dash light is intermittent

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Guest, Dec 18, 2005.

  1. Guest

    Guest Guest

    My 88 Honda Accord dash light goes on and off at random intervals.

    Does anyone have any ideas?

    Thanks,

    Colin
     
    Guest, Dec 18, 2005
    #1
  2. Guest

    Remco Guest

    First make sure you don't have an intermittent contact on the fuse for
    the instrument lights.

    If that's ok, It might be related to the dashboard brightness
    adjustment knob.
    This knob is moving a potentiometer ("Pot") - this is basically a
    variable resistor, much like the volume adjusment on your stereo. This
    pot is usually hooked up to a regulator that sets the voltage to your
    dash light bulbs, dimming them.
    That functionality is usually contained within one module. The
    archilles heel of this whole adjustment is the pot.
    It probably has a dirty runner (the part that moves when you turn the
    knob).
    Try moving the setting vigorously back and forth to see if it cleans
    itself. It might make it worse, in which case you will have to replace
    that particular module.
    If you have soldering skills or know someone that does, you could see
    if the module opens up and check for bad solder joints and replace the
    pot if you can find a direct replacement.
    You could, of course, also just replace the module.

    If you don't care about adjustment and just want to set the brightness
    to full, check the three wires going to the module.
    Identify which contact goes to ground, which to 12V (easily identified
    with a multimeter). The third wire is the one that goes to your
    dashlight bulbs. Tie this third wire directly to the 12V wire.

    Remco
     
    Remco, Dec 19, 2005
    #2
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