dk127

Hey guys, I got a 96 Civic LX, and its throwing a CEL for the VSS. Autozone pulled the code for me. Which is fine and simple, expect the lights are also dimming, along with the idle slightly dropping with the dimming. It dims constantly, in a pattern, like dim_____dim_____dim_____dim_____dim_____ (____ representing a normal idle and fully light gaugues and lights). It almost seems like at idle the alternator pulley isn't spinning correctly, resulting in a slight drop of power to the car causing the lights to flicker. If i get on the gas for a bit, it will be fine.

Any thoughts? Alternator going bad? A bad VSS wouldn't cause this right?

jonlovesuti

i'd check the ground wires. i had this same issue in my grand prix a long time ago and that turned out to be it (went through 2 alternators first though...dumb). your vss doesn't have anything to do with the lights dimming although you may want to check the wiring on that sensor. the vss only tells you what your speed is so unless your speedometer is way off i wouldn't worry about it

jonlovesuti

and another thing...autozone doesn't know what it's doing

Former User

Check whether 7.5A fuse 15 under the dash is blown. You may have a common short circuit problem in the wire harness near the intake manifold bracket.

dk127

Bingo, anyone else who searches this, if you get a CEL for a couple of sensors and a bad ECU, and that fuse 15 is blown, that wire harness may have rubbed through and cause a short. The speedo may not work and jump around and your lights will dim.

Firestone fixed it for me for $100. It was cold and snowy, and I didn't feel like crawling under the car. On top of that, the hood release cable snapped, which they replaced for me for no charge, so in a way it was worth it.

Thanks RonJ