Dash lights and taillights are not working?

Tiny
BRAJ65
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 HONDA ACCORD
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
Dash lights and taillights and vanity lights are not working. Headlights work, turn signals work, brake lights work. I checked all fuses on the left, right, under the hood. All okay. I hear a relay clicking from passenger side fuse box when taillights, headlight switch is turned on. I tried the bypass that I read about on connector of instrument cluster and did not solve problem. I'm wondering if perhaps it is the on column light switch but need a little more information on testing it. I am capable with a multimeter. Thank you, Ed
Monday, September 12th, 2022 AT 4:09 PM

20 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

Wow, this is all over the place. The different things mentioned are on different circuits, but they do power through the headlamp switch and multiplex control unit.

When you have the parking light turned on and the rear doesn't light, do the front parking lights work as well as the license plate lights? I ask because there is a jumper that can cause an issue. See pic 1 below. However, I don't feel that would affect the vanity or dash lights.

Do me a favor. In addition to checking fuses under the dash, I need you to check if there is power to and from them.

Here is a link that explains how to test:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Also, the two things I'm seeing as a possibility is the multiplex control unit or the lamp switch, but I need to know if the front parking lights work.

Let me know.

Take care,

Joe

I attached pics from the three different circuits below, so you have a reference. The last pic shows the location of the multiplex control unit.
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Monday, September 12th, 2022 AT 9:08 PM
Tiny
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I will follow up on all the above recommendations. I can however say that I checked all fuses and there is power to and from each one. Thanks so much in advance I will follow up as soon as I get back to the vehicle. Thank you, Ed
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Tuesday, September 13th, 2022 AT 9:36 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Ed,

You are very welcome. You can't be driving in the dark without these lights, so let me know what you find, and I'll do my best to help get things working again.

Take care,

Joe
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Tuesday, September 13th, 2022 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
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Joe. Just a bit of additional information. There are no front parking lights working on the car and no rear license plate light. And just to mention again I did check power to and from all fuses. I will take a look at the above diagrams and follow up when I have any additional info. Thanks again. Ed.
P.S. On a personal note it’s my mother-in-law†s car and she’s been driving this way for God knows how long. 84 years old I guess she never noticed lights were out.
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Wednesday, September 14th, 2022 AT 4:25 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Wow, that isn't good. I'm glad she wasn't hit from the rear. I looked through things again. All power to the nonfunctional lights is from the switch via a red wire with a black tracer. The bulbs have different grounds, so it isn't a ground issue. That leaves the switch itself. That is my primary suspect at this point. See pic below

Let me know if you find anything.

Take care,

Joe

See pic below.
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Wednesday, September 14th, 2022 AT 6:01 PM
Tiny
BRAJ65
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Joe. I did check that connector of the light switch under the steering column plastic but will do again. So just to be clear when the light switch on the steering column is clicked to the first position which will be tail, dash light illumination I should see 12 V DC from that red wire with black tracer? And in
off position no voltage? Thank you, Ed
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Wednesday, September 14th, 2022 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

Yes, that is correct. Power should be on that wire with the parking lights or headlamps on. If you look below, I show where switch power comes from and where it distributes to.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Wednesday, September 14th, 2022 AT 6:59 PM
Tiny
BRAJ65
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Joe. Results from switch. I have 6 V DC on the green wire with red tracer which is supplied according to diagram. I do not see a red with black tracer wire coming out of the connector however you can see my pictures below. I do not have any continuity between where the red, green wire plugs in and any other pins on the turn signal assembly whether the switch is parking lights or head lights.
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Saturday, September 17th, 2022 AT 6:55 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

The pic didn't upload, but it sounds like the switch is bad. You should find continuity from one side to the other of the switch when it's turned on.

Let me know about the pic. However, I'm not sure why there are no red/black wires.

I will watch for your reply.

Take care,

Joe
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Saturday, September 17th, 2022 AT 9:38 PM
Tiny
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Uploaded again.
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Sunday, September 18th, 2022 AT 4:09 AM
Tiny
BRAJ65
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Had to dabble with size. Hope resolution isn’t ok. Can u explain the 6 Vdc reading vs a full 12vdc. Thank you
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Sunday, September 18th, 2022 AT 4:25 AM
Tiny
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I sent 3 pictures initially but resolution was poor. Then 4 more. Hope u received all 7. Let me know. Thank you, Ed
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Sunday, September 18th, 2022 AT 4:27 AM
Tiny
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Joe. Please do me a favor and take a look at my pictures of connector. I just want to make sure Iam testing the right wires.
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Sunday, September 18th, 2022 AT 6:39 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi Ed,

I'm so sorry I didn't get back to you yesterday. I had a few weekend jobs to take care of and as always, it took twice as long as expected. I didn't get home until midnight and had to be up at 6:00 AM for work. Ugh! My head hurts.

As far as your question. The pics are more than clear enough. I'm not seeing the wire colors I expected. I have to ask. Are you located in the US or Canada? Does the vehicle have the automatic off-headlamp function?

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, September 19th, 2022 AT 6:43 PM
Tiny
BRAJ65
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Joe. No worries. Thanks for staying with me on this. Just another bit of info. I pulled the #10 position fuse on passenger side fuse box and did not lose any power on any of the wires in that light switch plug. Iam located in the US, and I do believe auto off headlight function.
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Monday, September 19th, 2022 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Ed,

After my last reply, I read through everything again. You indicated you hear the relay click on the right side when you turn on the lights. Do me a favor, locate the relay that is making the click, remove it, and I need you to check it for power. There will be four pins. One of the pins in the box will have power at all times, one will only have power when the light is turned on (that is the relay trigger that will cause the click), one will be a ground, and the last will send power to the lights.

I need you to check the relay itself and the box to make sure these things are happening.

Here is a link you may find helpful:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Hang in there. We will eventually get it fixed. I'm struggling because I only have the OEM wiring schematic and they can be a nightmare to follow and are extremely limited.

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, September 19th, 2022 AT 7:34 PM
Tiny
BRAJ65
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Hey Joe. As I said before, no worries. Don’t struggle too hard with this, I’m sure eventually the issue will come to light. I did remove all free relays one at a time from that driver side fuse box but clicking still was there when actuating the light switch. I came to the conclusion with the help of my son that the clicking was from the blue computer module on the back of the fuse panel that I was able to get by removing the glove box. Oh, cool with a computer module for lack of any other name. I’m going to look for a picture that I came across while on this forum if what I said above is not clear. The clicking was internal to this box, and I tried to remove it from the back of the fuse panel but didn’t want to break it. Let me see if I can get a picture of that although I’m sure you know what I mean Thank you, Ed
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Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 AT 4:28 AM
Tiny
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I believe the clicking was coming from this blue module which I took a stock photo picture of.
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Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 AT 4:30 AM
Tiny
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Now I see why I could not remove it. There is a side plug which I did not take out. But if I need to remove to discover if clicking is internal to this matrix box, I can do it now.
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Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 AT 4:59 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

Sounds good. Also, if you can, let me know the part number on the module.

Take care,

Joe
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Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 AT 6:07 PM

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