need help badely

[mbohbot]

Hey Guys, wondering if anyone might be able to help with a problem I have on a 1990 honda accord EX 4 door, auto with a/c. the problem consist of many different things but occured all in the same time. The rear defrost doesn't turn on anymore, the intermitent wipers don't work anymore but the high\low wipers still work, no chime to let you know lights are on with the keys out of ignition,chime when car starts up is gone also, as well as the dome light and door lights don't work anynore.

I went to honda , dealer said ICU (integrated control unit) located above fuses and under relays (little gray box) anyways I changed it with a used part and had the same issues. Is it possible that the used ICU be broken as well ? maybe. But what I am looking for is someone who had the same or similar problems and solved them, before i spend 250$ on a brand new ICU.

Thank you in advance.

[neespapa]

I have no first hand experience on this car but I have many years of electronics troubleshooting experience.

It may be a bad +12VDC supply voltage or ground common to all those functions. Do you have a voltmeter or test light? Assuming you do...

Typically there are fuses and circuit breakers under the hood (this is most likely the location of the problem if it is voltage related) in addition to fuses under the dash. Large high-current under-hood "distribution" fuses can supply voltage to several circuits while under-dash fuses typically supply voltage to a single circuit. If a distribution fuse/circuilt fails it will shut down all functions that get power from it. Use your owners manual and fuse box covers for circuit identification.

For a faulty ground wire: This would be more difficult to find and I'd pursue this only if the voltage seach leads no where. Look for broken/corroded grounds in the engine bay and under the dash and carpet. Floorboard water can cause under-carpet grounds to corrode.

Depending on how proficient you are with the voltmeter/test light, you can unplug the malfunctioning chime and check for voltage and ground wire integrity there. This will help determine if it is a voltage or ground issue. Identify the chimes power and ground wires. Check the chimes hot wire with the chime's ground wire and a separate known good ground. Do the same with the chime's ground; check it with its own hot wire and a separate know good voltage source.

[tech.]

it does sound like the icu? but it is unlikely to have 2 bad units testing all those chimes are a pain in the well the chimes are built in that little box called the intergrated control unit on that car. is their by any chance you replace the wrong box? but i dont think the wipers are related to the chime problem, if you fix it fill me in....

j

[fiberglasscivic]

Have you recently done work on the car? I know that I cut through a couple of wire one time that caused the same kind of problem.

[mbohbot]

Originally Posted by fiberglasscivic

Have you recently done work on the car? I know that I cut through a couple of wire one time that caused the same kind of problem.

Yes Actually I beleive that some work behind the radio was done , did you cut a wire somewhere back there ?

[fiberglasscivic]

Actually I cut several wires in the main harness going through the firewall while I was drilling a hole for my amplifire wire.