(2012 Accord Sedan EX Manual 5 speed)
Did the exterior door/window moulding change, required the door panel removal. After I noticed the courtesy step light no worky. Not sure if its a new issue - dont recall either way if it worked before actually.

Tried bulb from passenger side, it didnt work either.
Once the bulb glower orange just at the very tip. So I checked voltage at socket and it was only 10.2v. Passenger side was 12.2v
Thinking not getting enough to light?
Checlked voltage again later after checking wires and the volts started at 10.2v then steadily dropped.

Possibly tweaked a ire during panel removal? Pretty adept at taking panel off, know not to let it dangle on those thin wires, no issues with other plugs. Wondering if because the mouldings were deteroirating and some water was getting it. No obvious sign of excessive water or mositure.

CHECKED:
Volatage low, 10.2v and decreases slowly
Open door light turns on when door open and turns off when door closed (so probably not door switch).
Door open light also lights when door open.
No obvious wiring issues at sochet, or its leads.
Never battery as 13v engine off, goes to 14.4 engine on. BAttery and laternator seem goog.
All interior light fses good.

Any oideas. Hoping the steady loss of voltage doesnt mean chasing a parasistic draw. Im not good at electrical.

 

Check the voltage two ways. One with red meter lead on hot wire at the connector and black meter lead on the ground wire at the connector. Then keep the red the same and put the black meter lead on a bare metal bolt that is attached to the frame/sub-frame. Let us know if you get the ~10V with both tests.

 

Thanks for the reply!

This time I coldnt get even 10V!

Bad socket (drivers side):
1.4 volts both probes on socket
~12.6 v with negative/black grounded to frame

Good socket (passenger side):
~12.8 volts both probes on socket
~12.8 with negative/black grounded to frame

Obviously not right.

 

You have a problem on the ground wire/connection on the driver's side. I don't have a 2012 shop manual, but the 08-11 accord ground wire ends up at the driver's side fuse box. Since you don't have any other electrical issues, I'd trace that wire to where it flexes for the door hinge for any obvious damage to the harness, if you still have the door panel off.

I would pull back the rubber boot where the harness flexes when opening/closing the door and look for a damaged wire in that area. This is the most likely area where the wire is broken. or holding on by a few copper strands. You'd also want to check around any previous work done in the front passenger footwell/under-dash area in case that wire got accidentally pinched.

 

Thanks for the reply. Will start checking. I guess I could have pulled a wire as well taking panel off a bunch of times (changing weather stripping), despite being careful. Will report back. OR, just live without a courtesty light.