Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat - no illumination

hello my first post here and i hope you guys can help me. I have a 1998 Civic Si coupe. When i turn on the
headlight the dash and the radio are all illuminated but not the heater/ac control. This is a pain the the arse
during night driving. Any ideas ? fuses looked good to me ... thanks

[sm=welcomesign.gif] to HCF. [sm=groupwave.gif][sm=groupwave.gif][sm=groupwave.gif]

Welcome to HCF. I'm sure someone will come along and help you out.

thanks i feel better already :D i like what i'm seeing and i think i will hang around for a bit. cheers :)

Maybe the light in your heater/AC control switch is faulty?

well the switches themselves lit up when pressed but the area below it ( the one which represents what those switches are for) are not illuminated. Sorry if i did not make myself clear on the problem [&o]

Okay, then check the lights behind that area below the heater/ac control. Could it/they be burnt out? You may have to take some of your dash apart to check it.

how hard is it to rip off the dash ? I am afraid i may not be able to put them back properly

Ok I have the same exact problem. I notice when I turn my lights on I can see the images the buttons relate to, but as soon as I move the slide lever, the lights go out. I have banged on that area and the lights have came back on. I figured it was a wire or something.

I have banged on that area and the lights have came back on. I figured it was a wire or something.

Hey thanks for the tip, i banged the side and the lights came back on !!:D:D

I have the same problem on my '95. Buttons light up but the slider/level lights don't. The banging worked for about 2 months, now, I get nothing. Gonna have to get in there and find out what the real problem is. I'm sure it's some kind of electrical short or something, just been too lazy here lately to take it apart.:eek:

Yeah, one side of my climate control lighting is out. I am getting all new bulbs for my illumination so I'll do a write-up on it.

Sounds like on of the connectors behind the Heater Control Panel is loose. There should be 4 connectors here and it is fairly easy to take out. Pop the front trim panel and remove the four screws. Just be carefully when pulling it out as the Air mix control cable and mode control cables are connected to it as well.

I have the same now on my 96 civic ex sedan - took the lower trim panels off and can access the bulb from underneath without removing the heater control. but is there something that holds the bulb and socket in the heater control panel or does just sort of lock in the hole. there is another one in there and it is working with no problems but I cannot see if anything is holding it in. I am wondering if I am missing a clip or something that holds the bulb and socket in its hole.

It isn't a short anything cause new bulb works fine I just want it to be stable and locked so when I slide the temperature control it doesn't punish the new bulb and burn it out again.