rrepking

When i turn on my headlights or running light my instrument panel lights don't work. Just one day i was driving and turned on my lights and i noticed they didn't work. My shifter indicater lights still works, my crusie control indicater lights up, my high beam indicater light still works. Everything works normal except for my dash lights not turing on. Please help me.

rrepking

I also forgot to mention my dimer switch for my dash lights doesn't work either.

surfthethirdcoast

Does anything else on that circuit work? Such as back lighting on the hvac switches, shift indicator (on the shifter)....etc. Check fuses first...

rrepking

I checked my interior fuse box and all the fuses are good. I also forgot to mention its 1994 honda accord, sorry.

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

Dimmer Switch = broken = lights won't work

surfthethirdcoast

Good call muffin man, that was what I was going to suggest.

rrepking

Alright, thanks man. I'll check that out. Do you know the proper way to test the switch?

TASAuto.com

I agree sounds like dimmer switch. You can take the switch out and run 12v direct to the power on the harness and the lights should come on. That will tell you if it is the switch.

rrepking

Ok, i found that im blowing the 15A "small light" fuse when ever i turn on my headlights. Its causing my dash lights not to work. Its in the underhood fuse box. What could be the reason for this, could a faulty dimmer switch be the cause? or what?


Modified by rrepking at 8:08 AM 6/28/2008

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

Does it continually blow? Or did it just blow the one time?

rrepking

well i saw it was blown, so i replaced the fuse and went in my car and turned the headlights on and the dash lights attempted to turn on for like millisecond, so i new i blew the fuse. so i check again and it was blown.

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

You most likely have a short somewhere in that circuit then.

rrepking

So where do i even start testing the circuit? Its blowing blowing the #32 fuse, which is a 15A, in the under hood fuse/relay box. It controls the dash lights, parking lights, taillights, license plate lights. Is there any certain thing that fails in this circuit more than another. And whats the best way to look for a short?


Modified by rrepking at 2:31 PM 6/28/2008

darwin1859

I am having a similar problem - my instrument panel and AC control lights are out but my indicator lights on the panel (turn signals, high beam, cruise indicator), stereo lights, interior lights, glove light, and all exterior lights (break, turn signal, tail lights) all work. I have checked all fuses that made any sense in the under hood and footwell fuse boxes.
I noticed tonight that my instrument panel lights flickered briefly when I first turned on my headlights and once on my drive home. Driving over bumps and pounding the dash did not make them flicker. I have made no modifications to my car in recent memory.

Any suggestions? I will park in the garage tomorrow to try more extensive troubleshooting. Thanks!

jweller

the first question is always "what have I changed recently?" followed by "what is modified from stock?" thats where you start. even if it seemingly has nothing at all to do with what your problem is. It is more likely something you did is screwed up than the factory stuff.

You also need the electrical schematic for your car. Otherwise you are just poking and hoping.

there is no easy step by step for trouble shooting electrical problems. sorry. If you have a stock electrical system, then I would start by testing to see if the dimmer switch was shorted internally

darwin1859

Yep, it was the dimmer switch. I pulled out the switch (came out easily by prying with a screwdriver), unplugged it and jumpered the red and black wires with the headlights on and the console lights came on. I used a multimeter and verified that the corresponding leads in the dimmer switch body were open and would not respond to the dimmer control. I am going to order the replacement tonight.
- Side note - I got too happy with the jumper and connected the red/black wire to the black wire and blew the 15A "small lights" fuse. Try not to do that if you are diagnosing the same problem.

Thanks for the excellent advice. Now if I could just fix the surging idle in cold weather....

Mrketchup

Quick question guys, I've got a 94 Honda civic dx and it's the bare bones model.(no power steering, no tac, no power doors/windows etc.) Everytime I turn on my running lights everything works fine, the second I turn the headlights on, my dash, license, and tail lights dont work. I've checked all the fuses and they are fine. Got any ideas?

holmesnmanny

im thinking swap out the headlight switch

Mrketchup

I didn't even think about that, but weirdly enough, just yesterday everything worked fine. I'm going to switch out the headlight switch and dash switch just for precautions. Thanks!

brainplant38

I have a 01 odyssey and I'm having some problems with the dash lights failing I keep blowing a 15 amp fuse I've replaced the turn signal/headlight switch and it fine for a couple days then the switch goes bad again and it's blowing the same fuse again I'm using new switches at 100.00 bucks each I'm at a loss.

jglover

Thanks to all who posted to this post. Problem tested, problem solved

careyboi

Hello i have the same problem in my 2001 accord lx,i took the 10A fuse from the small light license light and the dash light came on when i turned the head lights on. when i put the fuse bk in the dash lights go out. my P,R,N,D4,D3,D2,D1 still has no lights by the shift *** can any one help me find a solution. thanks in advance

careyboi

where is the fuse for the shifter lights