So I had an 04 Si and now I bought an 04 EX sedan. However, I noticed that the cluster lights are always on, and if I turn the parking lights or headlights on, the cluster dims considerably. What is causing this? None of my other 10 Honda's have ever done this.

 

Mine is set up the same way. With the lights off, twist the trip computer **** right or left and you'll see bars on the dash, change the number of bars to your preference. Repeat with the lights on.

 

My 02 Civic was the same way. Pretty sure this is standard. I like it that way too, though I drive with my lights on all the time, day or night.

 

That's the way '03-05 non-SI Civic clusters (and all electroluminescent gauge clusters for that matter) are supposed to work. As mentioned above, turn the trip reset button/dimmer **** to adjust brightness with headlamps on and off.

All permanently illuminated instruments are designed to dim whenever the headlamps are turned on in order to avoid eye strain from bright lights at night. You may never have noticed it, but the factory LED radio display and LED clock display (if equipped) would dim whenever you turned the headlamps on in your previous Hondas. I'm betting that none of your former vehicles had an electroluminescent gauge cluster, which must be lit brightly for daytime visibility and therefore dimmed to be easier on the eyes at night.

 

Hi all. This is exactly what I'm dealing with after disconnecting the battery in my 06 Accord to change out the driver side head light. I'll try turning the trip ****.