Helpful info: Back in early 09' i purchased this car with the temp. and gas/fuel gauges not working (when the lights were turned on, the gauges resumed to be black). I was unable to see my gas and temperature level. I took it out and noticed the circuit board had some irregularities. Some circuit connections were BURNT!
I soon went to a local junk yard and bought another one...making sure the circuit board was fine. After installation, all gauges turned out to work.
Today, Jan 26 2010, I was driving home and i smelled something burning coming from somewhere in my car. I ignored it and kept driving. After a mile, the smell came back but it was stronger and smoke was coming out of the dash...OBVIOUSLY I already knew what had happened. Especially when my guages stop showing its colors.
I have read some threads about this problem back in '09 but was wondering WHAT CAUSES THE 4TH GEN PRELUDE'S TEMPERATURE AND GAS GAUGES TO BURN OUT???
My car is NOT overheating.
Please any answers and questions will help!
The only choice I have is to buy another one but I want to educate myself of the cause so it can be avoided.
Thank You in advance!
They're LCD, rather than a bulb burning out the whole thing just quits, happens considering how old the car is. Already happened to me, just replace the cluster, they can be bought used for fairly cheap. Oh and mine was kinda dimming/flickering before it burned out and many others said theirs did this as well before dying.
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New Formula Red 93 BB2: JDM OBD1 H22a/T2W4 Accord Euro R transmission
I really was focused on driving then I smelled a burning aroma. It was too late to notice if they were working at tha time...they were burnt out already.
Doesnt really matter if it was flickering or not they are still shot.
My Question is: Does any one know of the cause of this???
Thx
Last edited by iidieiv619; 01-27-2010 at 09:00 AM.
I know the one in my 4G takes a while to light up if the car hasn't been driven in a while.
Exactly what was happening with my Lude before the gauge cluster died. They would also take the longest time to come on when the outside temps were low in the morning. I put my Lude in the garage for several months to work on fixing chips and touching up the paint. Upon the first drive I took after fixing the paint job, my gauges developed a set of horizontal orange lines across them. Several minutes later the gauges dimmed and then went completely out along with a burning smell.
An educated guess with the limited electronics classes I've had... an electrolitic capacitor(s) is dried out and caused a short circuit on the logic board behind the EL display. In my experience electrolitic caps tend to fail over time. Lack of use tend to accelerate the failure of old ones. If it were just a capacitor and you could identify it, you could replace it and all would be well. But... when they fail it's possible they fried one or more of the IC chips located on the logic board under the EL display panels. Basically, in a place that it would be dang near IMPOSSIBLE to access to test or replace via soldering.
I bought a replacement gauge cluster from a fellow on this forum for $70 plus $30 shipping. I kept my old and busted cluster on a shelf for the day I may need it for whatever parts I might be able to salvage off it. So far so good on the replacement gauge clusters but now I think I have ignition switch issues.
What will we Prelude lovers do when the supply of these EL gauge clusters have been depleted???
Yea...it makes sense that the clusters are just old. I guess its common for these things to burn out. This is my SECOND one that has burned out.
I agree...what will we do when all these gauges are all broken and unavailable!?!?!
Ive seen the burnt circuit board before...it doesnt seem good at all; doesnt look like you could fix it.
I was looking at 'RedSi's re-post pics of LED dash guages...
Does any one know of any place/website/member I could buy the gauges off of or any one know of any ideas??? I think I may turn to doing some customizations if these gauges keep blowin
Last edited by iidieiv619; 01-28-2010 at 09:40 AM.
Hi Guys, I'm having the same sort of problem with my '92 Prelude fuel and temp gauges. The guages light is starting to flicker on and off, sometimes it stays on for a while then it turns off.
Can you please advise on how to access this electronic board, what parts of the dash do I pull apart, how and where do I start?
If you happen to try replacing the actual gauge unit itself and it did not work...
Take off the plastic smoked screen that covers your gauges. I forgot what the unit is called... But in the far right corner of your dash (behind the smoked plastic screen) is a small black box. I'd bet top dollar a transistor inside of that little black box burned out, which has caused your gauges to crap out on you.
It's #1 or #2 in that image: Different unit depending on if you have the EL gauges or not.
I thought i just let everyone know that I have mint one in great working condition with no body damage. All tabs are tight and good. Asking $100obo shipped. PM me if interested. Thanks!
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I don't have VTEC so I drive LOW N SLOW.
LMK if theres any deaf lude owners. I would love to meet yall!
Mine blew up on me. I took it apart and see no burned of melt or anything like that. I even changed the small black box right next to gas/temp cluster, still no luck. Just the board itself dead. Nothing work so I got another one.
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'92 SI > JDM H22A/LSD swap, 2 row AL radiator, custom intake and 2.5" exhaust, ceramic 421 header, high-flow cat, titanium muffler, stg1 clutch, sport suspension w/ camber kit and F/R strut tower bars, eCtuned ECU
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