Dash lights, headlight warning when on and tail lights

BLUEJACKET_989

MEMBER
HONDA ACCORD

I have a 90 accord ex model. The guy I bought it off of took out the original factory radio, but the cd changer/player? Is still there. Would not having the radio in place affect my dash, tail lights as well as the beeping sound for when you leave the lights on. I was reading that some other people had the same problem and when answered the asked if they had replaced the radio. I also checked all the fuses and bulbs and nothing is wrong. Also, When I turn the switch for my lights to the running and tail lights the clock dims as same when I fully engage the switch to turn on my headlights, but no tail lights. Am I on the riight track or am I totally out of the water. If so, what can I do to fix the problem. Any advice or answers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 AT 2:53 PM

7 Replies

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,754 POSTS

The clock should dim anytime the switch is turned for lights. It thinks it is dark and lessens the illumination. I may not be reading to well but are saying that when the switch is activated for headlights that the tail lights fail to light? But when parking lights are activated the tail lights work?

What kind of a butcher job did he do when he pulled out the radio? Did he leave a hole and it the wiring in tact?

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Thursday, March 15th, 2007 AT 1:25 PM

BLUEJACKET_989

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Thanks for the reply bruce. The tail lights don't come on at ALL as well as the dash lights. Also, the radio is completly missing. The wiring is in tact but the radio is gone. And yes I do have a huge hole there. But, it also has a cd player below that I think plugs into the radio, but I'm not positive. I thought maybe having the radio missing would not complete the circuit and that maybe the tail and dash lights were on the same circuit? What do you think? I uploaded a pic to let you see. If replacing the radio to complete the circuit is out , I was thinking of hardwiring it to my headlights so that they came on when the headlights are turned on. What do you think? Thanks For all your help.

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Thursday, March 15th, 2007 AT 2:21 PM

BRUCE HUNT

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I take it you have talked to the previous owner. Would he let you try the radio to see if that overcomes the problem? I know that those radios are pretty cheap to pick up today. Ebay. I can find nothing about the probem. It is possible that the light control switch is the culprit.

I notice that the temp control knob is missing. That should be a regular stock item at Honda for about 5 bucks. They go out every so often, especially in cooler whether.

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Thursday, March 15th, 2007 AT 3:42 PM

BLUEJACKET_989

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The guy I bought it off of does not have the original radio. But, you don't think it is the missing radio? How do I check if it is light control switch? I was thinking that it wasn't it because when I turned the knob to the first click the tail and parking lights should come on, right, but they did not. However when I turn the light knob the clock dims, as it should, right, but still not tail and parking lights.

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Thursday, March 15th, 2007 AT 5:55 PM

BRUCE HUNT

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The lights are consistent. I do believe it is the switch. They control several things including the dimming of the clock. Not all parts of the switch fail at the same time. I assume you checked both bulbs and they are fine. The grounding of the lights is fine? I believe the real testing for the switch is performed out of the steering column.

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Saturday, March 17th, 2007 AT 8:48 AM

BLUEJACKET_989

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Thanks again for the reply Bruce. I don't believe it but all my lights came on yesterday. I don't know if it was devine spirit or not, but yesterday I was driving the car and I noticed that it had a geenish tint to the guages. I then turned my dimmer switch and low and behold they came on. So I pulled the car over and looked at my tail lights and they were on too. But earlier I had reached behind the light switch in the steering column(my father-in-law said there was a tab in some cars to slide that part off) and played with some wires. Maybe I jaed something. As long as I works. That's what you get for a 1600 dollar car. By the way do you know how to install a speed sensor on my car? Thanks for all your help!

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Saturday, March 17th, 2007 AT 9:50 AM

BRUCE HUNT