Ok, so this issue is pretty plain and simple.....just not for me. LOL I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and if so, how they corrected the issue.

-When I press my Brake pedal with the headlights OFF, the instrument cluster lights up.
-When I turn on the headlights, the third brake light stays on consistently. The lights still dim/brighten when the brakes are applied/released.

I recently swapped a B16 into my EF, but the only wiring I messed with was of course, the engine harness and ECU harness. I never messed with the dash harness, except for when I installed a civic cluster with a tach.

Any ideas? All help is appreciated.

 

something is crossed with the brake and dimmer circuit probably

 

Honda electrical systems are pretty reliable. I wouldn't chase anything other than wiring you have done yourself.

That being said, I'm not sure how much anyone on here can really help you... It's all electrical troubleshooting from here on.

If it was me, I'd unplug one plug at a time (or even the whole engine harness) to try and isolate where the issue is coming from...

 

Sounds like wires got crossed somewhere but it may also be bad grounds.

 

a similar problem hapend to me when i pressed my brakes my seatbelt light would flash and my tailights shut off completely. i just ran a new wire from the fuse box to the brake swich and off the load side of the swich to my brake light power at the back of the car and hooked it up there and disconected the old wire heading back completely. it took like 30 miniutes or you could spend hours looking for where you pinched the harness somewhere and two wires are touching.

 

^^ electrical work freaks me out for these same reasons, thats why i study the diagrams before i start cutting and splicing..

 

Thanks for the input everyone....it's just awkward, as I never messed with anything behind the dash other than the ECU harness. Now, however, she seems to be doing fine.


Wierd.

 

lol its possible i had this problem before... wasnt paying attention to wiring diagram and swapped the ignition line... when i turned the key the car wouldnt turn off lol

 

IF YOU HAVE A VOLTMETER TEST THE WIRES FOR UNWANTED/ LACK OF VOLTAGE WILE BRAKE IS APPLIED