Rep Power: 0

With battery removed, looking at the input of the fuse box terminals, I have 0.2 Ohms

My 2006 Civic would not start the other day. No lights, no cranking, no electrons flowing what so ever. Battery read 0V - dead short across it. I lifted the positive terminal and the battery came back to 5V and with the battery terminals removed, I still read a dead short when looking into the vehicles 12V circuit. Next, I removed the main 12V harness feeding the fuse panel under the hood and and still read a dead short at the input terminals. One of those terminals is definitely positive but not 100% sure about the other. What’s weird is that My daughter drove the car home with no issues whatsoever the night before so the apparent short seemed to have happened after she cut the car off??? BTW, I checked all the main fuses and nothing is blown. Have no idea what to try next. Anyone have any suggestions? I’ve been told by many people, against my better judgment, to replace the battery. I’m just concerned that a new battery will get shorted out and destroyed. Thoughts?

 
Rep Power: 367

check the wiring for rodent chewing wires