I just bought a 2001 Civic with 169k miles at auction, and am having a problem that I can't figure out.

When you turn the ignition on, the dash and corner lights will flash and a relay will click for 3 cycles of about 30 seconds each with a couple second pause between cycles. This happens every single time with the same 3 cycles and pauses. The car starts, runs, and drives fine, and as far as I can tell this symptom doesn't affect anything else. This behavior is the same whether the ignition is just set to the on position or the car is actually started. If you turn the headlights or running lights on the flashing stops as the dash stays illuminated, but the relay clicking and pauses continue. If you then turn the lights off again, the dash will resume flashing until the 3 cycles are complete.

Needless to say this is driving me nuts.

I made a video to better illustrate this behavior. It's in the dark, as the flashing shows up better that way. Of course nothing else does.


This affects all the dash lights, including climate controls, and mirror / cruise controls. It does not affect the door switch lights.

I have tried resetting the computer by unplugging the battery wires and shorting them together for about 30 seconds, which didn't do anything.

Some items of note that may or may not be relevant to the problem at hand:

The car does not have a radio. Looks like the previous owner removed it. The car does have some sort of AEM cold air intake.

The check engine light is not on, but the maintenance required and SRS lights are on. I am unable to reset the maintenance light by holding in the trip meter button while turning the ignition on because it proceeds right into this blinking dash behavior. I have not gotten around to investigating the SRS light yet, but I suspect the drivers seat belt buckle switch has caused it as it's difficult to get the buckle in.

The battery was completely dead and the car needed to be jump started when I picked it up from the auction yard, but after driving is now charged and holds a charge. According to the sticker on the battery it's less than two years old.

Any ideas?

 

I am reaching here but the blinking behaviour is like that of an alarm system. Check under the dash for an aftermarket alarm gone bad?

 

Thanks so much, that's what it was! I found it, disconnected it, and it's fixed, plus I can reset the maintenance required light now.

Anything else I should be aware of when dealing with these aftermarket alarms? Should I try and undo the splices into the wiring harness, or just leave well enough alone?