head light switch, tail lights won't turn off

I have a 1993 Honda Civic DX two door. I need to replace the light
switch located in the steering wheel column. I am doing this because
the tail light won't turn off and I checked all the fuses and am left
with this as the problem. This car has an airbag. I would like to
know if I have to remove the steering wheel and if so do I need any
special tools? Is this a difficult task and is my assessment correct?
Is their a website with any information on how to do this?

Lex

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

My Ford never gave me problems like that.

 

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/14/1d/e3/0900823d80141de3.jsp

Courtesy of Autozon
Repair Guide.

1992-95 Models

WARNING
All SRS wire harnesses are covered with a yellow insulation. Read the
SRS precautions found in this section and install the short connectors
as described.



1. Disconnect the negative battery cable and disable the SRS system.

2. Remove the upper and lower steering column covers.

3. Disconnect the 4-pin and 7-pin connectors from the switch.

4. Remove the switch retaining screws and slide the switch from its
mount.

To install:

5. Install the new switch in position and connect the electrical leads.

6. Install the upper and lower steering column covers.

7. Disconnect the short connectors and connect the negative and
positive battery cable.

 

Some recommendations on disabling the air bag include disconnecting the
battery and removing SRS fuses and letting it sit for 10-15 minutes before
proceeding. I don't know if it is actually necessary but when you are going
to be working next to an explosive device a little extra precaution doesn't
hurt.

 

Patrick and Alan tahnks for the help, Lex

 

Good point.... that's why I still have my catcher's mask from pony
league.

 

Yes, the 10-15 minutes IS necessary. The SRS system will stay active
after power is cut for a short amount of time. Reason being: If you
collide with something and the battery is destroyed or power is
otherwise cut, you still want the airbag to deploy if necessary. It all
happens very fast, but the data recorder will function and order the
bag to go off until the capacitors drain (correct verbage?).

 

One of my friends has a Ford whose radio never shuts down, even if you
switch your ignition off. That's why he had to do some wiered things (I
don't remember because I did not have car that time and hence did not
care about that) in order to prevent the battery from draining down.

 

The Final Solution:

So I got some interesting and good news. I hope this will help others.
My initial diagnosis was incorrect. The tails lights I thought
initially was on but I was wrong. Upon closer examination I noticed
with someone stepping on the brake that the lights would not change so
it was the brake lights that were on. I had to check for sure by
replacing the bulb in the middle of the rear window to see if this
stays on, and it did. Some of the things that made this diagnosis
difficult was due to day light. I did it during the day and all the
bulbs were not functional.

I disconnected the wires from the light switch to see if that would
disable the lights, and it did not. So it was obvious that was not the
problem, because that had nothing to do with the brakes but I wanted to
check for some stupid reason. The next thing I did was look at the
brake peddle to see how the brake light switch works. There is this
little black button that is pressed when the brake pedal is not
pressed. When you press the brakes it allows the button to push out
and turn the lights on. So I placed my screwdriver between the pedal
and the button and took a look at the light. The lights were off. I
knew then that the brake switch worked and my diagnosis is precise.
Upon close examination of the brake pedal I noticed a hole in the
pedal. I though something has to go there that pushes against the
button. So I went to the junk yard and looked and there it was a
little rubber triangle shaped piece. I popped it out and placed it in
the Honda Civic and everything is good.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Honda subsystems are reliable and I am happy this was so simple.

Lex