Hello all, I hope someone can help here....I have a 1990 Honda Accord LX, 205,000 miles. About a week ago, I noticed that my headlights (low beams) were flickering a little when driving at night. I first noticed them having an issue when I cranked the car in the morning, turned them on, and it took a second or 2 to come on, and sometimes I would have to turn them on and off a couple times for them to stay on. Then this morning, when I went out to go to work, I started the car up and the headlights would not come on at first (low beams), but then came on, and went off. The high beams worked for a few minutes, now even THEY won't come on at all. Even the little high-beam indicator light stopped working as well, at the same time. All other lights..inside and out..work fine. A colleague thinks it could be a relay, which would be awesome, since the combo switch is kindof pricey. The bulbs are fairly new, all of them, and I checked them so I don't think it's that. I guess out of the 4 options that I'm thinking (wiring issue, switch, fuse or relay), which seems to be the most common? Whatever it is, I can fix it myself for the most part, I just don't know where to start

Thanks!
Mindy

 

This could be the headlight relay or possibly the dimmer relay.

The quickest way to check is to switch the headlight relay with an identical relay that isn't critical like the power window relay. If the relay was bad, then the power windows (for example) would not work when you switch them.

The fuse box should have the relays labeled.

 

You're right, they're labeled, I checked last night. I hope you're right and it's something that easy; I saw another forum where someone had the EXACT issue years ago and the relay fixed their problem. I sure don't want to spend $100 more for the switch! (I saw some parts stores with it for $26, and what looked like the same identical part at the same store for over $100, for the same car...???) Anyway, thanks SO much for your help, and I'll post what happens. Your idea about swicthing them is awesome, will go try that ASAP. Much appreciated!

 

UPDATE: I tried the switcheroo trick but there were no relays that are identical to that one. So, the idea struck me to go to the junkyard and grab a couple (in case one was bad) so I did, instead of spending $15....they didn't charge me for it, luckily. They do that once in awhile. Anyway, I got home, popped the old one out, PRAYED, popped the "new" one in, prayed again, turned on the lights, and YAAAAAY!!! SO that problem is solved! Now onto the coolant leak!

 

Thanks for reporting back. Just out of curiosity, which relay was bad?

 

It was actually the Lighting Relay, the black one right next to the green Dimmer Relay.

I have a coolant leak towards the back part of the engine, behind the valve cover and sortof under the air intake; I get to figure that out next. Was told it looks like the bypass hose leaking, and I can see the water back there but can't tell exactly where it's coming from. Old cars are just wonderful The dude I bought it from obviously took 0 care of it.....sigh.

 

I am having the exact same issue with my 93 accord ex. Headlights flickering etc. Now they're completely not working, I think I am going to try the relay replacement to fix it, hopefully it does the trick.

 

So I was having the same issue, But here is the weird thing, when I turn the headlights on, the running lights on the side are on, but neither the low or high beams work. If I have the hood up and the fuse box open and I press down on the lighting relay, there is a clicking noise and the headlights will turn on and then turn off again when I take pressure off the relay (clicks again). Is it supposed to work like that? Is the fuse box cover supposed to press the relay down in order for it to work or do I just have a bad relay?

Thanks,

Jason

 

Bad connection on/to the relay sounds more like the issue....no the cover does not "push" the relay. Pull the relay and look at the pins, clean the pins and the "sockets" where the pins go in.

 

How do you remove the lighting relay? It's a little black box among all the fuses and it seems like it's clipped down somehow, but I can't get it out...

**UPDATE** - I yanked it out. No worries.