Rep Power: 0

Last week, I backed into the trash can. Breaking open the tail light. It filled with rain water (erg).

This week, check engine light followed by sudden battery light. Lost power completely.

Tried jumping it--won't hold a charge. Can hear clicking and then dash flashes on and off rapidly.

My question is what order to test for this problem. 1) Battery to shop 2) Alternator 3) Fuses 4) ECM. ??

Ideas? It's parked at a meter and I have no tools. Halp.

 
Rep Power: 187

I don't know much about electrical systems, but it sounds to me like water has gotten somewhere and is shorting out the system.

Perhaps you can find the fuses for the light and unplug it, then jump it to test and see if a short is keeping it from starting.

Again, i don't know much about the electrical system, someone else may pop-in with some more useful information.

Your manual should label the fuses, or it could be on the lid for the fusebox(there should be two fuseboxes, one under the hood, and one under the steeering wheel area) Not sure which would be more likely to contain the one for the light.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yeah, this was my first thought... it was losing power (shifting into neutral).... I pulled headlights and restarted. It lost the rest of the power and refused to be jumped. Turned off, replaced fuses and then looked like it was in some kind of lockout mode. Wouldn't rev at all. What "no-no's" are there for fuses?? Did I pull something incorrectly? I need this car to move. Thanks for response.