Honda Car Forum

Hi
I have a 1992 Accord EX Coupe with an issue thats driving me nuts.
Doing a search in archives- I think I found a solution but not 100%
sure.

Now that it is dark when I leave in AM- I turn on the parking lights
with the stalk mounted switch. There is anywhere from a 15 second to
almost a minute delay in the parking lights, tail lights, and dash
lights turning on.

When I go to headlights- the dash lights turn out for another 15 to 20
seconds then they come on. I can only assume my park/tail lights go
out as well, and come back up with the dash lights.

Also- after going down the road for a while and then using my
directional- I will get a flash from the clock illumination if I
haven't used the directionals in a bit of time.

Going back in time about 4 years ago here in a.b.honda- there were a
couple other guys that seemed to have the same issue. Some thought it
was the dimmer switch, but I don't think there was ever a final
answer. Besides- WHICH dimmer switch was it- the dash mounted dimmer
for the dash illumination, or the stalk mounted switch for turning on
headlights and dimming high/low beams.

Both appear to be a challenge to get at and either replace or clean.


Thanks,
Chris
reidcc@comcast.net

The cause of the delay is almost certainly the main light switch, the
one with "off", "parking lights" and "head lights" positions. The
internals are lightly coated with a lubricant from the factory, and with
time this lubricant picks up dust and and may attract moisture. This
makes it change viscosity from that of light sewing machine oil to that
of dark molasses. It usually gets worse as it gets colder. Replacing the
switch is one way to go, but if you are blessed with some manual
dexterity, you may be able to remove, disassemble and clean the one you
have. The whole switch is only about $36 from
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com, so I'd spring for a new one.

The clock light flash is more of a mystery. Does this happen only with
the light switch in "Parking lights" or "Head lights" positions? If so,
what is probably happening is that activating the directionals cause the
parking lights to blip "off" for a fraction of a second, thus restoring
the clock illumination to the full, daytime level. If so, replacing the
switch in order to fix the delay problem will also fix the clock flash
problem. If you want to investigate a little further, find yourself a
dark, cold morning and turn your dash lights brightness controller to
full. Then check if the flashing of the clock light coincides with a
momentary loss of instrument lights. This will be the case if my theory
is right.

See the above referenced web site for an exploded view of the various
hardware around the steering column. Look under "Combination switch".
The remove the switch, (and this is general Honda info, I have never
worked on a '92 Accord) you typically have to remove the upper and lower
steering column plastic trim pieces. Usually these are held in place
with a number of screws accessible from below, and sometimes also snaps
integrated in the parts. Snaps can be a pain. It may be necessary, or at
least simplify access, to remove the lower dash trim on the driver's
side. Usually a couple of screws, often hidden behind coin pockets etc,
and some snaps.


Chris wrote:
>
> Hi
> I have a 1992 Accord EX Coupe with an issue thats driving me nuts.
> Doing a search in archives- I think I found a solution but not 100%
> sure.
>
> Now that it is dark when I leave in AM- I turn on the parking lights
> with the stalk mounted switch. There is anywhere from a 15 second to
> almost a minute delay in the parking lights, tail lights, and dash
> lights turning on.
>
> When I go to headlights- the dash lights turn out for another 15 to 20
> seconds then they come on. I can only assume my park/tail lights go
> out as well, and come back up with the dash lights.
>
> Also- after going down the road for a while and then using my
> directional- I will get a flash from the clock illumination if I
> haven't used the directionals in a bit of time.
>
> Going back in time about 4 years ago here in a.b.honda- there were a
> couple other guys that seemed to have the same issue. Some thought it
> was the dimmer switch, but I don't think there was ever a final
> answer. Besides- WHICH dimmer switch was it- the dash mounted dimmer
> for the dash illumination, or the stalk mounted switch for turning on
> headlights and dimming high/low beams.
>
> Both appear to be a challenge to get at and either replace or clean.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
> reidcc@comcast.net

WOW-Thanks!
I had a suspicion that knowing my luck- it would be the column mounted
stalk switch. I just assumed that to get at it- one would need to pull
the wheel. With air bags- I didn't want to even play there!

Actually- the 2 folks who posted here back in 2000 also had the same
clock blink issue when their lights did the delay routine- just as
mine do. This is during normal drive with headlights on.

I will check out the web site, and I know there are enthusiast sites
should I actually need guidance with the wheel.


Chris
On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 19:08:11 GMT, Randolph <trash@junkmail.com> wrote:

>The cause of the delay is almost certainly the main light switch, the
>one with "off", "parking lights" and "head lights" positions. The
>internals are lightly coated with a lubricant from the factory, and with
>time this lubricant picks up dust and and may attract moisture. This
>makes it change viscosity from that of light sewing machine oil to that
>of dark molasses. It usually gets worse as it gets colder. Replacing the
>switch is one way to go, but if you are blessed with some manual
>dexterity, you may be able to remove, disassemble and clean the one you
>have. The whole switch is only about $36 from
>http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com, so I'd spring for a new one.
>
>The clock light flash is more of a mystery. Does this happen only with
>the light switch in "Parking lights" or "Head lights" positions? If so,
>what is probably happening is that activating the directionals cause the
>parking lights to blip "off" for a fraction of a second, thus restoring
>the clock illumination to the full, daytime level. If so, replacing the
>switch in order to fix the delay problem will also fix the clock flash
>problem. If you want to investigate a little further, find yourself a
>dark, cold morning and turn your dash lights brightness controller to
>full. Then check if the flashing of the clock light coincides with a
>momentary loss of instrument lights. This will be the case if my theory
>is right.
>
>See the above referenced web site for an exploded view of the various
>hardware around the steering column. Look under "Combination switch".
>The remove the switch, (and this is general Honda info, I have never
>worked on a '92 Accord) you typically have to remove the upper and lower
>steering column plastic trim pieces. Usually these are held in place
>with a number of screws accessible from below, and sometimes also snaps
>integrated in the parts. Snaps can be a pain. It may be necessary, or at
>least simplify access, to remove the lower dash trim on the driver's
>side. Usually a couple of screws, often hidden behind coin pockets etc,
>and some snaps.
>
>
>Chris wrote:
>>
>> Hi
>> I have a 1992 Accord EX Coupe with an issue thats driving me nuts.
>> Doing a search in archives- I think I found a solution but not 100%
>> sure.
>>
>> Now that it is dark when I leave in AM- I turn on the parking lights
>> with the stalk mounted switch. There is anywhere from a 15 second to
>> almost a minute delay in the parking lights, tail lights, and dash
>> lights turning on.
>>
>> When I go to headlights- the dash lights turn out for another 15 to 20
>> seconds then they come on. I can only assume my park/tail lights go
>> out as well, and come back up with the dash lights.
>>
>> Also- after going down the road for a while and then using my
>> directional- I will get a flash from the clock illumination if I
>> haven't used the directionals in a bit of time.
>>
>> Going back in time about 4 years ago here in a.b.honda- there were a
>> couple other guys that seemed to have the same issue. Some thought it
>> was the dimmer switch, but I don't think there was ever a final
>> answer. Besides- WHICH dimmer switch was it- the dash mounted dimmer
>> for the dash illumination, or the stalk mounted switch for turning on
>> headlights and dimming high/low beams.
>>
>> Both appear to be a challenge to get at and either replace or clean.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Chris
>> reidcc@comcast.net

I've had similar problem - Honda Civic 88 Wagon, lowbeams are slow to
come on, the slower the colder the weather is. Nothing else is
affected though. It could take up to 2 minutes for the headlight to
come on.

Here's what it turned out to be for me - grease somehow got in on of
the springs that pressed the contacts together in the multifuction
switch (the one that's located on the steering wheel shaft under the
steering wheel). When it got cold the grease hardened and the spring
would depress very slowly. I could feel it being kind of sluggish even
at room temperature.

All I did was disassemble the switch, sprayed a stream of PepBoys
super-lubricant in the spring (it's trapped inside the piece, so
there's no way to get it out) for a while till grease was mostly gone.
Then I wiped it clean, assembled the switch back and it now works like
a charm.