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Hello,

I've researched for hours prior to posting this in order to try and avoid it to no avail....

2001 Civic EX Sedan, 242k

I wanted to change out my gauge cluster lights as a few had burnt out....I went to the store and got several 74's to replace them with. Following replacement, I reinstalled the gauge cluster and turned the lights on and got a rapid beeping sound (similar to when you leave the key in the ignition, but faster, and no illumination on the dash. I also got a slight smell of burnt plastic....

I've tested all the other accessories in the car (headlight, tailights, radio dimmer, etc.) and the gauge cluster itself appears to be working without issue. The radio works perfectly and the car starts and runs excellent with no bad fuses located....

What should I do next?

 
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You shorted something, did you check the fuses with a meter? Aftermarket deck?

 
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No, I didn't check with a meter, since everything electronically within the car (minus the dash lights) works after reinstallation. The cruise control works, but the light doesn't illuminate. This company out of Wisconsin sells a flashed (VIN and odometer) cluster for a pretty penny, but I think that's my best shot for a plug and play option since I have a long trip coming up next month.

When I initially reinstalled the cluster, all the lights besides the light behind the temp gauge were working perfectly and I had a solid beep noise like what would happen if you exited the car with the lights on. Inspection revealed that the 74 bulb had fallen out of the socket, so I had to retrieve it from within the cluster. After I placed it back in the socket and reinstalled, the issue started with the rapid beeping and no lights....

FWIW...After having time to think about it, the size 74 bulbs from the auto parts stores are just a tad larger than the T5 bulbs from Honda and I think since they don't seat as well within the socket, that may be what shorted out the circuit on the cluster. Can't really complain since it's a 22 year old car, but....yet again, a $3 part that can cause all kinds of trouble.....

I know I can't be the only guy this has happened to, so I figured this thread might help some others in the future.

I ordered the flashed cluster and some T5 bulbs from Honda just to see if the OEM bulbs make any difference. I'll know if it doesn't work with the OEM bulbs that it's definitely fried and at least I'll have bulbs for later! Lol

Any other hypotheses? Lmao

 
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check the interior illumination fuses with a meter

 
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The deck is aftermarket, but it's been in for 4 years without any issues. I got it from Crutchfield and they supply the connector to the factory harness nowadays which saves a lot of heartache.

All the fuses check out with no issues.

 
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Here's the likely culprit....Due to old age or these new bulbs shorting it out? Thoughts?

 
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Are the new bulbs larger wattage? If you get the correct bulbs you could solder a jumper across the "fuse".

 
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I believe the 74's are the same wattage as the Honda T5's, but they definitely don't fit in the sockets as well... However, doing some more reflection on the situation, could having the radio unplugged while doing this possibly create that standard issue where the light circuit gets thrashed since the radio isn't plugged in and those wires aren't grounded? My fault for not unhooking the battery, so I can accept my part for the situation. This entire issue arose from me wanting to change out the climate control bulbs, which are a special Honda part anyway. Then I thought replacing the burnt out cluster lights was the next best use of my time! Lmao

I've accepted defeat and paid for that company in Wisconsin to refurbish a cluster for me and load my VIN and odometer reading into it since I have a trip coming up next month. They've got good reviews, so we'll see what happens... I'm just glad everything else in the vehicle seems to work as before and the short didn't take out any other major components. It's a 22 year old car, so that PCB having been stationary for that long and then having me mess with it probably didn't have a good outcome either way lol. The entire cluster (aside from the panel lights) worked just fine, so I'm guessing it just fried the lighting circuit since all I could find was those 2 bad traces over the entire board.

 
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I would guess one of bulbs fell out or somehow shorted out the lighting circuit, popping the two PCB fuses. The rest of the cluster should be ok, that's why the fuse is there. If you wanted to save some money I would add a jumper across both fuses and get the right bulbs.

Radio being disconnected would not have had any effect.

 
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Good copy, brother. I appreciate the quick replies and insight.

I work a bunch and would love to solder the board myself, but based on the fact that when I took it apart to have a look, the dimmer **** decided it no longer wanted to be apart of the situation, so it's a paperweight now anyway I'm at the plug and play stage and I truly hate messing with electronics. The reviews I've read from that company during my research lead me to believe good things are in store.

I'm now forced to drive my 86 C10 for the next couple of weeks, but that's never a bad thing, besides the 13mpg city OR highway. Lmao

I'll report back with the product quality and results from the new cluster when I receive and install it. I'm rather excited to see the new cluster, as I shouldn't have to mess with it ever again, since if I get another 242k, that'll be 484k! Might need another engine and transmission to get there, but I bet she'd be able to make it!

 
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Leaving the orange illumination wire connected can cause the back light circuit to fail

 
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Absolutely, but with 4 years of trouble free operation on the installation, I'm attributing this failure to my lack of precaution for not securing the battery, along with the potential that the 74 bulbs that didn't fit well in the sockets caused the issue.

I've read all the horror stories about the orange wire and it all leads back to people not knowing what they're doing when they install a stereo.

 
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So, by some stroke of luck, I found a brand new Honda meter assembly on Ebay for $100 (Honda wants over $600 retail) and it works like a charm. I installed the new T5 bulbs and utilized the sockets from the old cluster. I'll be using this cluster while I wait for the "rebuilt" one, with the more accurate mileage, to arrive from Wisconsin. However, with the replacement unit installed and working, the issue was definitely just with the old cluster itself, as it didn't knock out any climate control lights or fuses.

I'll update once more once I get the mileage correct unit installed!

It is kind of neat to see all zeros on your odometer though! Braaaaand new! Lmao

 
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So I finally got the unit with the accurate mileage from Wisconsin and it's in good shape. However, I took several of the light sockets out and found they all contain the 74 size bulbs..and they all work fine....maybe my cluster was just on it's way out? Lmao. Either way, I'm happy and I also replaced my climate control neo-wedge bulbs while I had everything apart and disconnected. I hope this thread helps someone out there...