First off, sometime last week (the straw that broke the camel's back) my exhaust seperated (rust) from my cat converter. I also have a crack in my factory header. Wait! I'm not done... this is my daily driver and this blows. My plan is to buy a full replacement header, test pipe & exhaust combo to end the header/exhaust problem, but, the doughs low and my credit won't get it. Anyway, the current problem I have (until can fix) is that the car's lights dim fairly during drive. and, to top it all off, the MPH needle stopped [freak]ING working!!! Well, it hops to 60, 40 randomly on occasion during driving. Are these all problems caused by the header/exhaust issue??? Like I said, I'm running stright header/cat converter as we speak... Please help! Thanks.

 

i saw a few headers, downpipes from the junkyard. THey are fairly cheap. Maybe you can look there. As for the wirings. Check your grounds.

 

Where would I secure the wiring?? Where do I "check" the dash wiring @ specifically for the MPH needle issue?

 

I'm assuming since you live in Arizona the car itself was purchased from up North, or in a place where rust is a bad issue. From that I can guess your car is having issues from rust and rot elsewhere as well. With your headlights dimming like that, I agree a crap ground can be at fault. Isn't there a ground in that year civic that goes from the headlight harness straight into the frame right where the hood meets the car? Or maybe it's the fender? In any case, clean your battery terminals, clean any grounds you see in the engine bay... As far as your needle issue... I think it could just be old age. Gauge clusters are all complicated and generally not fixable once they go poopy. Your best bet in my opinion is a replacement which can surely be found at a junkyard, or on hondamarketplace...

 

Also check the VSS and connector terminals for corrosion or damaged wires. This is a common cause for a jumpy/non-functional speedo needle.