Hello fellow S2k members, this is my first post on the forum. I really need some help with bottom cluster lights. Went for a smog about a year ago and the Check engine light never illuminated. No codes present on OBD port, and the inspector told me it should illuminate and to get it fixed. He was cool enough to pass my smog inspection but I want to go ahead and take care of it. I purchased from a honda dealer a couple of years ago so I’m sure it worked, however this car did have cluster taken apart before. Previous owner did a blue ambient light background for cluster when headlights are switched on.

I had purchased a new bulb and proceeded to switch it out. Once I got everything back together, now most of the bottom lights don’t work at all. It’s not the bulb itself as I swapped with the ones I know still work and nothing. It looks like they all grab power from the ribbon connector on back of cluster. Made sure they were tight, checked all my fuses and everything looks okay. Not sure if even sending it to qube engineering would help in this situation since it looks like they retain the same bottom lights with the same ribbon cable etc.

on a side note, I would also like to undo the blue ambient lighting that was previously done. I believe it is one of the bulbs on the back of cluster, possibly the upper corner ones? Thanks in advance for any replies

 

Sounds like damaged ribbon. Since you now know how to take dash apart, do again, carefully inspect ribbon. Look for damage to ribbon itself, or more likely, to where ribbon solders to each board.

Also, omce apart, inspect each bulb, look for ones that are different looking, the ones doing blue glow.

If it is ribbon, someone that knows how to do electronics repairs, soldering iron, etc, should be able to fix. Sourcing new ribbon might be challenging. Count number of wires and ribbon width and length, approximate wire gauge, then search electronics supply places for similar.

 

thanks so much for the replies guys. I will look into it again tonight. I was looking at this piece on part schematic, # 15. Do you think this would be the replacement piece I need? If not something I can order new then I will try to get it repaired if that’s the case. Overall looks like I can order It still and rather cheap only around 20 bucks. I was also questioning the ribbon cables on each side since that’s what feeds power to the sockets at the bottom.

 

UPDATE

so I found a break in the paper circuit that feeds the sockets at bottom. Hopefully this is the only issue. I am going to look into taking it to an electronic repair shop, or see if I can order that whole replacement sheet if possible. Luckily, it is the circuit on the edge so it will probably be the easiest one to repair. Does anyone know the proper way to repair this? Copper conductive tape possibly? My other question is I was reading that the copper tape they sell are two types, one that flows in one direction only and the other that electricity moves freely in both directions. Not sure if that really matters or if I just need to create a path for the electricity to flow through. Thanks!

 

If you can solder, I'd just solder it myself. Look simple enough.

 

Printed circuit soldering is an art. Since the cluster is out I'd take it to a professional.

-- Chuck