I just bought a 1992 Honda Prelude SI. It runs really good but there are some interior things that I have been unable to get to work. First off, the a/c will only blow on the passenger side floor and door vents. It does not from the middle console or from any of the driver side vents. Secondly, my fuel and temperature gauges are not working. At first I thought that the gauges were blown and that I would have to buy new ones, but after taking off the smoke panel and looking at some of the wire clusters, I don't believe that the fuel/temp gauges are even plugged in- see the pictures.


Connector that goes to the fuel/temp gauges
[IMG][/IMG]


Cluster of wires near passenger side tweeter
[IMG][/IMG]


These are capped wires. I have no idea what they are from but I believe that they are from the fuel/temp gauges because they have the same number of red and yellow wires as the connector to the fuel/temp gauges
[IMG][/IMG]


These are two connectors near the passenger side tweeter that aren't connected to anything
[IMG][/IMG]


Does anyone know where these should be connected or if they are supposed to be connected? I have looked all around that area and I haven't found any connectors that would hook to those.

 

I have all three of the connectors hooked into the fuel and warning gauges. That long one that is pictured is located on the passenger side near where the tweeter is. It was wrapped up in the foam tape crap that's in the picture. I don't know if the previous owner did something with it or if it is supposed to be like that.

 

Yes, I have that. I was just making sure that the wiring wasn't screwed up. If it is supposed to be like that, I guess the gauges might be fried. Do you think that a voltage meter would be able to test the connector that is for the fuel/temp gauges to make sure that the wires are connected right?

 

I unscrewed the fuel/temp gauge to look for any blown circuits or anything and this is what I got:





Do you think those are blown? That silver stain could have been caused by heat.


Modified by sizzlestick at 7:49 PM 6/5/2008

 

yes they are probably blown ... ive been thru 3 of them already

 

That stinks...where did you find a replacement one? I've searched all over google and Ebay, and I haven't been able to find any. I did see a person selling parts from a prelude on Ebay, and I asked him about selling me the gauges, but he hasn't replied back yet. Do you know of anywhere that sells new gauges instead of used?

 

i dont know where new ones are but i did get a quote from honda like 800 bucks so id get one from Here thats what i did just post in the wtb thread i got mine for around 20 bucks

 

you dont need new guages. I had this problem after my swap when i moved the battery to the trunk. the engine was well grounded. but we didnt hook up the ground that went to the radiator support. that is where the dash gets grounded. so make sure the radiator support is well grounded.

 

Thanks...I'll have to check that. I noticed that it did have a new radiator when I bought it, so they might have forgotten to reconnect the ground wire. It should be from the front right side of the radiator to the valve covers right?

 

Check fuses?

 

I've already checked the fuses and they are fine. I spent a few minutes trying to find the ground wires and I couldn't. Does anyone have a picture of where the radiator ground wire would be connected?

 

bringin it back...

can u repost a picture of "the silver stain"...and what did u end up doing to resolve this?

 

That silver stain is what is called gettering (sic ) its a process they use to remove air from a tube like they used to use in old tellies (tv) and wireless's (radios).
If the stain covers most or all of the tube the tube has cracked or burnt out.
Yes those gages are tubes.

 

so how can i check to see if they are burnt out? or how can i check to see if there is power going to the harness that its connector plugs into?

mine smells burnt btw...so im assuming mines burnt, but i would like to get confirmation that their isnt a short before i buy a new one and burn that one out too...

 

problem solved, just needed some new gauges. i guess tried to start the car with a bad ground all of this time caused it to fry.

so if it smells fried, and doesnt light up, chances are it's fried.