Idiot electrical problems

[Ichiban]

After trying to figure this out for some time (years), I'm finally posting for help.

I've got two really annoying problems, first, the gauge cluster. When the car is cold, 10 C or less, either, or sometimes both, the gauge cluster lights won't work, or the tach stays at 0, and the temp and fuel gauge slowly rise up to way beyond max. Strangely, it's only one or the other, or sometimes both. As the interior of the car warms up, usually a quick smack right on the top edge of dash will cause the lights to come to life, the tach begins reading correctly, and the temp and fuel gauges fall to their proper positions. If it's relatively warm outside, everything works right away. Also, if it's extremely cold, the gauges won't work, but the backlighting will. Everything else, including dummy lights, functions as normal.

WTF?

Also, starting this spring, my wipers are fucked. It started with random fuse blowing, but never when the wipers were actually running. Now it's digressed to the point where as soon as I insert a fuse, regardless of rating, it blows it instantly, even with the wipers turned off. I haven't backprobed the relay or wiper motor yet, but I did a quick check over of the wiring harness and everything seems OK. Freak weather changes make having wipers really nice.

Any ideas on any of this? Thanks.

[Hazwan]

Check all the connections? They are probably corroded or loose or something. 90% of car electrical fault comes from poor connections.

Your wiper motor is probably shorted. Try disconnecting the motor and reinsert the fuse? Else it could be the relay, switch or something else along the way.

[Civic Accord Honda]

the dash sounds like a loose ground

[2ndGenGuy]

Yeah the dash thing is a lack of ground. When I had my dash out, I hooked up all my shit except the little black ground wires that bolt to the dash just under the steering column. Take those off and clean them and reconnect them. When they're not making a good connection, your lights will ground out through your gauges and they will go all the way up to max. If you leave them like that too long they will burn out. The reason the smack thing might work, could be that a bolt was left out somewhere where the dash frame bolts to the body of the car, or the dash is coming a bit loose. Basically, the dash frame is the ground for all your gauges and lights, and it has to make good contact with the body of the car... Hope that helps somewhat, nice to be able to help you out for once. :D

[lostforawhile]

on your wiper motor it sounds like an internal short, remember the motor is hot all the time,running or not, it has current going to it because of the limit switch that parks the wiper arms.

[Ichiban]

Sweet. I figured the gauges pegging at max wasn't exactly great for them, and it sounds like a simple fix.

Now I just need to figure out the wipers, which I'm sure is gonna be a little more than a pain in the ass.

[Ichiban]

on your wiper motor it sounds like an internal short, remember the motor is hot all the time,running or not, it has current going to it because of the limit switch that parks the wiper arms.

Cool. I don't exactly remember it being this way when I checked the wiring diagram, but it makes sense that it's so. I'll check on that tomorrow.

[lostforawhile]

Cool. I don't exactly remember it being this way when I checked the wiring diagram, but it makes sense that it's so. I'll check on that tomorrow.it's hot when the key is on, even with the switch off, once you turn the switch off the motor will continue to run until the park contact opens when the wiper reaches the park position. if i remember correctly it's like a switch in parallel across the low speed position of the switch, once the wiper reaches park that circuit is broken and it shuts off

[Ichiban]

Could a mis-adjusted wiper that's hitting the windshield trim before the park position is reached cause this? I think one of my wipers spun due to ice this winter, and is now running completely off of the winshield.

[Ichiban]

I adjusted the wiper, it sits a couple inches above the windshield trim at park position, and I haven't blown a fuse since.

Due to work, I haven't been able to rip the dash apart to correct the ground, but as soon as I have a chance, I will. More detailed location on those ground wires, anyone?

[2ndGenGuy]

The only way I can describe where they are in my car is just to the right of the fuse panel, behind that dash trim that goes underneath the steering column. It's a bunch of black wires with ring terminals, and the rings are screwed to a bar that goes across that same area. Hope that's useful.

[lostforawhile]

The only way I can describe where they are in my car is just to the right of the fuse panel, behind that dash trim that goes underneath the steering column. It's a bunch of black wires with ring terminals, and the rings are screwed to a bar that goes across that same area. Hope that's useful.that sounds correct if i remember my old honda wiring stuff, the bolts they are attached to sometimes work loose and you can take the ring terminals off and check for corrosion

[Ichiban]

Sounds good. Wipers still work!