i have a prob on 93 maxima..dash lights only come on only when I hit the brakes..other than that there are no dash lights whatsoever, headlights, tailights still work. i didnt change any fuses, bulbs or anything recently. whats wrong?
nathan

 

I had a similar problem on my 90. Turned out to be a short.

 

What should i do then? thanks
n8

 

Hey man, i had the same thing with my '89 max, turned out to be a 1/2 blown fuse for the dash lights in the fusebox under the dash, every time i went over a bump, it jogged the fuse, lights go out, lights come on... only prob with mine was, i live in New Zealand so mines a Jap import, all the labels are in japanese! Had fun finding the right one for dash lights... u shouldnt have that problem anyway ;-)

 

i've been meaning to post a how-to change center console lights...can anybody recommend a basic html program?
Jae

 

I also had the same problem, but found a solution using the search button. Im happy i can help because this drove me crazy and many people have this problem. it is usually caused by a short from installing a new radio wrong or sum type of electrical work. i caused a short by playing with my fog lamp switch. I discovered that the problem is the time control unit. this part runs about a hundred bucks or so (from the dealer). after i figured out the problem and how much it would cost, i decided to take it apart and try to fix it myself. So i found out where it was located and it is found under the driver side knee panel and is mounted under the dash behind a gold colored metal box (looks like a small ecu). its alittle left of the steering wheel if your looking straight foward. you have to take of the panel for axis to it. its a white plastic rectangular box about the size of an index card. it is plugged into a wire harness so that needs to be unplugged. i took it off and opened it up and it looked like sum kind of curcuit board. i flipped it over and notice that one of the wire trails were blown. then i flipped it back over and checked to see what connection was lost. i figured out that it connected a chip to a resistor (in your case it may be a different spot depending on how you blew it). i then tried to soder a paper clip and reconnect it, but i had no luck. then i got a garbage bag tie wire and fastened it to the appropriate leg of the chip. then i fastened it around the appropriate side of the resistor (make sure it is only touching those two spots). i then put it back together and plugged it in befor i put the panel on (just to check it) and it worked. i was pretty proud of my self cuz i saved some $$. the only thing i noticed different was that i couldnt control the dimmer switch for the lights and it was stuck on high, but i didnt mind cuz it still worked. here is a pic to help you out a little.

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~jabaji1/max.jpg

This all happened about a month ago so its all off of memory and the pics arent exactly detailed or accurate, but it gives the main concept. Good Luck! Lemme know what happens or if you need more help

 

The "time control unit" as i've seen many people calling it seems to have solved alot of the dash light problems. If you need another one, let me know, I have a spare.

 

kinda OT: Can whoever it was that helped me with the HTML please contact me again? Thanx!
Dash removal writeup on the way!
Jae

 

thurznite, hopefully you mean you'll have a write-up on how to change tha center console lights (lights in the ac/heater control) and not how to remove the dash....if i'm not mistaken, theres a write up on removin tha dash already...but the write-up on changin the lights in the ac/heater control would be real good....i remember a guy in tha acura forum did this and took him a hellova lotta time, but it sure was damn worth it!!