tom48

Hi,

on my 97 Accord the dashboard light started to flicker. It's not just the background light of the speedometer, but also the rest of the background lights (behind the fan speed switch etc.).

Usually, a good whack takes care of the problem, but after a while it starts flickering again. It usually happens when I change lanes (those lane dividers with bumps).

Any idea what causes this and how to fix it?

Thank You

alkoholikwun

if it were me, i'd probably remove the cluster to make sure there arent any loose connections.

tom48

ok, how do I do that? Because the light totally crept out on me. Even a hard whack on the dashboard only bring it back briefly.

alkoholikwun

haynes manual tell the step by step procedure.

but pretty much, there are 2 philips screws (sometimes 4) in the upper portion of the cluster, remove the two screws then the plastic cover comes off, then there will be 1 phillips screw on each side of the cluster, sometimes there will also be 2 philips that hold the bottom of the cluster, remove all philip screws, then the cluster will be removable.

siregcivic

that happened to my friends accord, then one day they stopped working, and he wiggle some wires and it worked again, now it doesnt work at all, and i still havent been able to trace it down...

the light where it says the milage works, but none of the other lights on the cluster or the dash

tom48

So you didn't have to remove the climate control and stereo etc?

I came across this guide:
http://www.ledautomotive.com/HowToGu...ntrolHowTo.asp

and they tell you to do the following steps first:
http://www.ledautomotive.com/HowToGu...usterHowTo.asp

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

Dimmer switch possibly. Without it plugged in it takes out the whole dash lighting system

siregcivic

the dimmer switch is inside the guage cluster

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

No, I'm referring to the actual dimmer switch control box that is to the left of the steering wheel. Unplug it and all those lights go out.

tom48

Actually, I think this might be the problem. The flickering started when I messed around with the dimmer (turned the dimmer all the way down). Now, a slight tapping on the dimmer switch turns the light back on.

Can I just open the dimmer switch box with a screw driver?

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

Personally I'd just buy one from a junkyard for $2 haha.

I'd assume it's held together with plastic clips along the side.

tom48

I finally bought a new switch. Super easy to install, took 1 minute to do. Everything is working fine again

Thank You

CuteAccord

The Muffin Man saves the day!

bseriescrxsi

do you own a 94-97 accord?
its actually alot harder then other cars

you have to start in the center console inside the armrest, remove the cup holders, remove the dash around the shifter/radio/climate control...there are 2 screws connecting center to baclk trim remove them....remove other screws behind dimmer switch, etc then remove trim and hit the 4 screws on the cluster

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

Glad that did the trick