Instrument Panel Lighting (or lack of it.)

[Bmer89]

My girlfriend has a 93 Civic (EX? It has a d16z6) and maybe 1 light turns on in the dials when the headlights are on. So I checked the fuses, all good. Pulled out the cluster, bulbs are good. What could be the problem? And the light next to the shifter (auto...) that lights up what gear you're in doesn't light up either but I didn't take the console apart to see if it's the bulb.

I felt kinda bad pulling the dash apart and not finding the problem haha. If anyone knows what could be causing the problem, I really really would appreciate the help! Thanks in advance!

[Brian]

check to see if there is voltage getting to the bulbs. If there is, then it's blown bulbs.

Yes, the D16Z6 is from the 92-95 Civic EX

[Bmer89]

I know the bulbs are good, I tested them. I didn't think to check if power was getting to them, but I'm assuming there isn't since they don't light up!

[Brian]

I might be the dimmer dial. It could be bad or it could be turned all the way down

[Bmer89]

Well she said it worked a while ago and stopped. And it used to flash sometimes when she'd hit a bump.

[Brian]

sounds like a ground problem.

Here is a link to the service manual. It has all the wiring diagrams in it
http://downloads.hondatech.info/Auto/Manuals/Civic/Civic_EG_Shop.zip

[Bmer89]

Ok thanks! I was thinking it was a wiring problem, but I didn't have time to go digging that much.

EDIT: I just figured out I have no idea how to read those diagrams. Let alone locate what I want in the mess of wires!:yikes!:

[jon]

Check the dimmer switch like Brian said. If its bad there is a good chance that's what it is

[Bmer89]

Ok I'll check that too next time

[silver_echo]

the one bulb working and all turns me away from grounds, but the "flash" over bumps kinda says harness... what all is aftermarket on this car, what was shop installed/backyard? the reason that i ask is because the symptom sounds kinda weird, and weird things have been known to happen when untrained "techs" dive into cars...

[jon]

in hondas tho the dimmer switch will control the dash lights whether they are on or not, so i wonder if the plug is loose in that or the switch is going back and that is cause the lights to not work. there is a chance that one bulb is from something else

[Bmer89]

The car is all bone stalk. And I believe the whole dash is out, and the gear light by the shifter. Sounds like the dimmer could be bad, or a loose harness. But what do I know... troubleshooting is a drag :lawl:

What switch are you referring to ninja? The headlight switch?

[jon]

i ment the dimmer switch is bad..want an easy way to trouble shoot? your del sol one should be about the same at least the plug in the back, pull yours out plug it into her car if the lights come on its the dimmer switch, if it doesnt work then your gonna want to get your trusty volt meter and have fun

[Bmer89]

The plug might be, but the dimmer itself is totally different. I think hers has a little scrolling wheel and I have a turning knob. I'll bring along my lame walmart tester thingies and poke around :)

[Brian]

as long as the plug is the same, it should work. All it is a resistor

[Bmer89]

Well I put my tester to the plug and it's getting power, so I'm pretty sure it's the dimmer. Thanks for the help guys!

And now today's problem hahaha. The window fell of it's track (same car). So I got it to go back in but it won't go all the way up. It gets stuck about mid way. I spent a good deal of time trying to figure out what was blocking it, but I just couldn't see anything. It was all the way on the track, and I even put some seal grease on it. It looks like it's bunching up on the seal, closest to the engine, like it's sliding up with the window. Any ideas for this one?? Again, you guys rock!

[MetaEnder]

H'm. I hate it when windows get messed up. Is your window electric or manual? JW.

What I would probably end up doing if I can't jostle it loose, or figure it out on the stop, I would probably end up taking the entire door panel apart and see if I can figure it out, ha. My 2 cents I guess.

[gotrice93]

make sure the bolts are tight holding the track onto the door. sometime they appear tight but as u roll up they will slide if they are tight try loosing it and adjusting the track out..as wacko as it sounds i loved doing windows. one of my favorite part of school was tearing doors apart.

[Bmer89]

It's electric. I had the door panel off and everything. I took off the bolt on the bottom of the slider and it would not move. It feels like it's spot welded to the door. I almost think the window is slanted forward a tad, but I don't know how it's supposed to be or how to adjust it.