Well, personally I prefer RWD cars too. Not just for their sporting pretensions, but they're just generally more mechanically friendly for your DIYer like me/us. Still, this car was a gift so I'm not gonna complain about it; and other than this horrid fuse problem, the thing's just flat out a nice car, no matter which wheels move it.
Update:
Unplugged the ECM. Inspected/cleaned wiring harness and connector. Fuse still blew.
Even though the Shift Illumination is working, it is listed on that fuse, so I disassembled the console, unplugged, cleaned, inspected wiring. Fuse still blew.
Traced and visually inspected the entire wiring harness leading from under dash to inside the trunk/rear lights. No probs detected.
Unbolted the under-dash fuse block and inspected the backside where the wiring runs btwn the firewall and the back of the fuse block. No problems detected.
Disassembled the Power Distribution Box under the hood, inspected/cleaned the wiring leading into the underside of the relays/fuses/diodes. No probs detected.
After reassembling PDB, removed EVERY SINGLE relay/fuse/diode other than the fuses for the ignition switch (maxi fuses 3, 4). There was literally nothing in there except for "Maxi Fuse 4" and the under dash fuse 34 still blows.
Just for the hell of it, also pulled every single fuse from under-dash box, except 34, so literally nothing in the car would get power except PDB Fuse 4, and fuse 34; fuse 34 still blew.
All of this is leading me back to thinking the problem is in the ignition switch (which I've already changed), or somewhere in/around the steering column somewhere. But I really can't find anything wrong going on under there. Of course given all the masses/bundles of wires and connectors, it's not impossible that I've missed something I suppose.
In the back of my mind I'm also still concerned about the IMRC. It's looking like that thing I disconnected that I THOUGHT was the IMRC was actually the EGR Pressure Feedback Sensor. Still have not found any info (not even in the service manual) about where the IMRC is on this car. Can't even visually find anything where the mani meets the heads. I'm wondering if it might actually be UNDERNEATH the body of the manifold, as I can see space in there behind the alternator.
It's my understanding that the ECM controls the IMRC, so if the fuse is still blowing with the ECM unplugged, I assume the IMRC is eliminated as a problem as well, but I'd still like to know what/where it is.
Any new ideas Mr. Doe or anyone else?