Civic-EG.com Forum 3.3.1

- Fri Sep 12, 2008 5:25 pm #69430 OK, so I was installing an aftermarket tach, and it said wire it to my dimmer light. Well, I am not electrically inclined, and I fucked up. Now I'm just trying to get my dashboard lights to work again. I cut the harness that connects to the dimmer, and I put them back on, and replaced the fuses I blew, but it won't work now.

anyone help me?

- Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:00 pm #69441 First you need to check and see if your circuit for the dimmer is even getting power. Maybe you missed one of the fuses related to it.
Also did you make sure to solder the wires back together in their respective places?
Did you have dash lights before this?
Do you have headlights, turn signals and hazard lights?
Does the whole cluster not work or is it stricktly the lights that are inoperative?

To Them, they're just vehicles. To Us, they're a way of life.

- Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:49 pm #69449

First you need to check and see if your circuit for the dimmer is even getting power. Maybe you missed one of the fuses related to it.
Also did you make sure to solder the wires back together in their respective places?
Did you have dash lights before this?
Do you have headlights, turn signals and hazard lights?
Does the whole cluster not work or is it stricktly the lights that are inoperative?

How would I check to see if my dimmer is getting power?
I haven't soldered them together, because I don't want to do that before I get everything figured out, like if i have to take them back off or something.
Yes I had dash lights before this.
Yes I have headlights turn signals and hazards.
it's just the lights, like at night when I turn my lights on, my cluster should light up, but it doesn't.

- Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:09 pm #69453

First you need to check and see if your circuit for the dimmer is even getting power. Maybe you missed one of the fuses related to it.
Also did you make sure to solder the wires back together in their respective places?
Did you have dash lights before this?
Do you have headlights, turn signals and hazard lights?
Does the whole cluster not work or is it stricktly the lights that are inoperative?

How would I check to see if my dimmer is getting power?
I haven't soldered them together, because I don't want to do that before I get everything figured out, like if i have to take them back off or something.
Yes I had dash lights before this.
Yes I have headlights turn signals and hazards.
it's just the lights, like at night when I turn my lights on, my cluster should light up, but it doesn't.

You would unplug the connector for the dimmer switch and turn your headight switch to the on position. Take a multi meter and check for power and ground.
That actually makes another good point, I almost positive your lights will not work unless they are plugged into the dimmer switch. Its the same concept of the hazard switch, you wont have turn signals if the hazard switch isn't plugged in.

To Them, they're just vehicles. To Us, they're a way of life.

- Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:13 pm #69454 hmm. Well I for sure have lights, turn signals, etc., but I have three wires on my dimmer, a black (ground obviously) and two red. one has a black stripe, so witch is my power, and what's the other one?

- Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:02 pm #69468 Off hand I cant tell you which one is which. I'm actually at work right now.
As for your turn signals and such, I was just making a comparison of them to your situation.

To Them, they're just vehicles. To Us, they're a way of life.

- Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:04 pm #69469 alright. well I guess I'm gonna play with it a little bit. I noticed you're from royal oak, do you know any good electrical shops around here I could go to if I can't figure it out? I'm in warren.

- Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:39 pm #69477 Honestly I personally don't know of any shops just for the fact that I wouldn't trust anyone but myself to work on my EG.
So for shop wise no I don't. When I get home I would be able to give you a little more insight on it.
You could also have a bad dimmer switch. My roomate also has an EG and his just went out. If he gives an aggressive tap to the dash piece by the switch his Cluster lights come on. But once he hits a bump, they go off again.
When I get home i'll look up some resistance values for ya and see if you can test the switch to make sure you just arent getting a bad connection.

To Them, they're just vehicles. To Us, they're a way of life.

- Sat Sep 13, 2008 7:34 am #69543 yeah man, i really appreciate your help. I'm retarded when it comes to electrical shit. I know basics, but that's about it. haha.

- Sat Sep 13, 2008 4:48 pm #69570 Well I dont want you to think I forgot. My resource with all of my diagrams is down for the day.
When I get it back up i'll throw some more info on there.

To Them, they're just vehicles. To Us, they're a way of life.

- Sat Sep 13, 2008 7:15 pm #69591 alright, cool. thanks a lot.