deschlong

iTrader: (8)

OEM 92-95 Honda Civic Lights-On Chime Retrofit

Background

Other DIYs on this topic use buzzers from Radio Shack. I hate these things - the noise they make is really grating. And they don't work properly, either - the buzzer should only go off when your lights are ON and the DOOR is OPEN!

This DIY is going to show you how to use OEM Honda parts to wire up a Lights-On chime properly, and similar to what they have on our 5th Gen Civics in some areas of Europe: It will chime only when the lights are ON, the door is OPEN, and your key has not engaged the ignition cylinder.

NOTE: Since you are substituting ICUs, if you do not have an INTERMITTENT setting on your front wipers, then this is the chance to add that feature too! It's one of the simplest mods EVER, and very useful. Only requires a wiper switch from a 92-00 Civic with the INT setting. (Or, if you also plan to add a rear wiper, then be sure to get one with the collar which operates this function too.)

Tool List

The bare minimum you will need is:

Flat head screwdriver
Tiny screwdriver for removing wiring pins from connectors
Wire snips
Metric socket set
Wire T-Taps (available at Radio Shack) or equipment for soldering wires.



Pin Removal

You'll have to do a bit of this. A tiny screwdriver is your friend. Look up on honda-tech.com the correct way to remove pins from connectors, or consult this comprehensive guide.


Project Difficulty and Time Commitment

This project is not difficult, especially since I've given you all the information you need to perform the wiring. Expect to spend a half-hour foraging for the parts in the salvage yard, probably less. Maybe 30 to 45 mins required for the re-installation part.

Acknowledgments

H-T user "rickkane" sourced all the parts, and I guided him through this retrofit remotely by providing him with instructions. (Yeah, he was the guinea pig, basically.) All picture credits go to him, except where noted. Text is by me.

Disclaimer
Or, "Don't point fingers, you only have yourself to blame"

Every effort has been made to make these instructions as complete and accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information is provided on an “as is” basis. The author(s) and the website/publisher(s) shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages or inconvenience arising from the information contained herein, nor due to any omissions. Read: Don't muck up your vehicle and try to blame me or anyone else. You are responsible for your own due diligence and research.

Parts Required & Removal Instructions

From the Salvage Yard

Find a 94-97 Acura Integra at the wreckers (10th digit of VIN will be R, S, T or V)...

• Grab the ICU from behind the fuse box (note that the fuse box is the same as our Civic's). See Figures 1 and 2. Get the pigtail for the ICU, too (very important!). (FYI: The ICU is the box that's attached to the back of the fuse box - it's a little bigger than the size of a deck of cards.)
  • Part numbers are DIFFERENT in Canada vs. United States. USDM is 38600-ST7-A01, CDM is 38600-ST7-C01. The way the wiper/washers work is different, so be sure to get one from the vehicle's native country...UNLESS, you are in the US and want to VASTLY IMPROVE the way your Civic wipers function, by adding a combined wiper/washer function .... get one from a Canadian car. This additional feature requires the addition of tapping into ONE wire -- see tlarimer's post later in this thread for more info.
• There should also be an ORG and BLK wire leading to an external chime device somewhere in the area of the fuse box, on the left (Figure 3). The ORG wire emerges from connector C551 at pin 18, the BLK from pin 2. C551 is the large/wide GREEN connector at the FRONT of the fuse box, along the top. De-pin these wires and remove them entirely uncut - this helps when you reinstall! (Although, cutting and splicing back together is a LOT faster -- just remember to give yourself a lot of slack, say about 60cm.)

Figure 1. 94-97 Acura Integra ICU from behind the fuse box.


Figure 2a. Another image of the Acura Integra ICU. Part number is 38600-ST7-A01 in USDM, CDM is 38600-ST7-C01. Note that these are different and operate differently in both countries.


Figure 2b. CDM 94-97 Acura Integra ICU with part number visible.
Note that there is an additional BLK/GRN wire. (Photo credit: deschlong).


Figure 3. Acura Integra "Door-Open" chime.

When you're done, you should have basically two items: A. The ICU w/ pigtail, and B. The chime with its wires leading all the way to the fuse box.

Installation Instructions

The low-down: Basically you're taking out the wires from the Integra ICU connector, and replacing them with the wires that led to your Civic ICU, in the same spots for the same function. Then you're hooking up the wires for the Integra chime on your Civic in the same place you removed it from the Integra.


Before You Begin

• Remove the negative cable of your battery before performing any electrical work on your vehicle.

Cabin: Under Dash/Footwell

Wiring

These three images basically explain the retrofit. Print them off and bring them with you during your install.





Test Drive

• Reconnect your battery and try it all out.
• Normal operation will involve:
  • If your headlights or parking lights are ON and you open the door, and the key is not inserted into the ignition cylinder, then it will chime a pleasant "plink-plonk".

Good luck and hopefully it will all work like a "chime"*.
DeSchlong
March, 2010
*Not my pun.

rickkane

YES! Another awesome write up. Super easy to complete, and quite functional too.

fungus mungus

I hate going to the junk yard and have sworn to not go back. Until now...this is something that I'll definitely do in the next few weeks. Thanks DeSchlong and rickkane!

fm

BryanM.

iTrader: (1)

I NEED this mod. Thank you.


.

cadwiese

nice job

rc2001

I'll try this tomorrow, thanks for the write up.

ShiroX

Looks like I'll be back at the junkyard tomorrow...a definite must upgrade on the hatchback!

There were 2 integras when I was there..hopefully the fuse box and wiring are still intact when I get there.

Thanks for the upgrade and great write up as always!

ShiroX

I could not find the chime for the life of me....maybe someone removed it...I figured it would stick out as a sore thumb with the black and orange wires.


Do you have a part number from acura or honda for the chime new?

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

^^ It's attached to a metal brace that goes across the knee bolster. If someone has disassembled it before you, they sometimes take this piece and chuck it in the back. Also, are you SURE that it was a 94-97?? 98+ are different! And ICU won't work either in your Civic!

P/N is 39760-SM4-901 ... looks like a similar part can also be found on a 90-93 Accord.

ChokolAwt

iTrader: (1)

why do you say radioshack crap? i bought my buzzer 2 years ago and its still working fine... for $2.50 and a much simpler install, i'd go with radioshack.

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

^^ Sure, if you want cheap and easy, by all means - go to town. I don't expect everyone to "get it".
Mine was not always reliable, especially during cold winter days.

I explain why the Radio Shack setup is inferior in the original post. This install uses OEM Honda parts and operates only when the lights are ON and the door is OPEN.

ShiroX

Yea I the ICM from the 94-97, but the brace is was gone!!! That explains why it was gone. I was looking everywhere for that thing.

CaptainLawrence

Dope on a rope. Nice how-to.

ShiroX

Found the chime today! Looks like the older integras 86-89 has the same chime as well as the 90-93 accord.

A note about de-pinning the orange and black wires: damn its a lot of work!!!! The wires are part of the cluster and center console harness (stereo,climate control,etc) So most of the wires are looped through the dash and attached with clips everywhere.

Because its only two wires (org and blk) I honestly feel that cutting the pins and adding your own wiring can save you about an hour of harness pulling and loom splicing...but thats my opinion.

For sure though depinning and keeping the wiring intact is much cleaner.

ThatRHDstatus

dope write up

s13hero

I manged to get all these parts today from the junkyard for under $10 except everything was already cut up someone tore it apart and left it on the floor. Anyway I was wondering is there anywhere to buy pins since I don't have any?

EDIT: also, did you depin the civic ICU connector inside the car?

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

Well you don't need any -- read the DIY. You DO need the connector though (without the pins).

s13hero

I did read the DIY, it seems that I need a pin to put the ORG wire in the civic connector right?

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

Ah crap - you're right. When you said you were looking to "buy pins" (note plural) - I thought you meant for the ICU. Sorry. If there was no ORG there, you can salvage just about any pin of any colour that's about that size ... they are very very common. The BLK you can tap into existing BLK wiring for ground (using a scotch-lock T-Taps or solder & tape/heat-shrink).

ronin9026

I'm not finding the Integra ICU on eBay. I only see a couple of e-shops that sell it (for >$150). Is this part hard to find?

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

Go to a junkyard and spend $10. That is your best bet since you need all those other parts and the connectors/pigtails, too.

Ronnoc74

Did this tonight. Finished it in about 20 mins or so once I figured out how to de-pin the connectors.
Awesome write up!

s13hero

Still haven't gotten around to this but I noticed the de-pinning link was dead, so I have attached a copy to this post.

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

^ Thanks. Yeah I have to go around to all my DIYs and fix that link.


EDIT: This one's link is now fixed.

jayWknight

iTrader: (3)

The pin's from the original icu connectors are the same size as the chime connector pins. You can use one of the pins from the integra icu connector.