1998 Civic DX Dash Bars not visible

[CIVICDXDUDE]

Hi Everyone,

New to the site and new civic owner here. I have a 1998 Civic DX coupe with 157 000km (97 500 miles) some light mods (skirt, sound system, 17 inch rimes and low profile tires etc). I have a problem with my dash. All the lights seem to be working properly but I still cannot see the needles in the dark (dimmer works properly it just appears that the needed themselves are not illuminated). Are the needles illuminated by one light source or are they independent? I find it weird that if they were independent that all three gauges (temp,speed and fuel) would all be burnt out.

Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[mc360]

The needles of 96-00 civic clusters are not illuminated, they are solid plastic. You can paint the needles with a fluorescent paint in a color you like and the put a uv bulb at the top of the cluster, this will make the needles look illuminated. Also if you have stock backlighting in the cluster it is usually very dim, upgrading to led bulbs in what ever color you like will brighten things up a lot

 

[z-28john]

Actually, although the needles are NOT illuminated, there are two small bulbs that are above the cluster, and shine down across the face of the dials, lighting the needles by reflection.
I would say that those two bulbs are not working, either because they are burned out, or because the wire that feeds them is defective.

Try removing your cluster: Remove the two Phillips screws above it in the black bezel ring, then pull gently on bezel until it comes out. Then four more Phillips screws- two above and two below the cluster, and pull cluster outwards TOP first, then unclip harnesses by squeezing clips on back of plugs and pulling them out.
Wiggle the cluster out from between dash and steering wheel.

Now you can look at the back of the cluster and see the wires that run from the center plug to the top bulbs. it's the biggest brown plug on the back.
Look for issues with the wires first. If they are broken, or abraded, then they may need replaced. Most likely though, the bulbs (connected to the small black plugs) at the top, that face you when you look at the gauges, are probably burned out.
You just turn them a quarter turn counter-clockwise and pull the plugs out, then look at the bulb filaments to see if they are intact. If not, then take one of them to the parts store and make them give you some new ones.

Here's a link to some pics of these parts:
http://honda-tech.com/g/album/edit/page/1/?album_id=2104534

There are three photos that I uploaded for you. showing the cluster, the lights I was talking about (in red oval) and the bolt locations on the cluster (in yellow circles). BTW- I am working on this cluster, so it is missing some bulbs, and the wires are not routed through their clips.

Hope this helps.
John

 

[CIVICDXDUDE]

Thank you both for your help!! I removed the dash and saw that the two bulbs were burnt on top. I went to the Honda dealership and they told me it would cost $10 per bulb because it was special order. They also quoted me $300 for the service of replacing them as it was a "big job". I laughed and then went to an auto parts store and picked up two 2721 bulbs for $5 and swapped them out myself.

Here is where it gets tricky.

This dash isn't OEM and the bulbs shine through a red plastic "screen" to give the face of the cluster a red tinge. The needles are also red meaning that while the light is cast over the face of the cluster I still cannot make out the needles regardless of the dim adjustment as there isn't enough light.

1. I want to try LED. Does anyone have experience with putting LED lights ontop? If so any recommendations on model #?

2. I was also thinking of changing the back light bulb to red LED and was wondering if anyone knew the model number of the bulb and how many are required?

Thanks again guys its great having this support.

 

[mc360]

If I remember right there are 5 #74 bulbs in the back of the cluster and 2 that light the face from up top, you need one #194 bulb that goes behind the speedo. I would advise you to buy the 3+ led bulbs for better light distribution. I would get all the backlight bulbs in your color (red) and do the top two that light the face in white. You can buy the bulbs with our without the wedge base, I bought mine without the base and just pulled the stock bulbs out and swapped in the led

#74 https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/instrument-cluster-gauge/74-led-bulb-3-smd-led-wide-angle-wedge-base/228/

#194 https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-led-bulb-5-smd-led-wide-angle-wedge-base/206/

Your going to spend about 30-35$ but its well worth it imo. Here is my cluster and center console, notice the white light from above the cluster

 

[CIVICDXDUDE]

mc360 thank you very much and the amazing pictures. I'm placing my order ASAP. I was wondering if there is a schematic somewhere that tells me which bulbs are required for any other bulb the car has (interior bulb etc). I minus well replace as many as I can on a single order!

 

[mc360]

I think looking online at like majestic honda it should tell the bulb sizes for your car, for my dome I use a 30+ smd led board with a festoon adapter (like 3$ from hong kong and work great), im pretty sure the license plate bulbs are 194 and the map light if you have one is a festoon and so is the trunk light

 

[rcpottie]

Hi Everyone,

New to the site and new civic owner here. I have a 1998 Civic DX coupe with 157 000km (97 500 miles) some light mods (skirt, sound system, 17 inch rimes and low profile tires etc). I have a problem with my dash. All the lights seem to be working properly but I still cannot see the needles in the dark (dimmer works properly it just appears that the needed themselves are not illuminated). Are the needles illuminated by one light source or are they independent? I find it weird that if they were independent that all three gauges (temp,speed and fuel) would all be burnt out.

Any advise would be appreciated.

I changed my bulbs out. I used led bulbs you'll need 6 t5 led bulbs and 1 t10 led bulbs. Once you change it all out it should look like this