlamps and turn signals have the headlight switch in common but not the speedomer nor the shift interlock. The fuses you are looking for are in the underhood fuse block and they are fuses 41, 42 and 43. The fuses are probably good.

Look for a broken ground wire behind the lower left kick panel inside the car. Thats the panel by your left foot when you're sitting in the driver's seat.

check to see if your brake lights work. if not, that's the reason the car won't come out of park. look in the owner's manual to find the location of the shift interlock release; its usually under the trim plate surrounding the gearshift lever. you can pry the plate up and put a key into the interlock slot to take the car out of park and drive it until you fix the electrical problem.

you may also have a burnt headlamp socket. I've seen a few civics melt the connector for the headlamp bulb when the wrong bulbs have been installed.

you said the car had an electrical problem but didn't mention if it was fixed. I'm assuming the car still has the problem.

hope that helps

Answer 2

Easiest thing it to check the fuses. There are two sets. One under the dash somewhere and a set in your engine compartment. Tough to dianose ones like this without seeing.