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I know this has been posted, Ive been looking thru threads looking for answers but I can't find any. I was hoping you guys would be able to help, either just locating the threads or suggesting answers. Anyway.

My deal for my new Civic (2010 dx sedan) never went thru with the banks. Pathetic, but anyway.

I took my car to a local shop to get my stereo installed. Im not good with these installs. Anyway. I took it there, they installed it, i drove home, didn't end up going back out for a few days. I go out about 4 days later (in my car anyway) and I get driving and next thing you know I hear a pop and then smoke comes from between the column above the steering wheel, and I smell burnt wire.

Now I have no idea what to do lol. My lights behind my rpm's, speed, gas etc, don't work. ANd it's a pain in the *** to drive at night, I went out and bought a light to put there so I can see. So I was wondering if you guys would be able to suggest threads that you know the answers are there, or if anyone could just give me some answers? Id appreciate it. Also the AC control lights do not work either. Everything else does, just those.

Also the reason why I didn't take it back there, is because I called, noone answered, gave it a day, and then called back, drove out there. Only to a chained door and a sign saying forclosed. So I was SOL!

Thanks guys.

 
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By the way its an 04 dx sedan

 
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Unless they spliced into the wrong wire the stereo install wouldn't do that. May want to get the mechanic to check it out.

Take off the steering column covers and look. To take the covers off just take out the 3 phillips head screws on the bottom of the cover and pry the top and bottom apart.

There was a TSB for a burnt connector in 01-02 models, don't know about yours. Try Honda and see if they have a TSB and get them to fix it. If they won't do it, the cheapest thing to do is get a new connector and splice it into the harness. You may be able to get that connector from the Honda house but, I doubt it. One of the salvage yards may let you cut it out of one of their cars, although they usually frown on that.

FYI: Pretty much any mechanic can fix that connector for $100-200. Don't ask me where they get the connector because I have no idea.

 
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?!?
Open the cover and check, if bad, take to a shop. don't take too long, if the short is still happening somehow, you could lose more.

 
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They have made connections into your dash lights circuit (for head unit dimming capability)that should be re-checked or removed.

Your dimmer circuit for the dash lights (is most likely the source of the smoke) and is contained inside of the cluster.

Some have disassembled and repaired some damaged board traces and got them going again... if not you will likely need a new cluster.

 
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more than likely they hooked up the stereo dimmer wire which caused the dash lights to blow out (no fuse). so youre kinda screwed on that. you need a new gauge cluster or a new dimmer switch to solder in place of the old one.

 
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Well If it is a reputable/proffessional shop I would suggest taking it back and yelling at them lol maybe they'll give you something free or kiss your *** at the very least, otherwise that can be anything man, but I did notice in my 04 LX a change after installing my deck. I have the Si gauges in my 04, the ones with the blue ring around them... those lights would always be on even when I didnt have my head lights on now there only on when I dont have my headlights on, kinda weird, maybe theres some sort of connection between the deck and gauge light? Take it back man!

 
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Thanks for the suggestions guys.
but

Any idea how much either of those would cost, roughly?

 
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both solutions require a gauge cluster. the dimmer switch is simply that **** you turn on the cluster to adjust the brightness. on the older clusters (01-02 and 01-05dx) you can take apart the cluster and swap in a dimmer switch from a different cluster. if you are not good with soldering, the whole gauge assembly must be replaced. the trick here is you have to try and find a cluster with the same or similar mileage as what your car has, otherwise mileage will change to whats on the new piece. clusters generally go for $50-100 on ebay for used, and most of em have the mileage listed. search ebay for '01 civic cluster' and since you have a dx, i assume there is no tach. this could be your chance to swap in an 01-02 lx/ex cluster with tach. it will plug right in no modification needed. just be sure that you get a sedan cluster so the greenish lights at night will match (coupe has orange). the sedan has a black face cluster for 2001 and a silver face for 2002. either one will work. hopefully you have an auto, cause manual clusters are harder to find for some reason.

these are the two styles you can use for sedan that will fit your car. its up to you to search more for a mileage match.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-...Q5fAccessories

 
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thanks gearbox. The only thing is, although it's not a huge deal. I am in Canada, so I would need to find a km/h not mph, Not that it's a big deal, but it's definetly something i'd prefer. And like you said about the mileage match, that's a tough one. Because I know here there was a guy that got busted for not having his factory cluster in and his mileage was off by 1k or so, and he had sold the car and they found out it wasn't factory. Anyway. Thanks for the input dude.

 
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Mine have MPH/KPH. The differences are that the MPH is in the outer rim, so easier to see, and the hodometer that is in miles.
That made much easier for me to temporarily import the car to canada.