Not third gen but second gen (close enough ) related. She died on me on the highway today, and when I got it towed to work, none of the interior lights, signals etc work. The headlights however do since they are on a separate circuit obviously. In addition to nothing else working, it wont crank over anymore.

The only thing that may of changed this was I accidently connected the battery backwards in my haste and there was smoke from the firewall and ground wire (positive wire since it was backwards) I tought this wouldnt affect anything, just be reverse polarity but I guess it did.

I checked all the fuses and replaced one burnt one, but I'll recheck them.

What else can I try to find out whats up?

 

I'm new to this. Did u try to start it with battery cables backwards? if so, u should check the ecm fuse or just the ecm

 

I did try starting it with cables backwards. I didnt know there was an ECM on a 1980. I dontknow where the ecm fuse even would be, I'll have to scour wiring diagrams.