dash lights

I have a 2000 accord ex. My problem is this. The backlighting on my
instrument cluster is out. I have checked all fuses and relays and they
are fine. Also it does some weird things. When the lights are in the off
position i have backlighting on th eradio, auto climate control and the
display for mileage. When i turn the lights to the on position all
backlighting everywhere goes off as well as the shift lights on the dash
(the ones that tell you what gear u are in p d n d4 d3 etc... I have even
gone as far as to remove the stereo and climate control and locate the
illumination wire and light test it. When these items are unplugged and
light tested everything seems normal. I even called honda, they said that
a pin on one of the connectors on the backside of the instrument cluster
could be out of whack or that i have a wire that is grounding out in which
they said they could look at for $60.00 an hour. I am about to just say
screw it and bypass some things and run new wires. I need help. Has anyone
run into this before or have any ideas. Also the engine temp gage is not
working, I am not sure if this is related or not.

 

have you adjusted the brightness of the backlighting? Maybe someone else
was in your car and turned it down?