Mitsubishi Repair: 2000 Eclipse GE Electrical problems - computer?, fuse block, eclipse gt

Question
I have a 2k Eclipse GT. It started having electrical problems after an accident last summer - front bumper repair, no electrical work involved just remove the headlights for the repair work. Then we start losing radio (operation separate from display), mirror control, windows, alarm functions including keyless entry (all buttons either work or don't). The cig lighter fuse was replaced and windows, mirrors and radio display came back but the radio deteriorated from not sending anything to the display to only playing the current station to not functioning at all. I recently checked fuses and relays (I can't figure out how to get the headlight relays out) and all are okay. Today I unplugged and reattached the major harness blocks on the driver's side and all operations (radio, keyless remote, alarm)are back except the headlights (high and low beam together) won't shut off (key on or off). Before I reseated the harness block, the headlights only stayed on while the key was on. While driving, the left signal causes the high beams to turn off, as does holding the signal stalk forward (like switching hi-lo but not releasing). After today's attempt to repair they won't turn off at all (key on or off, however teh stalk control still acts the same). I can hear the relays clicking. When I disconnect the ECM inside the car (the red module on the back of the fuse block) the lights go out.  Could the ECM be bad? Could I have a wire that's come loose? I hate to think it, but can the turn signal/ hi-lo stalk be bad? Could they have wired the headlights backward (I can't see how with the harness plugs mating only one way)? What am I missing?

Answer
Vince: If you got the front bumper repaired, how bad was the accident? Think for a minute about your accident, was it a slow moving accident or did you go from say 55 to 0 in a matter of minutes? Those accidents can really mess up a car. Oh sure you can get the body fixed but think of all the force behind that accident. I would say you have a short someplace, either from when they repaired that bumper or from the accident its self. But first have the computer coded to see if it kicks out anything at you. The computer does control everything in that car with the help of a lot of sensors through out the car. But still if you have a short someplace, it would be I would say in the steering colmum, as there are all kinds of wires that run though that space. The fact that the lights will not turn off even with the key out, means that wires that are not to be touching or have rubbed off the coating that covers them so now hooking into the power, so the lights just stay on. You could get a repair manual for your car at most parts store, and a voltmeter. You would need the repair manual to show you the right readings and starting with the battery work your way around the car till you find the short. But you also have to becareful with your car as it has an air bag in it. Oh hey did that air bag go off in the accident? The clicking sound you are hearing could be coming from the computer too, they will sometimes do that if they have a problem. So get the computer coded and see what that shows you. Got an AutoZone close by? They would code your car for free. There is also a large group of wires that run inside the front fender on your car, one or more of those wires might have lost that coating and so touching too. Or they could have broken something in the accident. Those accidents are really very hard on a car. I had a pickup in a 55 to 0 accident with air bags. Fixed the body work but the engine got mess up in the accident but did not show up for a few years. So those accidents are really very hard on your car. Hope this helps and God bless: Linda