On Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:16:30 -0400, "Seth"
<seth_lermanNOSPAM (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:

6HRS wasted including internet time.
Took the stereo out today Alpine.Looks like a adapter harness was
installed to the factory plug.Next with the stereo unplugged I tryed
the lights still no luck.Doesnt look like factory plug has been
spliced or touched.Is it possible problem could be in the ignition
switch or the light switch.

Bill Gavin

Bill Gavin <egavin (AT) scsinternet (DOT) com> wrote in
news:nqf1d5drt50tilm4e90spvuee0ct9ff0rg (AT) 4ax (DOT) com:


I gave you wire colors and a connector location.

Plus I gave you another clue: Check to see if the side markers and license
plate lights work.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"Tegger" <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> wrote


At this point I would bet money it's a bad ground. With the engine off, the
lights are getting their ground through some circuit that is off with the
engine off (question about if this is truly tied to the engine running or
just the run vs. accessory vs. off position of the key switch hasn't been
answered yet).

But I'll bet it's similar to the situation that happens sometimes where a
persons brake lights only work when the headlights are off or the tail
lights work only when the brake pedal isn't pressed.

Bad ground.

"Seth" <seth_lermanNOSPAM (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in
news:haqhnu$72n$1 (AT) news (DOT) eternal-september.org:


<snip>



I considered a bad ground as well, but dismissed that as being unlikely.
The grounds are on the interior of the body shell and are rarely defective.
The one exception is the taillight ground in the hatchback. That one is
sometimes damaged in bad rear-end collisions.

Power to the taillights is switched. Ground is permanent. This is the
opposite of the horn circuit, where the horns are always live and ground is
supplied by the horn contacts in the steering wheel.

In any case, if the OP would check his front marker lights and rear license
plate lights and see if they behave the same as the taillights, that would
give us a clue. The markers and taillights use different grounds, but the
taillights and license plate lights use a common ground.

Actually, the same power source feeds:
radio
taillights
front markers
license plate lights
glove box light
heater control panel lights
clock
cigarette lighter
and many other things. These use many different ground points.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Tegger <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> wrote in
news:Xns9CA0ABC6AF1B9tegger (AT) 208 (DOT) 90.168.18:




I just had another thought: Suppose the aftermarket radio installation
included an amp in the rear of the vehicle. In that case, there would be
tampering of the wiring at that location. Somebody might have even spliced
in an aftermarket power antenna.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"Tegger" <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> wrote


I see your point. But as a former after market installer I have seen this
way too much. Often times (mis) blamed on the stereo. On many of these
cars a few items use a shared ground and if the grounding bolt has worked
itself loose or rusted (this is an almost 20 year old vehicle) it becomes a
"floating" ground that is no longer ground when the 2nd circuit is also
energized.

Could be either... My money is on the ground.

The puOn Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:07:11 -0400, "Seth"
<seth_lermanNOSPAM (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Ok some more clues.

1. all lights work with ignition in off position,when key is in aux or
engine running I have no side marker lights,liscence plate light or
tail lights.clock and heater lights work.
2.Lots of rain the last few weeks some condensation in back tail light
lenses.
3.car is a hatchback with no damage.
4. Car is worth the effort 20 years old seen winter twice no rust
197000km.

Bill Gavin

Bill Gavin <egavin (AT) scsinternet (DOT) com> wrote in
news:uta2d5d36e0g97d20lo25bmgvn2icse0al (AT) 4ax (DOT) com:




Then it's very unlikely to be a ground problem. I've got the wiring
diagrams here and these problems have only one point of commonality: the
power feed (red/blk wire); the grounds are in totally different locations.

Just in case, pull the large trim panel off the rear of the hatch interior
to expose that ground bolt for inspection. The other ground is in the
engine compartment right beside the windshield washer filler neck.

I still think there's some botched wiring in the dash or steering column.
Pull the steering wheel and have a look at the wiring there. Follow the
red/blk wire from the steering column switch as far as you can (as I
originally suggested).




Taillight gaskets are bad. Check the bulb sockets for severe corrosion.



No rust, no collisions, for sure? Then the grounds should be perfect,
provided they've not been altered. Hondas generally do not exhibit ground
problems when the factory setup remains unchanged.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/