# Odometer/Dashboard lights will not turn on **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** civic, honda\ **Created:** [February 7, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593 "2017-02-07T12:43:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JamesDejesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c89c15/32.png) [@JamesDejesus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JamesDejesus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/1 "2017-02-07T12:43:15Z")
Hello! I’m new here. I have a 99 Honda Civic, it’s working great however the dashboard lights will not light up when I turn my lights on. I tried switching the dim switch on it, thinking that may be the problem, but that did me no good. Does anybody know what causes this and how to go about fixing it? Also, when I turn my lights on my radio seems to be trying to light up, but the light is very dim. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/2 "2017-02-07T13:43:00Z")
The dim switch may be the right area for the problem. Check the voltage on each side of the switch. I believe the switch is just a variable resistor in series, so you should see 12 volts on each side of it when it is turned to max. If there is no voltage there, trace it back. there is probably a fuse in the line that could be open. Is the radio original, or an add-on? It may be the source of the problem, as the installer may have butchered up the wiring. ---
**Author:** ![JamesDejesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c89c15/32.png) [@JamesDejesus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JamesDejesus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/3 "2017-02-07T14:09:58Z")
Should I check the actual dim switch or where the dim switch plugs into? The radio looks like the original. I’ll ask the original owner of the car to make sure. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![JamesDejesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c89c15/32.png) [@JamesDejesus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JamesDejesus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/4 "2017-02-07T15:54:22Z")
So I guess the radio was switched out, I may have found my problem ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/5 "2017-02-07T16:20:24Z")
Allow me to be the first to ask… did you check the fuse? ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/6 "2017-02-07T16:42:13Z")
possible stupid question, but it has been the solution more than once in my experience: Are you physically turning the headlights on? Or are you just seeing the headlights on, and expecting the other lights to work? I ask, because I have had several friends ask me why their dash lights and/or bright lights won’t work, only to discover that they are thinking their lights automatically come on at dusk, but in reality they are only seeing the Daytime Running Lights on- which won’t work the brights or the dash lights. If you are physically turning the headlights on, verify the switch that switch is working when you check the dimmer (if they are separate.) 😄 ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/7 "2017-02-07T16:53:37Z")
_DRLs_ on a '99 Civic? I don’t think so! ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/8 "2017-02-07T16:55:54Z")
That I have no idea on, @VDCdriver. Never personally worked on a 99 Civic, but i thought it may be a possibility. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/9 "2017-02-07T16:59:16Z")
If it was purchased in Canada, then–yes–it likely has _DRLs_. If it was purchased in The US, then…nope. ---
**Author:** ![JamesDejesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c89c15/32.png) [@JamesDejesus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JamesDejesus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/10 "2017-02-07T17:17:29Z")
It does not have DRL’s; I have to physically turn my lights on. Haha. Also, I checked the fuse and it looks fine. I switched it out for a new one to make sure but it didn’t do anything. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/11 "2017-02-07T17:37:09Z")
By dim switch, do you mean for the headlights, or the dash lights? ---
**Author:** ![JamesDejesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c89c15/32.png) [@JamesDejesus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JamesDejesus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/12 "2017-02-07T18:11:08Z")
The dash lights ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/13 "2017-02-07T23:36:47Z")
It sounds a faulty dash-dimmer control. Try moving the control from one extreme to the other, full bright to full dim, repeat going through the full range 10-15 times if necessary, see if the dash lights start to flicker on a little when doing that. If so, that’s consistent with that part going south on you. You might be able to bring it back to life for a little while anyway using that technique. ---
**Author:** ![JamesDejesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c89c15/32.png) [@JamesDejesus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JamesDejesus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/14 "2017-02-08T00:06:46Z")
I already put in a new dimmer switch and that did not work. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/15 "2017-02-08T01:37:49Z")
Well that’s disappointing to hear … lol … hmm … well, it’s pretty simple how to light up a bulb, put a voltage potential between each of the two connections. So one method to address this problem, figure out the cause for just one of those dash-light bulbs first. Either the + voltage isn’t making it to one side of the bulb, or the - (ground) voltage isn’t making it to the other side. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/16 "2017-02-08T01:39:11Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > DRLs on a '99 Civic?I don’t think so! Canada has required DRLs for many years, as have some other countries. Without knowing the OP’s location, I’d be reluctant to make that assumption. 🙂 Although in this case it does seem to have been correct. ---
**Author:** ![JamesDejesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c89c15/32.png) [@JamesDejesus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JamesDejesus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/17 "2017-02-08T01:51:39Z")
Okay I’ll give that a try when I can, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/18 "2017-02-08T12:24:07Z")
I know the OP already confirmed there are no DRL’s on his car. I know that there were some US market cars that did have them. My 1999 Camry did. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/19 "2017-02-08T13:58:18Z")
> [@the\_same\_mountainbik](#): > > Canada has required DRLs for many years, as have some other countries. Without knowing the OP’s location, I’d be reluctant to make that assumption. Please take a look at my earlier statement: > [@VDCdriver](#): > > If it was purchased in Canada, then–yes–it likely has DRLs.If it was purchased in The US, then…nope. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593/20 "2017-02-09T00:12:34Z")
Fair enough. I only looked at the first of the two statements. Apologies. 😊 [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-dashboard-lights-will-not-turn-on/99593.md?page=2)