joevez2000

I hope somebody can help me with my problem. My odometer won't light up in my IP and I would like some help to fix it. I'm a pretty good do-it-yourselfer so any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh, by the way my car is a 1998 Acura 3.5 RL. Thanks

 

hnic

there is a small bulb in there that lights your odo. it's probably going to be a pain in the rear to replace.

to get to the instrument panel you need to:

-remove bezel around the shifter
-remove the woodgrain trim
-remove center air vents
-remove center stack held in by 4 10mm screws
-remove two screws at the top of the gauge cluster (probably a couple more on the sides...I'm not sure)
-rotate the gauge cluster forward and down to remove it.

Once you get the cluster out, youre going to have remove a bunch of screws from the circuit board and PLEASE NOTE WHICH SCREW CAME FROM WHAT POSITION and be careful to not over tighten them or put them in the wrong position because it will render your cluster non-operational.

__________________
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joecus62

I also have a 98 rl with the same problem. My odometer/trip gauge is dead. My speedometer and tach are fine. I replaced the odometer panel and it's still broke. When I press the reset button, I hear the beep that normally resets the trip counter to zero. Nothing at all appears on panel, normally I can toggle between odometer, trip A, trip B and outside temp. I don't think the reset switch is bad since the beep works and I wouldn't think the odometer info would be effected by this. Can someone explain how the odometer info gets to the panel? I am at a loss. Prior to buying the odometer panel, I spoke to an Acura parts guy and we both thought the problem had to be the panel. I called him back and he spoke to the mechanics and they are weren't much help. Please help. You can email me directly also at joecus@gmail.com.

97_RLer

Was that a brand new odometer? How did you get the odometer part? Acura doesn't sell the part only instead that they sell whole instrument gauge cluster. I'm sure that your odometer back light is just out. So if you replace the odometer as a working one, it must work.

Anyway, the cheapest way to do is buy an instrument gauge cluster on eBay and replace it. You can search with the keyword "Acura RL cluster" and you may find a couple of them and can buy it under $100 generally.

Another option, I have a working odometer as an extra. I can sell it at $20 including shipping fee.

97_RLer

hnic

there is a very very very small pin connector that connects the odo to the circuit board. however, the mileage and trip info isnt stored in the display screen, but on the cluster's motherboard. either that or the small diode that makes the numbers visible is dead. you might need to pull the cluster again to make sure the connector is attached not to mention see if the diode is out

__________________
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LS430 is coming

garyk1970

i just took apart a 96 rl and the odometer lamp is not serviceable you'll need a new odometer or cluster......

garyk1970

you still have this part???

seamusNH

That seems odd. Are you sure? I have a diagram that shows the back of the gauge cluster and it shows 10 spots for "gauge lights, 3.0W x 4". It seems as if one could replace those. I have the gauge cluster from my RL at home and will check it this weekend. It would be crazy if Acura made you buy an entire gauge cluster for a blown bulb...

If anyone needs a diagram of the back of the gauge cluster or the instructions on removing it, email me at seamusnh@gmail.com and I'll send a pdf...

garyk1970

all the bulbs that can be replaced are for the cluster illumination.the odometer has its own lighting built in to the display,similar to a vacuum tube type setup (positive or negative LCD display,i cant remember the correct terminology).if the odometer display part number could be found,you can order just order it if its available.luckily 97rloer had the part and I'm only going to replace that.heres a couple pics showing the entire cluster disassembled,and the separate odo unit.HTH.
i wish it was as easy as a bulb,i do electronic repairs as a living........

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97_RLer

It is just easy as you replace the bulbs. Your part will be shipped out on Monday morning.

garyk1970

thanks

1997 3.5RL

I have somewhat of a small lighting problem on my gauges. Not on the odometer, but around the 140 and 160 mph area of the speedometer. It's not as bright as the other parts of the gauges.

garyk1970

well,the odometer didnt fix the problem ,found a semiconductor bad (d1815) looks like it exploded! trying to find this part now.....thanks for the help.

the post above this one sounds like a simple bulb will fix...its just a matter of getting to it.

97_RLer

Sorry to hear you, Gary! I thought your odometer itself was burnt out.
Anyway, I still have the instrument gauge cluster. The gauge cluster came from 96 RL with exactly 97,810 miles on the odometer reading. Email or PM me.

Edit: Once you swap the gauge cluster board, your odometer reading will be changed to the reading of the new board.

garyk1970

pm sent. my car has 112k ,so its close.....