Fuse Panel Diagram?

[Primal79]

Would anyone happen to have a picture or diagram of the fuse panel for a 1998 Honda Accord? When I bought the car used, it didn't have the manual anymore.

Also, what would cause the main switch for cruise control to stop working? It's the switch on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. It doesn't turn on anymore so cruise control doesn't work.

[AccordCodger]

Can't help with the first.

But the cruise control problem is most likely the dinky plastic insert in the brake pedal lever that actuates the cruise cutoff switch. It's cheap, and pretty easy to replace (as long as you are athletic enough to gt head first down wherer the pedal is!)

Typically, the brake lights stay on all the time too, but not always - mine didn't.

[Primal79]

Thanks for your help, AccordCodger. Can you tell me what the name of that part is? And can I just pick this part up at Auto Zone? I'll have to look at the brake pedal at lunch to see if I can find that plastic insert...

[AccordCodger]

Sorry didn't see your post sooner, so you've probably answered your own question.

I doubt AutoZone would have it, although they might. Mine came from the Honda dealer, and they sell so many of them he just reached in a drawer under the counter and pulled one out! (And I called it "the plastic insert in the brake pedal")

Did you manage to get down there and find it yet?

[AccordCodger]

Oh - re the fuse panel -- isn't the diagram on the cover (or did you lose the cover)? Mine's a '93, so it probably isn't the same.

[Primal79]

AccordCodger, you're right! I'm an idiot! The diagram is on the cover. I just took it off and layed it down last time I took it off without even noticing the diagram. I found where the cruise control fuse is and it's not blown, so it's not that.

Can you tell me what that dinky plastic insert looks like? And where you remember that piece being exactly? I got under the brake pedal (that's an interesting position to get in...) and looked at all the stuff under there. My only "lead" is a button-like piece that is depressed when the brake is NOT pushed in.

[AccordCodger]

Glad you found the fuse digram. Now, the brake/cruise switch ---
That's the place. The brake pedal lever depresses a switch when the pedal is all the way UP. That is the switch that controls the brake lights and the cruise control (one on, the other off, of course). But if the plastic "button" that's pressed into the brake pedal is old and squashed, it won't then fully depress the switch, so the cruise control thinks the brakes are on - all the time! Then, of course, cruise won't turn on. I tested my theroy by taping a piece of cardboard between the pedal and the switch (though THAT took some athletics!), and that caused the cruise to start working. Next stop was the Honda dealer. More athletics, and the problem was fixed.

[Primal79]

Well, I got back under the dash, in the brake pedal area to look at that button again. Mine looks like it's in perfect condition. I wonder what it could be then...

[AccordCodger]

Mine looked pretty good too, but it was sufficiently flattened to cause the problem you described. Why not just go ahead and replace it anyway? It's cheap.

[Primal79]

Ok, I'm going to get that button from the dealership today at lunch. When I called them yesterday, the parts guy quoted me a price. $1.82 plus tax. I couldn't help but laugh on the phone because the part was as cheap as you said.

Now, before I screw up the car , how do you take the button off and replace it? I haven't gotten back under the dash to look again so the answer may end up being obvious...

[Primal79]

Yikes! This thread went to the second page! Have any idea how to replace the cruise control button under the dashboard, AccordCodger?

[AccordCodger]

In case you haven't figured out the button yet -- just pry it out (mine almost fell out when I pushed it from the back) and push the new one in.

Just takes some contortions (and given my age and girth, if I can do it, anyone can!)