Do you have an alarm system in the car? Most alarm systems tie in to the
instrument / parking lights so that it can flash the lights when you arm
or disarm the alarm. If you have a faulty alarm system it could leave
your lights on even if the fuse for the lights is removed (the alarm
supplies current through its own fused circuit).

Elan7e Owner wrote:
>
> 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