Hi guys,

My 91 civic hatchback always has some new exotic problem after the other,
that no mechanic is ever able to figure out. I only end up find them out
myself after my dicussions on this newsgroup. Last time it was a seatbelt
beeper, then it was a faulty door switch, and now, after I got a new battery
becuase my old one died due to being drained so many times from electrical
problems etc, out pops a new problem. Damnit.
Yesterday I found by chance that my instrument cluster lights and front and
rear marker lights were on. I had parked it a few hours before and the
battery was close to dead, with all lights dim. I thought I forgot to switch
off again, but duh the switch was off. So I thought ok , the switch is
busted, and found the fuse for that cicuit under the steering wheel and
pulled it. But that didnt kill the lights! how strange is that! I mean, wow,
this means that the short is bypassing BOTH the fuse and the switch?? I also
exchanged the fuse with another neighbouring 10amp one, but that didnt
change anything. Finally I looked at the fuses in the engine compartment.
But they seemed to be only for blower/ac etc.
Could there be relay problem that causes this? Can you please tell me
exacty where under the dash this particular relay can be found ? But pulling
the fuse should take care of even and always open stuck relay, right?

To add another fact which may be related is that about a couple of times
earlier in the past few months I had noticed that the instrument lights had
gone out when I was driving. (the car ran fine and headlights etc were
fine). And then they seemed to work fine afterwards. Some loose connection I
thought?

Can Anyone PLEASE help me locate the short. Someone with experience with the
wiring may be able to point me to a place to look at.. I really cant afford
a trip to the mechanic over this, they charge $50 an hour and unknown time
to trace an electrical fault