Hi,

I am hoping someone here can offer me some advice on what I need to do to get my 2006 Acura TL repaired.

It started with the battery fuse needing to be replaced. One of the screws holding the fuse in was stripped so I needed to take it to a repair shop to get the fuse out. In order to be able to drive it to the shop, a friend used a piece of wire to jumper across the battery fuse terminals. I then drove it to the shop and disconnected the battery terminal and asked them to replace the fuse for me.

I thought I Made it clear to them what was needed (remove the stripped screw, replace the battery fuse and remove the wire from the terminals), but it seems there was a miscommunication and he replaced the fuse with the new one, but did not remove the wire that was jumpered across the terminals.

Not knowing this at the time, I then drove the car home and all the warning lights came on and everything electrical suddenly went haywire and then quit and the car died and had to be towed.

Now I am afraid that major damage may have been done to the electronics and/or the computer.

What I am asking advice on, is if anyone has any comments on what type of damage was likely done and also how to find a suitable repair shop.

I live in a very rural area and there are limited options locally. I will have to have the car towed to the repair shop which is likely to be some distance and therefore expensive. So I really want to make sure I am taking it to the best place that will likely be able to diagnose and then repair it.

Does it need to go to a dealership? If not, what type of service credentials do I need to look for in trying to find a repair shop?

Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

So the fuse blew and needed to be replaced so your "friend" eliminated this critical safety device and wired across the fuse terminals to allow you to get to the repair shop? What in the world were you thinking? why do you think the fuse blew to begin with? shaking my head in disbelief..............

an automotive electrical repair shop should be your next stop. prepare for a massive bill

 

Oh yea good ol' smoke test - keep putting larger fuses until something lets the smoke out.

In terms what caused it, might be something simple like failed alternator or rodents chewing through some big wire.

Without any electrical knowledge and tools you most likely won't be able to diagnose and fix it.
Disconnect battery if not already done so, inspect big wires going to starter and alternator. Check if alternator's output is shorted to ground.
(sometimes I put amp clamp around the alternator cable and put charger on [if battery is dead], if all current goes to alt you know it's bad)

Edit: Just noticed that OP posted that almost a month ago, so chances are car is fixed or it burned down. Let us know.

 

It sounds like leaving the jumper wire in place may have caused a short, potentially damaging fuses, relays, or even the ECU. The first step is to check all fuses and relays to see if any are blown. If the car isn't getting power, the battery and alternator should also be tested. A proper diagnostic scan with an advanced OBD2 scanner will help determine if any major electrical components, including the ECU, have been affected. Since you're in a rural area with limited options, it's important to find an ASE-certified repair shop with experience in electrical diagnostics or consider taking it to an Acura dealership. Calling ahead to confirm they can handle complex electrical issues before towing the car will help avoid unnecessary expenses.