Well, I read your whol post and noticed a comment that might be pertinent.
You were in a hit and run accident?

UH.......... I would suggest a wire somewhere is grounding to the frame. It could be anything and the smaller the better as it wouldn't blow a fuse.

It could be a corroded positive cable that has insulator damage. Or, more likely the ground cable as 180 suggested. It may now be loose at the motor pin.

How bad was the "accident" and where was the damage?


franc