Dash/gauge cluster lights

Can anyone direct me to an illustration that shows what lights should be
visible on the dash and instrument panel on a '94 Accord EX? I can't see the
needles on my speedometer or tach at night. I don't recall when I first
noticed it, but it's pretty annoying. If it had been like that all these
years I do believe I would have noticed.

Also, I have the radio, CD eject, ashtray and green LEDs on the A/C buttons,
but I can't see the heater control knobs at night at all. I think I'm
getting senile, because I can't remember if they were ever there in the
first place! The whole thing just seems to be getting darker and darker as
time goes on.

You can level with me: It's age, isn't it? (Mine, not the car's.)

 

You don't mention the dimmer control. Are you sure the dash lights haven't
been turned down?
Dan

(This account is not used for email.)

 

Sorry - forgot to mention it's turned all the way up. I have to switch on my
dome light sometimes to peek at the needles.

 

Several things come to mind. The light switches on older Hondas go bad
every so often. Turn on your parking lights and walk around the car. Are
the parking lights working? If not, the light switch is probably your
problem. Parking lights and head lights are on different contacts on the
switch, so even though the headlights do come on, the switch could be
bad.

Fuse #32 is for parking lights and dash lights, but a blown fuse would
be too easy....

Next it could be the dimmer circuit. To test, you can pry the dimmer
circuit out of the dash board. At the back there will be a 3-pin
connector, with a RED/BLK wire (supply voltage), a BLK wire (ground)
and a RED wire (to dash lights etc.) going to it. Unplug the connector
and short the RED wire to the BLK wire with a paper clip or something
similar. Then turn on your parking lights. Do the dash lights come on
now? If so, the dimmer circuit is bad.

It could also be a broken wire some where, good luck finding that :-(

Last thing I can think of is that a boat load of dash light bulbs are
broken. Having the mall break at the same time seems weird, and if they
broke one by one you would probably have noticed fewer and fewer things
in the dash being illuminated.

 

<< if they broke one by one you would probably have noticed fewer and fewer
things
in the dash being illuminated. >>


Thank you for all the great info. I'm afraid this is exactly what has
happened. It's happened so gradually that now I can't remember what all is
supposed to be illuminated! If it weren't for the gauges I'd swear I was
imagining it, but I can't see the needles (speedo, tach, fuel, temp) at
night at all. Any advice? Is there a list somewhere of instruments that are
supposed to be illuminated? Thanks again.

 

Looking at the service manual for the '94 Accord coupe, I see at least 7
bulbs for the instrument cluster illumination. All your instruments
should be visible in the dark. You sure your parking lights work? Unless
you drive with the lights on an awful lot, or your voltage regulator is
broken, it seems strange that *all* of the instrument bulbs would have
burned out. On my '94 Civic (105 k miles) none of the instrument lights
have ever burned out.

 

<< Unless you drive with the lights on an awful lot, or your voltage
regulator is broken, it seems strange that *all* of the instrument bulbs
would have burned out. >>


I checked, and my parking lights are fine. I do have *some* lights on the
dash; I just can't see my needles at night. The area to the right of the
dash where the a/c controls are looks dark, too. This is a drag.

 

Typical night lights for Accords taken from a service manual.

Dimmable:
Dashboard panels
Sunroof switch
Rear window defogger
Cruise switch
Shift lever position
AC/Fresh/Recir (not led)
Heater control panel
Safety indicator
Instrument Gauges
Etc.

Non- dimmable:
Glove box
Ashtray
Dimmer
etc.

The problem could be a fuse, ground or a bad dimmer. To solve,

1) Check fuse, if okay go to step 2.
2) Disconnect the dimmer then short RED wire at connector to the BLK
wire or chassis ground to get illuminations. If still no lights then check for
voltage at the dimmer RED wire and BLK wire or chassis ground with the
lights on. If no voltage found on RED wire then there's a short, blown
bulbs or a bad fuse terminal.

Finally, if you notice fewer and fewer illumination in the future but have
only ashtray lights then avoid turning the dimmer all the way up to help
increase the life of the bulbs.

 

Thank you for the excellent information! I think this is going to be very
helpful.

 

I have the same problem, and found a PDF wiring diagram at
http://www.hondahookup.com/manuals/
download the CD7_CD9.zip file and look at page 23-208 (adobe page 1228) to
see a diagram and the same info as you were given by other members.
ME? I am going to add a switch between the red and black wires, so I can
enable my dash lights, due to failed controller. 1.77amps flow here, that
is the total current draw of all the lamps, shown by my meter. Hopefully
I'll find an abandoned accord ands be able to replace this.
Nick