Gauge cluster won't light up!

[bm3w]

G'morning everyone!

I'm in need of some electrical/technical assistance! :ohmy: I had to have messed something up in my 1999 Honda Civic SE while trying to install an aftermarket tachometer (no clue what actually caused this problem though =/ )

Anyways, for those willing to help, here's the situation:

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My 'white' gauge cluster lights that illuminate the speedometer, fuel gauge and temp gauge aren't coming on when I turn on my lights. Even more weird, is that the *stock* radio is dimly lit up when the car is running (when the lights aren't turned on), and then if I turn on the lights, the radio will go almost completely black (you can see a bit of light, but very very faintly).
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So, that's my problem, and now I'll try and give you some other relevant (I hope) info that might help in solving this thing:

- I attemped to install my tach which has four wires coming out the back: power, ground, lights and tach signal. I tried splicing these wires into the appropriate ones leading into my gauge cluster, but when my tach didn't end up working, I unhooked it all and then taped up the wires.

- This 'lighting' problem only happened the day after I tried installing my tach. I know for sure that the lights were working on my dashboard the night I installed the tach, and it was the only the next day that it seems that I messed something up. What I was doing the next day was rather than untaping the wires that I already exposed, I decided to just unplug the two big connectors that plug into my cluster, and then stick the wires from the tach into the female end of the plug. I thought this would give me the same connection results for test purposes (rather than going to the bare wire), but I'm thinking maybe this could have caused a short etc. Should I refrain from doing that in the future?

- Lastly, I checked a bunch of my fuses (ie. Meter, Instrument Lights, Radio, etc.) and they all seem fine. I also checked to see if there was a signal going to the dimmer switch and gauge cluster lighting wires, and both times the signal was present, which makes me think it's not a fusing problem.

So that's that.. sorry for the long post, but I'm at a loss of what else I should do!

Thanks very much,
Matt

[bm3w]

Hi, me again

Here's another piece of information that I just found out:

- First of all, I checked all my fuses and all were good.

- Secondly, I took out my "Instrument Lights" fuse, started the car, and when I turned on the lights, the radio no longer would go dim. (--> With that fuse in and the car on, the radio would no longer glow when the lights were turned on).

Just a lil Note: The Instrument Lights fuse has a wire that connects to a junction connector, and then splits off to the gauge cluster, dimmer switch, radio, and a few more places.

[cas4067]

I don't think this will solve you problem but it kind of sounds like you have your dim swith set on low do you think you might have accidently done that and didint realize it. I know i did that when I put my in but at it was was the dim was turned low you might want to try it. Being that is kind of what it sounds like since it goes rill dim when the lights get turned. Hopefully thats it but proprably not...

[bm3w]

cas4067:

Thanks bud; If only that were my problem, then it'd be nice n easy to fix!

Unfortunately, I've turned to dimmer switch to both extremes each time I tested the lights, and still no luck... =(

Matt

[cas4067]

sorry for your luck would have been nice if that was it.
Also I installed glow gages in my car. My gaguges had a control switch on them control the color and dimness does your have that. If it does I am not sure but it might be the controller on your new gauges because mine did that when I installed it. It worked fine as soon as i hooked them up then they woudent come back on so I changed the controll switch on them (had one sitting around because I had two sets) and its been working fine ever since. Also I am not sure what wires you hooked them but I hooked my power for the gauges on the dimer wire of the radio so when the headlights would get turned it would then kick on the dimer wich then kicks on my gauges. I am not sure how you ran yours but for me that was the easiest way. But it sound like your having problems with the dimnes of your radio so sorry for not being able to help you. good luck....

[khmerboy]

You probably shorted out the dimmer switch. Try unpluging it and testing the resistance with a multimeter. Just a suggestion. Or just unplug it and turn on the headlights to see if there is any difference with the radio light you mentioned.

[k342]

I have the same problem in my 93 Civic, the only difference is, mine just started, i did not change anything in the car, ive checked my fuses, im beginning to think the problem is in the relay or the steering collum, any truth to that???

[fourreel]

My '93 has intermittent dash lights. If I push on the dimmer bezel, the lights come on. I think it is another electrical flaw just like the speedometers and tachs that stop working in the hondas.

[newy303]

I have the same problem. All i did was replace fuses and my lights stoped working. Ive checked all the following above and still nothing. I checked all bulbs, wires, junctions, fuses and etc. Everything has been checked and everything gets power but my lights still dont shine. I think its the whole board its self but im not sure how to check it. Anyone got any tips!?!?

[DAGAME]

i also had the same problem when i bought my 98 EX, but i just replaced the apprated circuit on the back of the stock guage cluster and it fixed the problem, cost about $20 from the factory. That might be your problem.

Hope this helps....good luck.

[fourreel]

I'm pretty certain my cluster light problem is in the dimmer switch, but my dome light acts up and my corner lights don't come on until after a while and my wipers are sluggish. There is a lil black box under the dash just below the left most vent and it sounds like a bee stuck in a jar when the dome light acts up. My dome light will stay on after the door is closed and then the relay (black box) starts to chatter. The only way to stop the chatter is to turn off the car and restart. I just keep my dome light off. Anyone had a lil black box I could try??