Where do I start?? (electrical problems)

cableguymn · Feb 19, 2006

I know the main relay might play a part in some of these. maybe all..

1991 Legend Sedan

Yellow wire with red stripe that supplies switched power to radio only supplies it when it wants. Sometimes shutting the car off and re-starting it fixes this. Cig lighter is affected the same way, if one works they both do. I ran a wire to the radio fuse in the fuse box and this has corrected the problem with the radio. Does the supply wire from the fuse to the radio pass through the main relay or security system??

Car refuses to start with key switch. It was working well for a while, but I am back to using wired remote start button again. I have replaced the switch on the back of the ignition lock

When the key switch was working the car would start in any gear. D4 is flashing but speedo works fine.

Only the floor light on the drivers side dims slowly when the doors are shut. The roof mounted lights and passangers side floor light work, but go off as soon as the door is shut. (odd one works and the others don't)

Cruise control works, but only when the headlights are off. When they are on the green indicater light on the switch is on, but the Cruise Control light in the cluster will not come on.

No dash lights (see my other post)

SRS light on

I'm not sure what to do. I love the ride of the car, but these issues make it near impossiable to trust the car, or drive it in the dark.

morbo · Feb 19, 2006

This sounds like a huge problem with shorts. I'd sell the damn thing and get another

cableguymn · Feb 19, 2006

If it where shorts I would be blowing fuses. I'm not. some problems I can live with (Like pushing a button to start it and no cruise in the dark) mainly I just wana get the dash lights going. I hate to say it, but if I sell it I won't be replacing it with another honda/acura

Rumnarv · Feb 19, 2006

No you are not having main relay troubles.

You have a major grounding issue. You have electricity backfeeding through other circuits to find a ground causing them to do things they are not supposed to when you turn somthing on.

What you need to do is go to an auto parts store and get a haynes manual (not the best, but for this will work fine). You can fix this yourself if you have the patience. Look up every ground connector in the wiring diagrams in the back and find their location in the car. Most of the time multiple grounds come to 1 large connector that bolts to the body of the car. I would replace every ground connector on every circuit that you are having trouble with. I am almost willing to guarentee that all of your problem circuits are going to come together on 1 connector bolted to the body (I know where 2 of these are right off hand, they are on the inside fender walls right next to both headlights. If the car was ever wrecked I could see a body shop forgetting to reconnect them by accident). If all of your connectors to the cars body are ok then make sure the body has a good connection to the battery. Your negative battery cable should have 2 wires comming from it. One goes to the side of the engine block and the other bolts to the chassis under the battery mounting plate (remove the mounting plate to get to it).

cableguymn · Feb 21, 2006

I tracked the cruise problem down to a bad clock spring. The air bag light came on and that is when I realized NOTHING on the wheel worked anymore. I just replaced the colum with a junk yard one a week ago and everything was working fine, till I lost the cruise. Seems the horn and air bag went soon there after.

I think the reason the starter is not working with the key is the same reason I don't have over drive. I got code 5 out of the transmission computer. Indicates there is a problem with the switch bolted to the side of the shifter. The switch is also the safety switch for the starter. Might the failure of this switch also be the reason the memory on the drivers seat no longer works? I can see it being a safety thing where the buttons are disabled when the car is in gear. (honestly, I don't really care about the memory, but it would be neat if it worked again. it did work once for me)

I've got a new problem that I probably caused myself. The fuel gauge now always reads full. I had the cluster apart to install a new D1 blub (stole it to replace the burnt out D4 one) and that is when it started. Not sure if I want to risk driving it far enough to see if the low fuel light works.

sr5guy · Feb 21, 2006

Electrical issues

Lets deal with this one step at a time:

First off Eliminate the main relay, thats not your problem.

Electrical:
It sounds like the harness that goes down on the right side of the console is fried. I actually had a similiar problem to your last year with my 4 door - a razor blade fell down between the seat. I brought the seat forward to vacuum it out, and on the way back the seat picked up the razor and sliced through the harness. Took me two weeks to figure it out!!! Shit happens!!!!!

Looks like your going to have to do some exploratory surgery...
I would recommend removing the entire center console assembly and passenger side seat and inspecting all of the wires for burns or cuts. You'll need a philllips screwdriver and a 10 and 14 mm socket and ratchet.

SRS/Cruise/Horn:
DID you remove the column from the car at the junkyard? Was the steering wheel centered before removal??? Was the steering wheel centered when you installed it in your car? If the clock spring was not centered properly which is difficult to do, it will break rather quickly. Its a very delicate piece that requires some finesse to to remove and install properly.

Lighting:
IF and when you get the other issues worked out and the lights inside are still acting up, the auto-dimming lights are controlled by the ICU (integrated control unit) which is located BEHIND the interior fuse box. Real PITA to replace.

I recommend you read the ACURA service manual, it is available online thanks to one of our esteemed members, it should definetly help you isolate the electrical problem.
http://www.arnach.net/service/index.php

Here is the direct link to clock spring replacement:
http://www.arnach.net/service/index.php?x=0&y=1363&z=1371&r=1338

Hope this helps!!!

Where do I start?? (electrical problems)

cableguymn

morbo

cableguymn

Rumnarv

cableguymn

sr5guy

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