There is a ECU power supply in the under-dash fuse box and it appears to drive the BackUp lights (possible source of short). I would buy an extra fuse and show her how to replace fuse.

good luck

 

Well, an update... We've gone thru maybe 5 fuses now, It seems to be about to show itself, since they seem to be more often now. This last one was installed last night, and it blew today after about 20 minutes of driving. She was sitting there idling when it blew this time.. It is the fuse on the bottom left corner under the dash (labeled Fuse #! in my Haynes), and it seems to be for the Back-up lights, gauges, turn signals and a circuit going into the Integrated control unit.

It doesn't blow with the signals or the reverse lights on. Any thoughts on what I could be missing? What all does the ICU do? I'm tempted to put a 15 or 20A fuse in there, figuring whatever is causing it will either fry completely or it just won't blow anymore, but I'd hate to have a fire start from it. I'm hoping the short wears thru soon, so that "leg" of the circuit goes dead and I can track it better!

 

If you look on page 23-32 of the repair manual (the file name is 62SN700 right?), what fuse number is blowing?

 

My 90 Accord manual also shows bottom left as #1. It drives Gauge & Warning Lights, Shift Leverl Position Indicator, Shift Lock Solenoid, Safety Indicator, Back-Up Lights, Speed Sensor, Turn Signal Lights/Relay, Clock, Automatic Shoulder Belt (not sure if 93 had this but 90 for sure), and Integrated Control Unit (ICU). ICU is apparently connected internally presumably to the under-dash fuse box.

Suggest to start disabling each of these circuits until problem is solved. Start w/ easiest; Backup Lights (remove bulbs), Turn Signal Lights/Relay (remove bulbs), and Clock (disconnect). Hopefully, you will find the problem w/o disabling remaining which will be more difficult.

good luck

 

Well, with it not in reverse, that eliminates the b/u lights. Clock has been out of the dash for 10 years, I took it out to mount my satellite radio, CB, etc on the dash, I ran the wires up thru that spot.. Turn signals, they weren't on when it blows. It's a 5spd, so shift lever indicator is out. No auto shoulder belts. Basically leaves ICU and Gauge cluster. She said it's been blowing within a couple minutes of starting the car with a new fuse now. So hopefully i can start by pulling the different parts one at a time and it'll tell me something now..

 

Ok, I believe I found it. Just above the clutch pedal assembly, up there in that tight corner under the dash, is this tangle of wires:



In that mess, there are a bunch of wires with melted insulation. Any idea what that orange connector is? I'm gonna have to go in there and separate all of them and splice/tape/rewire, and is that like a factory-use only plug? Or is it a splice like they use for the grounds where multiple wires are spliced?

 

That is probably a junction connector that is stock on the car. For example, that is where something like the blk/yel wire will split for the fuel pump and the coil.

 

Ok, that's what I was figuring..

 

Well, hoping I don't jinx myself here, but so far, it's good. I separated them, taped them separately. I had to take the clutch pedal assembly out to make room. I followed the wires back as far as I could, and all of the bare wire was accessible. She's driven it for a couple days now, and no issues (knocking on wood)..