Hi guys,

I really need your help and advice. I removed my dashboard instrument panel in an effort to change the dash lights. I couldn't find out how to replace the lights, so I put it all back together in the car, but now I find that the speedometer does not work and the malfunction lamp turns on.

When the engine is off, the needle is somehow in the 40 mph position. When I insert the keys and turn it to the II position, the speed needle shoots down to 0, but when I drive, the needle barely moves up with the actual speed. I feel like I'm driving 10 mph faster than what the speedometer tells me.

If I take it to the Honda dealer, how much would this cost me if I won't be able to remedy this myself?

Please advise.
Help!!!

 

Check the number 7 (10 amp) and number 21 (7.5 amp) fuses first.

There is a self-diagnostic that can be done on the gauge assy. It is a bit involved so I would rather suggest you get a manual to do this test instead of trying to walk you through it.

No special tools needed:

Push and hold the trip button
Turn headlights On
Turn ign switch on (II)
Within 5 seconds - turn the headlights Off, then On, then Off again.
Within 5 seconds - release the trip button. Then push and release the trip 3 times.

And that just gets you "into" the self-diagnostic function.......

 

Thanks poorman212.

I appreciate your quick response. How do I check the fuses? Do i directly look at the connections plugged into the dash, or do I open up the box near the trunk/gas tank lever in the front see? I tried your "self-diagnostic" from my understanding that it would fix it, but it didn't seem to work. But the malfunction lamp did disappear earlier today and hasn't come back on...

 

Fuses can be checked visually or by using a volt meter/test light. Yes the ones I ref are in the underdash fuse panel, if you have the owners manual you can use that as a ref...just note the service manual and owners manual will number things differently.

The diagnostic is only to "see" what might be wrong. As stated, there is way more than just doing what I posted. At any point did the speedo go thru "full motion"? Meaning going from zero to top speed?

You might pull the battery cables and clean them and then be sure they are tight on the battery......see a recent post on an '05 with almost the same issue.

 

I think the main problem for me is centered on the speedometer needle itself. When I opened up the dash, I unknowingly twisted the speedometer needle in an effort to change the underlying light bulbs. Obviously that didn't work out, and it was a stupid error on my part. lol. Do you think that might have caused the speedometer problems?

Thanks.