I used the search function and did not find what I needed. I am sure it is real simple, but sadly, I suck when it comes to electrical. (Ok, I just suck)
My wife has a 96 Honda Prelude with the F22 Engine.(NO VTEC) Yesterday, she said she went over a bump in the road, and she thinks that is when the problem occured. She does not know, because she did not turn on her running lights until later in the day when it got dark.

<The problem, I believe is a short in the electrical system. I just need to find it, but I would appreciate some clues to where to look.>
Her running lights and her dash are out. The dash part that is out is the part where the speed is shown. It is not the whole part of the dash. Just the front part behind the steering wheel area. Speedometer, etc.

I checked the fuses inside the car, and in the engine bay. One of the fuses was shorted out in the engine bay fuse box near the battery. It was a 20 amp fuse.
I put another fuse in, and had her just turn on the running lights.(POOF) The fuse blew instantly. A second fuse blew as well. I am guessing it is a short to ground.(Whatever that means.)
Her headlights can turn on just fine. Her turn signals will turn on just fine except one of the bulbs in the front grill. I think the bulb is just bad and is not related.

I looked over her car, and I also noticed her interior overhead light was broken as well. I am not sure that is part of the electrical problem, as opposed to the bulb being bad. But she did say that went out as well. I checked the bulb, and it was slightly busted. I took it out, and tried another fuse to see if that was the problem, and that is why I blew another fuse.

Anyway, does anybody have any clues where the short might be?
Do I have to check all the running lights? I also have no idea how to disconnect the dash, if I need to.
I have to isolate the problem, and any help is appreciated.

 

Bump.
I fixed the signal light. The electrical problem still persists. Please help.

 

Bump.. anybody? Please.

 

Which fuse was blown? Was it for the instrument cluster and running lights? (By running lights do you mean headlights?)

What a short to ground means is that there may be a wire that is normally supplied with battery power that is touching metal somewhere. This creates a free flowing path for current. The current goes real high (past the amount the fuse is able to handle) and then blows the fuse.

My only advice is to get a hold of a wiring diagram, look to see where that fuse comes in to play, and try and back track along the wires that are related to the cluster, running lights, and that fuse. You may be able to find a damaged wire or something hooked up wrong.

Hope this helps a little.

 

yep what he said thats the last resort, does sound like a short to ground before reaching a resistance.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Philip &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Which fuse was blown? Was it for the instrument cluster and running lights? (By running lights do you mean headlights?).</TD></TR></TABLE>

No I specifically wrote that her Headlights can turn on just fine. When you go to turn on your headlights, you must first turn on the running lights. They are also called parking lights.

The fust that is blown is called small light. It is between the clock radio and the
stop horn fuses. (According to the layout on the engine bay fuse box.)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Philip &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
What a short to ground means is that there may be a wire that is normally supplied with battery power that is touching metal somewhere. This creates a free flowing path for current. The current goes real high (past the amount the fuse is able to handle) and then blows the fuse.

My only advice is to get a hold of a wiring diagram, look to see where that fuse comes in to play, and try and back track along the wires that are related to the cluster, running lights, and that fuse. You may be able to find a damaged wire or something hooked up wrong.

Hope this helps a little.</TD></TR></TABLE>

So does that mean I have to tear the car apart. Everything you guys have said, is what I guess I was thinking I have to do. I was hoping for some easier way, or some good start guesses.

Should I unattach all the running lights and then try the fuse? I do not know how to unattach the light that lights up the cluster.

 

Bump for some hopefully good starting place guess or other advice.

 

could be muliple things. Could be a bad headlight switch, bad relay. Chase the wires first and see if its shorting out.

 

Well, I found the problem. It was actually the cigarette lighter. I know what you are saying.. What the hell was wrong with the cigarette lighter. The stupid lighter assembly had become loose. The back wires were somehow coming in contact with the car.
It has been fixed now.

Thanks for everybodies help.

 

Electrical problems are so tricky. You can spend hours and hours trying to figure out what the problem is, and when you do find out, it so simple!