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Hello all, **PROBLEM SOLVED, I'M JUST AN IDIOT. IT'S ALL GOOD.** I have other actual issues with wiring I'm posting in this community. Haha
I tried to find forums describing my issue, but the keywords are too closely related and ultimately I yielded no results. Figured I’d try my luck by creating a new post.
I have a 2005 Civic EX coupe; and the backlight for the cruise control controls doesn’t work anymore. The cruise control system still works fine, but the backlight illumination when the parking light and headlights are on doesn’t work.
After unscrewing it from the steering wheel I learned that there’s no bulb to replace, just a motherboard/chip looking plug-in (photo attached). I checked Fuse #2 under the hood and it’s not broken. I also tried multiple other plug-ins that I pulled from other Civics in a nearby junkyard. Still no change.
Frankly I’m not sure what else to check. It’s driving me insane because it’s the only set of buttons that doesn’t light up in the car now. Any help would be appreciated.
Photos attached. Thanks!
The motherboard looking things inside the CC switch attached to the wheel.
Last edited by nmm123; Aug 1, 2021 at 11:14 PM.
Reason: solved issue in post
They for sure did. I've had the car for 8 years, and only in the last 2 weeks or so has the back-light not worked for that. It light up a pale orange, just like the back-light for all the HVAC switches. That's why I was so confused that there wasn't an LED to change once I took the switch apart.
Did it ever work?
I don't see LEDs on that board
I don't believe those ones lit up, I know the 6th gen ones don't for sure
They for sure did. I've had the car for 8 years, and only in the last 2 weeks or so has the back-light not worked for that. It light up a pale orange, just like the back-light for all the HVAC switches. That's why I was so confused that there wasn't an LED to change once I took the switch apart.
Can’t see super well from here but check to see if any of the solders have cracked. It could be disrupting the connection.
sorry if the photos are a bit blurry, I couldn’t get my phone’s camera to focus well. Are the circled black, cylindrical things what you’re talking about? Or something on the front? I tried to take better photos.
99% sure those are diodes. They only allow current flow in one direction. Unless the diodes themselves crapped out, the solder joints look possibly okay. That horizontal line on the right one (underside pic with the green part of the PCB) is the only disconcerting thing I can see.
99% sure those are diodes. They only allow current flow in one direction. Unless the diodes themselves crapped out, the solder joints look possibly okay. That horizontal line on the right one (underside pic with the green part of the PCB) is the only disconcerting thing I can see.
Gotcha gotcha. Would it perhaps help if I attempted to wipe them clean, prior to install? I'm not sure what else to try tbh. They're screwed into the plastic switch then it's reattached to the plug on the steering wheel. Without removing the airbag and checking the wiring of the opposite side of the switch I'm not sure if there's really anything else I CAN do.
05 might be different, but my 02 for sure does not lit them. I always simply use the feel of me fingers to find the correct buttons. I had it since 2005
05 might be different, but my 02 for sure does not lit them. I always simply use the feel of me fingers to find the correct buttons. I had it since 2005
That's fair. I mean, I've always done the same because I'm so used to it. Right now it's more of a "its bothering me" type of thing; because it used to light up and it doesn't anymore. There's really no other rhyme or reason to it. Looking at a pitch black steering wheel just irks me now, since for the last 8 years it's been fine but now it's not. xD
Hmmm... I got curious after reading this and just went out to check my car. I have an '05 Civic EX with cruise control. Those buttons DO NOT light up. Perhaps mine have been out for some time
I'll take your word for it that the buttons light up. So what do you do?
Don't mess with the diodes. They are part of the "Cancel" part of the switch. They have nothing to do with lighting.
The only thing you could try has been suggested. If you have a good soldering iron and a little skill, reflow the joints at the back of the connectors. The other contacts look pretty good so I doubt cleaning them would do anything. Re-flowing the joints may not help either.
Worst case scenario, buy a new switch. Unless the switch comes apart somehow.
I'll take your word for it that the buttons light up. So what do you do?
Don't mess with the diodes. They are part of the "Cancel" part of the switch. They have nothing to do with lighting.
The only thing you could try has been suggested. If you have a good soldering iron and a little skill, reflow the joints at the back of the connectors. The other contacts look pretty good so I doubt cleaning them would do anything. Re-flowing the joints may not help either.
Worst case scenario, buy a new switch. Unless the switch comes apart somehow.
Sadly I'm not that savvy, nor do I have the tools for it. The switch does come apart, but it's only two pieces. The plastic controls and the plug-in which is screwed down to the plastic. Oh well. I appreciate the help though.
Hmmm... I got curious after reading this and just went out to check my car. I have an '05 Civic EX with cruise control. Those buttons DO NOT light up. Perhaps mine have been out for some time
Honestly at this point I might just be crazy. I thought they lit up, but from the sound of what everyone else has said perhaps I was just imagining it all along. I can't truly believe that, but I also can't find a solution so... idk.
I know the light in my ‘01 LX lights up, but mine has they grey gauge cluster so it may be completely different. I admittedly don’t know a ton about the EX other than what’s identical to the more basic trims
wait, the steering wheel control buttons lit up on yours?
I'm trying to find a pic of mine from way back when, see if I can see anything. Granted, my gauge cluster and interior lighting looked different than everyone else's, but it didn't change functionality. If there was a light I could change, I changed it (window switches, moonroof, cruise, mirrors, HVAC buttons, ignition ring, etc.) and I never tore apart the steering wheel controls
So, I found the pic I was looking for. A bit small and hard to see, but the blue light you see on the far right was the HVAC controls (specifically the recirc on light. Yes, I changed those to blue at one point). Nothing lit up on the right side of the steering wheel
wait, the steering wheel control buttons lit up on yours?
I'm trying to find a pic of mine from way back when, see if I can see anything. Granted, my gauge cluster and interior lighting looked different than everyone else's, but it didn't change functionality. If there was a light I could change, I changed it (window switches, moonroof, cruise, mirrors, HVAC buttons, ignition ring, etc.) and I never tore apart the steering wheel controls
So it's been boggling my mind after seeing everyone's replies, I thought I was going insane. Turns out I was. I went back through all of my saved videos between Snapchat, Instagram, and Google Photos back to like 2015... and I finally found a clear video, at night, that showed the interior of my car at night. This particular video was in 2018, and that cluster I've been so convinced lit up... wasn't lit up. Which means for the last 3 years, and probably the whole 8 that I've owned the car, has never lit up. I don't know what had me so convinced it was... but yeah. So that was a great revelation. Christ.
