Honda Car Forum

Hi,

I have a 1998 honda accord V6. I have a strange problem, the battery
indicator light in the dashboard lights up (along with the symbol of
the car with all doors open) while the car is running whenever I try to
set the parking brake.

When I referred to the honda manual that I have, it says the battery
indicator light will only light up on the dashboard (while the engine
is running ) only if the charging system is failing to charge the
battery.

I am unable to believe that the charging system is dying as whenever I
release my parking brake, the indicator disappears and reappears when I
try to engage the parking brake again.

My question is, what has the parking brake to do with the battery
indicator in the dashboard ?

Can you please reply, I need to take the car to the mechanic. It would
be nice to know what to expect..

Regards,
John

"John Edwards" <ssri1@hotmail.com> wrote

> I have a 1998 honda accord V6. I have a strange problem, the battery
> indicator light in the dashboard lights up (along with the symbol of
> the car with all doors open) while the car is running whenever I try to
> set the parking brake.
> When I referred to the honda manual that I have, it says the battery
> indicator light will only light up on the dashboard (while the engine
> is running ) only if the charging system is failing to charge the
> battery.
> I am unable to believe that the charging system is dying as whenever I
> release my parking brake, the indicator disappears and reappears when I
> try to engage the parking brake again.
> My question is, what has the parking brake to do with the battery
> indicator in the dashboard ?

The hand brake switch sends a ground signal into the instrument unit, possibly
crossing over to the system check line.

I had a bizarre problem like this on a 97 BMW. It was so distracting that
I had to remove and re-install the instrument unit from the dash and the
problem was gone.

John Edwards wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a 1998 honda accord V6. I have a strange problem, the battery
> indicator light in the dashboard lights up (along with the symbol of
> the car with all doors open) while the car is running whenever I try to
> set the parking brake.
>
> When I referred to the honda manual that I have, it says the battery
> indicator light will only light up on the dashboard (while the engine
> is running ) only if the charging system is failing to charge the
> battery.
>
> I am unable to believe that the charging system is dying as whenever I
> release my parking brake, the indicator disappears and reappears when I
> try to engage the parking brake again.
>
> My question is, what has the parking brake to do with the battery
> indicator in the dashboard ?
>
> Can you please reply, I need to take the car to the mechanic. It would
> be nice to know what to expect..
>
> Regards,
> John


-------------------------


Write down your programmed radio stations. Make sure you have your
radio's security code. Disconnect the battery for ten seconds. Hook it
back up and the problem should be 'reset'.
Has the problem been there since you has the battery changed, or some
other electrical service? Does the 'lamp check' act wierd when you
perform it, or is it OK?

'Curly'

Thanks for the replies. I recently had a body repair done on my front
fender. The car was out of the body shop and since then having this
problem. I have taken it back to the body shop, they are unable to
figure it out yet as why this is happening. One possible guess from
their side is a diode in the dashboard that is bad, that thy have to
replace. Else they are thinking of replacing the whole instrument
panel. They are positive that it is not a wiring thing. I am just
keeping my fingers crossed at this moment.

Any ideas.. ?

-- John

John Edwards wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a 1998 honda accord V6. I have a strange problem, the battery
> indicator light in the dashboard lights up (along with the symbol of
> the car with all doors open) while the car is running whenever I try to
> set the parking brake.
>
> When I referred to the honda manual that I have, it says the battery
> indicator light will only light up on the dashboard (while the engine
> is running ) only if the charging system is failing to charge the
> battery.
>
> I am unable to believe that the charging system is dying as whenever I
> release my parking brake, the indicator disappears and reappears when I
> try to engage the parking brake again.
>
> My question is, what has the parking brake to do with the battery
> indicator in the dashboard ?
>
> Can you please reply, I need to take the car to the mechanic. It would
> be nice to know what to expect..
>
> Regards,
> John
----------------------------

Did you perform the 'lamp check' per the Owner's Manual, and did you try
resetting everything by lifting the batery terminal?

'Curly'

I am not sure what a lamp check is, but will read the owners manual
again to find out. If the lamp check means that all lamps are fine, yes
all visible lamps (outside the vehicle) look to be working. I have
tried lifting the battery terminal, stayed more than 10 seconds as
suggested, but it did not resolve the problem. Apparently the body
shop's local Honda expert is unable to figure out the root cause for
the problem. They are now trying to send the car to the dealership
where more know-how might be expected.

John Edwards wrote:
> I am not sure what a lamp check is,

its when you turn the key on, and all the lights on the dash (ABS,SRS<
check engine, etc) go on, then shut off.

I did the lamp check as suggested. I think it is a positive, with all
the lamps coming on.

-- John.

Actually I am wrong. I saw again, the battery light does not show up in
the light check. It lights only when the hand brake is engaged. It used
to light up in the lamp check in the past, can anyone shed any light on
this based on the new information.. ?

-- John

Update on this topic. The body shop has replaced hte whole instrument
cluster on the vehicle to get around this problem. Now the problem
seems to have disappeared. But unfortunately, they say that if they
replace the instrument cluster, the mileage on the car goes to "0"
(zero), so they have some legal sticker on my car, which says the
odometer is not the original. This is the downside of the fix. Atleast
I am happy the problem is solved.

-- John