Hi,
I have a 96 Civic and the light that illiminates the front dash at night has stopped working.
A Honda specialist mechanic I know who works an hour drive from where I am told me to pick up a dimmer switch (or illumination switch) from the dealer and he'd plug it in for me. He said it just takes 2 minutes to switch them out.

But anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone here knows the correct procedure for removing the old dimmer switch. I got a couple of small straight edge screwdrivers and tried removing the old dimmer switch to put the new one in; but, when I get to the point that it's 2 thirds out it starts giving me some resistance and I don't want to force it out because I'm worried I'll break some electrical component inside. So, I just pushed the old dimmer switch all the way back in again.

Just wondering if anyone knows if it's okay for a regular hacker to pop this thing out and then just plug the new one in. Is the resistance I was expiriencing normal?
Thanks for any ideas.

 

are you sure it was the dimmer switch.... when your dash lights dont work ..your tail lights also dont work.. check your fuse..


pop the blank cover off thats next to it and see whats holding you up.. it should just pop out then unplug the clip in the back of it.

 

Okay, thanks for the idea of taking out the panel next to it.
Did that and was able to remove the dimmer switch in 2 seconds.

I'm supposed to pick up the new dimmer switch at the dealer tomorrow, had to special order it in from Honda warehouse.

My tail lights all work perfectly and the mechanic I know runs a Honda shop and he knows Civics like the back of his hand; so, I'm pretty sure he's right about just needing a new dimmer switch.
Anyway, I'll plug the new one in tomorrow and let you know if it solves my no dashlights problem.

Thanks again for letting me know how to get the switch out. The dealer wanted an hour of labour for a 30 second job of switching parts out.

 

Update: New dimmer switch has solved my no dashlights problem.
Thank god. Didn't want to spend a fortune hunting down some weird electrical problem.

 

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