2003 accord center console lights out HELPPPP

The lights on my stereo/center console just went out one morning and never came back on. It looks like the back light went out, b/c the lights for the display and other things that have a back light are not on anymore, but the LEDs are working. You can see the numbers on the display very faintly in the day time.

Has any had experience with this before? Specifically with the 2003 accord?

Any advice on where to take the car to have it checked out? I know that the dealership will probably cost me a bunch of money, any other car eletrical system shops anyone can recommend?


Thanks

Welcome to the club. This problem happened to me at 20,000 miles, and now again, at 42,000. I am waiting for another replacement radio.

Officially, Honda is aware of this problem, and it seems to be widespread. They even have a technical service bulletin: 04-027

They claim that the only solution is to replace the entire unit. I wish someone with technical knowledge would tell me what EXACTLY is going wrong with these units (such as bad LED, bad power supply, etc...)

Andy

Thanks for the info. Where can I access the "technical service bulletin: 04-027"?

Did honda replace it for you for free? Or did you have to pay for that out of pocket?

Man this really blows.

[QUOTE=drunkenmonkey79]Thanks for the info. Where can I access the "technical service bulletin: 04-027"?

Did honda replace it for you for free? Or did you have to pay for that out of pocket?

Man this really blows
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A nice service manager was kind enough to print it out for me. He was the one that volunteered the info. The man's name is Bill, at the Honda dealership in Newburgh, New York. Unfortunately, I was only passing through the area, so I normally don't go to that location.

Honda did replace the radio a year ago without charge. Still, they made me wait several weeks, claiming the radio was on "back order"

Now, on year later, it happened again. I've been without a display for two weeks, and South Shore Honda of Valley Stream, NY still did not get the unit in.

This just happened to me about a month ago at about 46,000 miles.

Since about 12,000 miles, the backlight would flicker and the audio would occasionally drop out (like when you are talking to someone on a bad cell connection). It seemed to happen on long trips (2-3 hours into my trek from Raleigh to Washington, DC.), with the volume at about 30, and on reflection, I realized it seemed to happen when it was winter time and my driver's seat warmer was on. I would eject the CD to see if it were scratched. Nothing, except it was really hot. (No error message, but the face plate was hot too.)

I took it in to Leith Honda in Raleigh, NC, at about 15,000 miles, and told them to check it out. I related the symptoms and specifically told them to let the car run for an hour or three in the corner with the volume at about 30. They said they couldn't duplicate it. But I didn't realize until later, that they never typed the problem or their attempted soution into their computer. (Chronic problem for them - same thing happened with my seat tracking.)

I told them again, right before warranty expired at 35,000 miles. This time they wrote down the fade out problem, but not the LCD symptom. Same response - could not duplicate.

I have a call into Honda America. Regional Service Manager was supposed to call me back a week ago.

Anyone got any other experience or suggestions? I am really frustrated about this, but glad to hear it is not just me.

Thanks.

There is a technical service bulletin that covers the radio display going dark: 04-027

I don't think that any audio problem is addressed in that service bulletin.

To be honest, when my displays have gone dark, the audio remained perfect. Anyway, if your issue is covered with service bulletin 04-027, then Honda will honour your warranty under "goodwill", even if your mileage is over 36,000.

Coming from a honda tech that has replaced them, yes we do warrenty the hell out of them and yes they can gop on backorder. S/B 04-027 deal with the HVAC being dim or dark. I don't know what excalty goes wrong with the radios, but it is a chronic problem with the headunits. Same thing goes for the v-6 trans.

This just happened on my 2003 accord EX V6 at 37000 miles. The dealer said it will cost $500 for a new headunit. And, the warranty will not cover this. I have searched the web for SB 04-027 and cannot find it. I would like to see the "goodwill" coverage that Adfumbler discusses. Any ideas?

Forget looking on the web, go straight to the Honda service manager and ask him to print out sb 04-027. They know exactly what this is! If they deny it, they are lying to your face. This is a chronic problem, and virtually every single Honda employee is aware of this issue.

If they still deny you goodwill coverage, demand to speak with a service zone representative. You should NOT have to pay one cent for a chronic defect.

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This just happened on my 2003 accord EX V6 at 37000 miles. The dealer said it will cost $500 for a new headunit. And, the warranty will not cover this. I have searched the web for SB 04-027 and cannot find it. I would like to see the "goodwill" coverage that Adfumbler discusses. Any ideas?

Thanks Adfumbler. I will keep you guys posted of my battle with the dealership.

Dude, That right there is an indication of how crappy foreign cars are, and if it's a 2003 shouldn't there be a warranty on it? (or are you a second time owner?) Just face it, you need to suck in your foreign car pride, and buy a FORD!!! Now Honda's are good for show and to mount 100 amps and subs (just a joke, Dont Try it you'll get hurt) in but thats only after (what you probably Need) A Complete Rewire!!

Took my car to the dealer today. They said that they are going to submit the head-unit to Honda for the good-will coverage. The service manager says he doesn't think it should be a problem getting it covered.

The dealer replaced the head-unit free of charge yesterday. Thanks for everyone's help!

The display light on my radio was not working I had mine replaced at Avery Greene Honda in Vallejo, Ca at 61,929 miles for free just recently. But now the radio display was repaired but they missed up my CD player, they said would cost me $375 to repair the CD, wherein when I took the car for the repair of the radio, the CD player was working

God bless you guys! I had this problem with my out of warranty Honda 2004 Accord. I went to the Rt. 23 Honda Dealership in Pompton Plains NJ. I told them that I am here for the repair on my lights out on the center console. I printed and took this http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=673 service recall letter with me. The service manager had me sign off on $100 diagonstic fee (which he said will be waived if it is covered under the recall). Half an hour later, the technican came to me and said my car is covered with 55K miles and 2004 model. He has ordered the part and I will go next week to get the pcv changed.

THank you guys! this discussion was very helpful!

Regards!

I forgot to mention. He didnt' charge a single cent and this happened today 7/10/2008.

The center console lights just went out on my 2004 Honda Accord, EX-L yesterday (only 50K miles on it). I found this topic (wonderful -thanks everyone) and wanted to update it with my experience.

I found the Technical Service Bulletin, and yep, my model year and VIN number was in the range. I called my local Honda dealer, expecting at least a "I don't know of that TSB, but bring it in and we'll look at it".

To my amazement, after a brief explanation of my problem "backlighting on my center console doesn't work" he looked me up in their computer (I go there for service) to check when I bought the car and asked one or two questions about whether I can see the digits in the sun or not (I could).

He then said there is an extra warranty for this problem by Honda, and it would be covered. He said it goes 7 years from date of purchase or 105,000 miles.

He said he wasn't going to make me come by the dealership (it's not that far but still) because I had described it on the phone so well. He put in an order for the part, and said depending on which warehouse it was coming from, it might be here in two or three days.

Pretty good service, I think! (and no, I have no connection to the dealer or Honda)

Unbelievable, I have had the same problem with my 2003 honda accord ex coupe. Lights blinking on and off and all that. However; I never took the vehicle in for service as it has well over 100,000 miles and I am probably the third owner. Now in my case the center console lights didn't go off. Eventually they just wont' shut off and kill the battery. I am a DIY guy. Does anyone have the part numbers which need to be replaced so I can find parts at DIY prices? Thanks for any information.

I bought my 2003 Accord today with the same problem. Any ideas if I'm gonna be still covered for courtesy repairs. If not, anybody knows how much it would cost me if I pay for the repairs out of my pocket. Thank you