Got a 2006 RSX. Hit a hell of a pot hole and I first noticed the instrument cluster lights went out. Later I noticed that the park lights are out as well. Headlights and hi beams work. All other interior lights work. Just tested the parks with the flashers and they work. If I leave the light stalk on parks only and open the door and I don't get the annoying buzz that used to warn of lights on prior to the pot hole.

My first thought was a blown fuse. I found a blown fuse in the fuse box in the engine bay for the "small lights" (whatever than means) and replaced it but parks and cluster lights still out. Plan to check the interior fuse box next.

Thoughts?

UPDATE: FIXED! It was the park light on the drivers side. Part of the bulb filament had broken away and was randomly touching the bulb base and shorting the system. All the while the bulb was ON! Must be a 1 in a million where the filament breaks but the bulb keeps working. Ugh.

It really did seem like there was an issue with the wiring on the *connector* I was assuming it was the connector and that is why I didn't have the problem with the bulb removed. Feel a little silly because I never thought to simply try a different bulb. Assumptions are a bitch...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: muddle_mann,

Found the "gauge lights" fuse in the interior fuse box but the fuse is not blown. I swapped it anyway and lights still out. :-/

Look for a relay. It might have been Jared loose when you hit the pothole.

ARman

Relay or a ground wire came loose.
That's my $.02

Thanks guys. Found the ground wire. Seemed to be securely attached. I broke it loose and gave it a wiggle or two then re tightened. No affect.

I googled to figure out what the relays look like. I see a few of them in each fuse box but how do I tell if they are bad?

You have a wiring harness connection that's probably loose somewhere up under or near the front bumper.....probably.

Jimmy123x is on the right track, I suspect. If the ground is solid (on both ends) it likely is a connector in the spirit of Lucas, Prince of Darkness. (English car reference).

I saw in a quick search that there were schematics for your car online. Trace out the circuits and see if it shows a connector. It could be hidden under a panel/dash or in the center.

Go back and hit the pot hole from the other direction.

On the relays, just pull them out and reseat them.

Do your taillights work? Heres a couple diagrams and just my experience. I have replaced a few multiplexer units on various hondas. I imagine most hondas use the same one.

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Originally posted by apf383:
Go back and hit the pot hole from the other direction.

Great advice! I can't stop laughing!

quote:

Originally posted by apf383:
Go back and hit the pot hole from the other direction.

IN REVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by muddle_mann:
Thanks guys. Found the ground wire. Seemed to be securely attached. I broke it loose and gave it a wiggle or two then re tightened. No affect.

I googled to figure out what the relays look like. I see a few of them in each fuse box but how do I tell if they are bad?

There can be multiple ground wires, for different circuits.

Examine the relays, sometimes more than one are exactly the same relay. IF so you can just swap them around and check for effect.

quote:

On the relays, just pull them out and reseat them

This.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

quote:

Originally posted by apf383:
Go back and hit the pot hole from the other direction.

IN REVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!

You sound like the Car Talk guys.

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You sound like the Car Talk guys.

Yeah but they are not from Boston, and probably not MIT grads either. They are funny though.

quote:

Originally posted by apf383:
Go back and hit the pot hole from the other direction.

Believe me I gave it great thought! :P

I did finally relent and dropped it at the shop this morning.

I did pull the relays fromthe fuse box in the engine compartment but it was too tight around the cockpit fuse box so I'll leave that to the pros.

Not much further towards fix that was yesterday. Shop thought they found the issue with the driver head light installation. It wasn't (the bulb was only being held by the rubber boot that keeps out water because the clip to hold the bulb is broken off).

The parks only stay on if there is a 15A fuse (it takes a 10A fuse). Even then only good for about 12 on/off then fuse pops again...

It's a miracle. Made it all the way home last night on one 10A fuse. Do shorts sometimes fix themselves? The problem started when it was 70 degrees now it's 90 degrees. And my mechanic did take the bumper off to check (didn't see any wiring harnesses under the bumper).

So I got a 60 count pack of fuses and will keep driving until I figure out the next move...