I have a 97 prelude, and the dash lights dont light up at all when the headlights are on. The gear indicator (autostick or whatever its called) dosent light up when headlights are on either but when the headlights are off it will show up. any ideas or what to check? All fuses are good, there is something in the wiring i think. Maybe the dimmer switch or something. are there 2 contacts i can jump together to bypass the dimmer switch to see if that's the problem? Thanks!

 

sounds like a relay problem. i'm not too sure where the dimmer relay is located, but i'm sure that info is somewhere on the net. you could just pop off your gauge cluster real quick and see if everything is plugged in right or if the bulbs are burnt out. i would hate for you to spend $ on a new relay just to find out that something wasn't plugged into the back of the cluster all the way.

 

i forgot to mention, i took apart the dimmer switch one day, and was messing around w/ a jumper and i saw the dashlights work, but dont remember what i jumped off, and it blew one of the fuses when i did that so i didnt do it again. but i have seen all the dash lights work at one point, so i know its not a bulb or connection for that....as its all the a/c controls and the gauge cluster also.....any other ideas? anybody know anything about that relay?

 

my guage cluster lights went out along with my rear tails. I had to replace the entire steeringwheel/cluster harness to solve my problem. Take a look at all fuses, then take a look at the actual harness side plug that plugs into the fuse box to make sure none of the connectors burned or melted.