Intermittent A/C Control Panel problem?

My A/C Control Panel is not always working; the problem is intermittent in my case.

This morning, when using my car's air conditioner while driving, the LED AC control panel lights for inside air flow, re-circulation, and compressor on/off stopped functioning, but at times during the same drive they did work. The problem is intermittent. When the LED lights on the control buttons are not working, the air was not being cooled, but when the lights are working the cooling works (but cooler would be better).

I tried checking things out when I got home. The A/C system worked with the car sitting in a driveway with outside temperature at 79 degrees Fahrenheit. The compressor clutch engages and the radiator fan on the driver’s side comes on when the A/C is turned on. An analog air vent thermometer measured as low as 66 degrees Fahrenheit, about 13 degrees cooler than outside air. I rotated the temperature knob from as cold as possible to as warm as possible, and two minutes later the thermometer was at 118 degrees. I rotated the knob all the way back to the cold side and after a few minutes the AC vent temperature was back at 66 degrees Fahrenheit. The car sat for an hour then I took it for a test drive. The A/C vent temperature is able to get down to about 47 degrees Fahrenheit while driving at 40 to 50 MPH. What I’ve said in this paragraph describes when the system is working.

I also observed the system not working while driving, and initially while it was in the driveway being checked out. When it was not working, the LED AC control panel lights are not lit, the compressor clutch does not come engage and neither of the radiator fans turns on.

When the controls work and the AC is on, the compressor clutch engages and the radiator fan on the driver’s side runs, but the one on the passenger side of the radiator does not run. I am able to turn the compressor on and off and able to control the re-circulation and whether air comes out of the dash vents, floor vents or windshield. When it does not work, I can’t control those items, but the fan speed knob still works.

It almost seems as if I had a bad connection that somehow got better via some use, as the car is driven only once or twice a week.

I have read elsewhere that 1998-2002 Accords have issues like this and that they are caused by actuators below the dash/center console. One actuator is near the gas pedal and seems to control the mode (defrost, dash vent, floor vent) and I think that is called the HVAC Panel Mode Door Actuator 79160-S84-A01. I think the other is called the re-circulation actuator 79350-S84-A01. I’m not sure if I have the correct part numbers or if there are aftermarket parts, but those items are expensive. Some folks seem to be removing the actuators, opening them up, cleaning, reassembling and re-installing those actuators. The indication is that there are electrical contacts inside that get dirty or need to be bent to make better contact. I am not sure about this, but it did seem worth mentioning, hoping to avoid wasting time and money. For now, I will wait until the problem happens again, unless there is another recommendation that might help.