Honda Car Forum

I just picked up a 98 Civic LX sedan. I noticed that the dome light does
not come on when the doors are opened. The dome light has a 3 position
switch: (1)Off, (2) on when doors open, (3) on all the time. I can turn
the dome light on all the time (position 2), but in the center position
(position 2), it doesn't work when either the drivers door or passenger
door is opened. I tried manually manipulating the door switches but
still can't get the dome light to come on with the doors open. Any ideas
what this may be?

Exeter <Exeter@next.next> wrote in
news:Xns9473DC5ABBB88exeter99x@216.148.227.77:

> time. I can turn the dome light on all the time (position 2), but in
> the center position (position 2), it doesn't work when either the
> drivers door or passenger door is opened.

I meant to say that the dome light will work in position 3 (all the
time) but not position 2 (doors are open). I didn't get a chance to
check the fuse box closely because it's night time but I will check it
in the morning.

Exeter wrote:
>
> Exeter <Exeter@next.next> wrote in
> news:Xns9473DC5ABBB88exeter99x@216.148.227.77:
>
> > time. I can turn the dome light on all the time (position 2), but in
> > the center position (position 2), it doesn't work when either the
> > drivers door or passenger door is opened.
>
> I meant to say that the dome light will work in position 3 (all the
> time) but not position 2 (doors are open). I didn't get a chance to
> check the fuse box closely because it's night time but I will check it
> in the morning.
===================

Exeter,

Check to see if it's the original Honda stereo in the dash. If it's a
Sony, a Pioneer, a kenwood..,. that may be your problem. Something about
the alarm (even if you don't have alarm) runs thru the OEM stereo, and
gets it's signal from the door switch. That's what I thought I heard,
anyhow.

'Curly'

===============

> Check to see if it's the original Honda stereo in the dash. If it's a
> Sony, a Pioneer, a kenwood..,. that may be your problem. Something about
> the alarm (even if you don't have alarm) runs thru the OEM stereo, and
> gets it's signal from the door switch. That's what I thought I heard,
> anyhow.

You heard right Cutly. The dome light wires run though the factory
stereo. The keyless entry receiver is also built into the stereo.
Exeter, Does your keyless entry work?

There is a simple tweak you can do to make the domelight work even with
after market head units. See http://ccs.exl.info/civic_radio.html.

For info on how to get the stereo out so that you can get access to the
wiring, go to http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/Honda/Civic.html and
select "1996 - 1998"

Randolph <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in
news:400A24C4.B5C8232F@junkmail.com:

> You heard right Cutly. The dome light wires run though the factory
> stereo. The keyless entry receiver is also built into the stereo.
> Exeter, Does your keyless entry work?

No, it's not the original factory stereo. I bought the car at a Honda
dealer and they told me that they had to install a stereo because there
wasn't one in it when the previous owner traded it in. Also, I don't
have a keyless entry sytem on this.

> There is a simple tweak you can do to make the domelight work even
> with after market head units.

Thanks, I'll check it out....either that or take it back to the dealer
to have them fix it.

Randolph <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in
news:400A24C4.B5C8232F@junkmail.com:

> There is a simple tweak you can do to make the domelight work even
> with after market head units. See
> http://ccs.exl.info/civic_radio.html.

Unfortunately, the instructions given in the above link do not match any
of the pin assignments given in the link below.

> For info on how to get the stereo out so that you can get access to
> the wiring, go to
> http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/Honda/Civic.html and select
> "1996 - 1998"

I did find an adapter plug at this site but if I use the adapter plug,
will the radio no longer be connected? Or is it a separate plug that
needs modified? My Honda does not have the keyless entry.

The document at http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/Honda/Civic.html
lists only two alternate pinouts for the main stereo connector (gray). I
included that link only because it details how to remove the stereo.

In addition to the main stereo connector, the factory stereo had two
smaller connectors (green) for the keyless entry / security system. The
instructions at http://ccs.exl.info/civic_radio.html refer to one of
these green connectors.

Exeter wrote:
>
> Randolph <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in
> news:400A24C4.B5C8232F@junkmail.com:
>
> > There is a simple tweak you can do to make the domelight work even
> > with after market head units. See
> > http://ccs.exl.info/civic_radio.html.
>
> Unfortunately, the instructions given in the above link do not match any
> of the pin assignments given in the link below.
>
> > For info on how to get the stereo out so that you can get access to
> > the wiring, go to
> > http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/Honda/Civic.html and select
> > "1996 - 1998"
>
> I did find an adapter plug at this site but if I use the adapter plug,
> will the radio no longer be connected? Or is it a separate plug that
> needs modified? My Honda does not have the keyless entry.
>

Randolph <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in
news:400AD107.D5426F9F@junkmail.com:

> In addition to the main stereo connector, the factory stereo had two
> smaller connectors (green) for the keyless entry / security system.
> The instructions at http://ccs.exl.info/civic_radio.html refer to
> one of these green connectors.

I'll have to give it a closer look. You know, I thought my car didn't
have the keyless entry only because they didn't tell me it did and I
didn't get any remote with it. The car was traded in without a radio and
Honda put a 3rd party radio/CD player in it. You would think that they
know about the dome light issue and would've fixed it when they
installed the radio. I'll have to check with them I guess.