1999 Acura RL Odometer Back Light Repair | Instrument Cluster | Dashboard

[@carapprentice]

Hope this video helps people resolve this issue. *Please leave a 👍 if you like the video!* 👉 Visit our website ► CarApprentice.com 👉 Click to Subscribe! ► bit.ly/3bLvCFd 🔧▬▬Tools and Materials▬▬🔧 ✔️ Hakko De-soldering Tool ► amzn.to/3mI0njO ✔️ De-soldering Iron ► amzn.to/3ETj8r7 ✔️ Solder Sucker ► amzn.to/3qzP7Y0 ✔️ De-soldering braid ► amzn.to/3FIvJOY ✔️ Soldering Station ► amzn.to/3JwXQTF ✔️ Soldering Iron Kit ► amzn.to/3mMAMXf 📷▬▬Video Equipment▬▬📷 ✔️ Camera used ► amzn.to/2GcpkOb ✔️ Lens used ► amzn.to/2Deu16S ✔️ Tripod ► amzn.to/2GbaM1c ✔️ RAM Suction Mount ► amzn.to/2Wz9PXh ✔️ Cyberlink PowerDirector ► bit.ly/2jTwGxT ✔️ Adobe Photoshop ► bit.ly/2V7nyUX ✔️ Camera Slider ► amzn.to/2WtD7GW 👍▬▬Follow Us on Social Media▬▬👍 ✔️ Facebook ► bit.ly/3bHtMFC ✔️ Twitter ► bit.ly/3hLdJKK ✔️ Instagram ► bit.ly/3u380lS **This video was recorded in 4K resolution, so modify your settings accordingly if desired for better image quality** Disclosure: This video contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

[@raymonds.9021]

Ive had this issue for sometime but never seen someone post a video solving this issue. Thank you!

[@carapprentice]

Hope the video helps you out. Thanks for watching!

[@DAVESTAL94]

My odometer went out in 2020, but I am not sure if it was just the backlight or something else. I am also not acquainted with anyone comfortable enough with circuit board work to tackle this at this time. I hope this video is still around if I am ever ready to do this. Also, when you were demonstrating the problem, I noticed that the climate control buttons have a backlight in your car. They never worked in mine since I bought it five years ago, but I assumed there were no lights for it. I will use your video for the climate control display backlight repair to help me tackle that issue. Thanks for making these videos!!

[@carapprentice]

It is most likely the odometer back light that has failed. Thanks for watching the videos!

[@fullmetal4213]

It's like my car is failing exactly at the times you are posting your repair videos lol. Great instructions! One question I have is how did you trace the failure to the little board with the multi-meter?

[@carapprentice]

I didn't really use a multimeter much, since it was fairly obvious that the power was being interrupted on its path from the main board to the odometer board; I figured the issue wasn't too far away from the connector. Once I removed the small board to inspect it, the broken joints were apparent.

[@DankyDose]

Great video as well as your valve cover videos! Will this work if the lights are very dim for half the MPH lighting and half of the gas Guage lighting is very dim to completely out? Thanks..

[@carapprentice]

This video may be more appropriate: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rne8Z3ecjLeNf6ssi=87_3ji_gXDv1zxji

[@richardhartman7989]

Fantastic, I did get the screws out of order for the tac and it does not work. Do you know where the 2 long screws go? If you do, would you let me know? If you do, can you explain it from looking at the back side as you are screwing the screws in. Thank you so much. Rick H

[@carapprentice]

I think this diagram is accurate: facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10153964869823943&set=oa.1661978704016842

[@gdlc924]

Hey I need help with locating the dash lights I want mine to look like yours with the white lights, I took my cluster out but don’t know where all the bulbs are located or even witch ones to get

[@carapprentice]

I bought a cluster with the bulbs already installed. This 96-04 Acura RL Facebook group post should be useful: facebook.com/share/p/QwrhJMCX2qs33zdK/

[@MasterMercenaryMusic]

According to my Acura dealer, this is a common problem of this era. I wound up getting a GPS odometer off the internet, which rolls over after 9999 miles. Kinda bothersome to keep track of, but I'm still on the road after 5 years using it.....

[@carapprentice]

Yes, it's a very common issue. The back light in my cluster went out again, so I'll have to find the time to take it apart.

[@tjones261]

A REALLY good video! The steps and the video quality were very clear. I would only make 2 comments. I hope you don't mind. The music you added was WAY WAY too loud. I kept having to lower the volume but then raise the volume again when you'd start speaking again. Maybe for future videos, if you feel you NEED to add music (I don't think you do at all) make the music at %5 or 10% of the volume you have here. Your voice should be easily understood OVER the background music. The other comment I'd offer is to always use rosin flux when you're soldering. You may think the flux inside the solder is enough but it really isn't and the flux really makes a way better and long lasting connection. Just make sure to clean the residual flux off the soldered connections after you're done, with isopropyl alcohol. Thanks for the very informative video, Good job!

[@carapprentice]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@christiancervantes311]

My 99 RL needs new wheel bearings. Can you do a video on how to replace them and the axles?

[@carapprentice]

I can add wheel bearings and axles to my list, but it will be awhile before I can get to them. If you need them done urgently, I stored a copy of the factory service manual here: www.mediafire.com/file/uvbmryok1ax4vbs/Acura_RL_-_Factory_Service_Manual_%25281996-2004%2529.zip/file Thanks for checking out the videos!

[@stephenbitsoli94]

Hello - thank you for your great videos. 2001 Acura RL. Started car today and for the first time ever the odometer and trip are blank. Not hot out today so I don't think it is heat related. So is it usually not the display itself, but a circuit board connected to the display? It can't just be a bulb, correct? If I had to I could live without knowing the miles and the temperature outside, however, in Massachusetts the car will not pass the yearly car inspection when the odometer does not show the miles. Thanks, Steve

[@carapprentice]

It's fairly common that a repair is required.

[@tonyperez6150]

I'm in Massachusetts as well,I will be attempting this on this weekend

[@carapprentice]

@tonyperez6150 My cluster's back light went out again after a few months, so I'll have to crack it back open to see if I can fix it.

[@stephenbitsoli94]

I spoke to another person that does the car inspections at the local shop. I was told they will let it pass inspection without the odometer working. As long as I can get a sticker I think I will live with it. Now that the car is 22 years old it is getting hard to get parts.

[@abrahamreyes2559]

Hello, do you have a part number for the odometer circuit board (I notice that mine had a burn spot under the 120 ohm resister) or know we’re I could get one.

[@carapprentice]

You may be able to find a used board on eBay, but it's more likely you'll need to buy a used cluster assembly. Salvage yard might be most economical.

[@marczoeteweij552]

Does anyone know by change if u replace the odometer board the data goes with it? Or is the driven miles stored in the ecu somewhere? I need to completely replace my cluster and was curious if I can swap the odometer with driven miles..

[@carapprentice]

The mileage is stored in a chip somewhere in the cluster. I've never investigated where exactly it lives, but I know mileage programming services are offered.

[@marczoeteweij552]

@@carapprentice Thanks!!

[@rudycorraudio9089]

Hi did you ever get the Acura legend running right?

[@carapprentice]

Yes, I fixed the no-start and misfire issues about three years ago: kzbin.info/aero/PLTOFtJfRmbkbHmjCcI71puMNnpzIFIldH

[@rudycorraudio9089]

@@carapprentice . Did you ever get to the EGR system ? Seems like a lot of legends have a habit of clogging up the EGR system. That made my 92 Legend run perfectly smooth.

[@carapprentice]

@@rudycorraudio9089 Yes, the EGR was badly clogged, so I disassembled it and the intake about six years ago. For the most part, the car has since been parked.

[@pierredemarseille]

Hello Ben, I am writing to you from France. I have a 1999 Honda Legend 3L5 with 125,000 km that was no longer showing on my odometer. I resoldered the part with the components that you showed on the video and despite that the kilometers were still not displayed. I understood that this part with its components had a real problem. So I bought a used odometer in the USA and put it on my car and the kms showed up but instead of displaying the real kms of my car (about125000) the odometer in the USA showed 268,700 kms from the car where it was removed and that I had received. I thought my car's electronic computer had recorded my real car's kms and would feed them to the new odometer. But this is not the case. I think that the memory of the Kms is on the card and not on the car's computer.(But the 2 km displays work.) Do you know the part on the circuit board that keeps in memory the real kilometers of the car or do i have to desolder the defective part (the one you show in your video) and replace it on my original odometer. I installed the complete US odometer in my car which works very well but with 268700 kms. So do you know the part that keeps in memory the real kilometers on the circuit board. If you have the answer, please let me know. Thank you so much !!

[@carapprentice]

Yes, the odometer values are stored on the cluster; I'm not sure exactly which chip. The back light in my cluster went out again after a few months, so I may be taking it apart soon.

[@pierredemarseille]

@@carapprentice Thank you very much Ben for your quick response. Indeed I also understood that the kilometers were in memory on the cluster itself and me too the backlight is not terrible despite that I inserted bulbs from my other french cluster, I mean blue bulbs. This is due to the printed circuit of my Us counter which I found more worn than the French one because when installing the blue bulbs, they did not screw together tightly. Another question please, would you know why my original French meter, after having welded the component module, which was finally irreparable, because I don't know which component or several had caused this breakdown, would you know why, so, when I started the car, the needle of the central counter marked 25 km/hour when stopped, which forced me to put the Us counter which remained at 0 Km/hour when I started the car . Conclusion, my Us cluster works very well but the lighting of the blue bulbs does not all work, and I have a cluster which lights up quite well but not perfectly as the French cluster lit, wear of the Us printed circuit. Here I hope I expressed myself well and I also thank you for all your videos which helped me a lot for the disassembly of the shock absorbers for example and other things because I am a fan of the Honda Legend 3L5 since then many years ! You are the best Ben, thank you!!!

[@carapprentice]

@@pierredemarseille I'm not quite sure why the needle in the French cluster showed 25 km/hr when stopped.

[@Francis0275]

I have a Legend 97 and my speedometer and trip are not longer working. I have checked the main board and the transistor D1258 went out and cannot find this transistor in my country. Someone told me that the Accord 2006 cluster could have this kind of transistor in it board, do you know if it possible? Because I could buy an Accord cluster and take the part that I need.

[@KroMagnum60]

I've got a question for you. I have a 2002 RL with a non working back light odometer. Such as this one you repaired. My RL has 90K miles. I'd like to get another cluster and do a swap out. But the new one shows 220K plus on the test bench. Will replacing the cluster with another one show my "true" mileage of the car? Some info I've found says the actual miles in stored in the ECM. Which makes sense. What's your thoughts on this from your experience?

[@carapprentice]

If it's like the 1999, the data is stored in the cluster; I don't know which chip on the board might hold that data. I would search for something like "cluster reprogramming acura rl". There should be quite a few offerings.

[@KroMagnum60]

Thanks for the quick reply sir. It was suggested from a well informed seller of a replacement cluster, to swap out the board if the true mileage does not display. But wasn't sure which component on the board. And also noted there are either 7 and 8 pin connectors depending on the year of the RL. With some work and trial and hopefully no error, I'll get the correct mileage to show on the new cluster. Thanks again man.@@carapprentice

[@KroMagnum60]

I used the "cluster reprogramming acura rl" as a search. There's a service that will repair the cluster for just 139.00 and have it back to me in a few days. Plus a service to reprogram a new cluster with actual car's mileage.$99.00 Yes, the mileage is stored in the cluster(chip) on my 2002 RL. I'm leaning towards sending the cluster in and getting it repaired.

[@carapprentice]

@KroMagnum60 Yes, I would consider having a knowledgeable person do the work to save time and headaches.

[@hippopominy9]

Did you up grade your dash back lights with LEDs?

[@carapprentice]

I got the cluster from someone who installed LEDs.

[@hippopominy9]

Aw ok I was hoping give me the part number for those bulbs cuz I'm trying to do mine like that. They did a good job, it looks great

[@carapprentice]

@@hippopominy9My understanding is that they are T5 3-SMD bulbs.

[@hippopominy9]

Oh thx that's a big help. Would you also happen to know the light bulb for the thing that tells you the mileage on your vehicle 🤔

[@carapprentice]

@@hippopominy9 The bulb for the odometer display is integrated and can't be replaced. If you wanted to replace other bulbs such as the climate control, window switches, cruise control switch, etc, they appear to be T3.

[@spencerreif9879]

I have a 2002 acura rl, sometimes you have to turn the key 10 times to get it to turn over, the odo dosnt show anymore and today my gauge cluster started staying lit even with the key removed? Any ideas man??

[@carapprentice]

It sounds like the electrical portion of the ignition switch may be bad. Page 23-70 in the Body Electrical section of the service manual has some tests and replacement instructions: www.mediafire.com/file/uvbmryok1ax4vbs/Acura_RL_-_Factory_Service_Manual_%25281996-2004%2529.zip/file

[@Worldwidecastillo]

What size bulbs are they? I need to replace mine on my 98 RL. My odometer light doesn’t go on.

[@carapprentice]

Are you asking about the cluster bulbs for the gauges or the odometer light? For the '99, I simply soldered several pins to restore the odometer back light.

[@Worldwidecastillo]

I have a few bulbs on the speedometer that are out. You know the size? Also my odometer isn’t working is there a fuse or a bulb for that? Or do I have to replace the whole cluster?

[@carapprentice]

@@Worldwidecastillo As far as the odometer is concerned, this video addresses that issue for the '99 - may be the same for the '98. There is no bulb or fuse to replace that will correct the issue. Here are the OEM bulbs for the cluster: www.oemacuraparts.com/v-1998-acura-rl--base--3-5l-v6-gas/electrical-exhaust-heater-fuel--meter-components If you wanted to install LEDs, my understanding is that they are T5 3-SMD bulbs. If you wanted to replace other bulbs, such as the climate control, window switches, cruise control switch, etc, they appear to be T3. You'll want to confirm for the '98, since I'm not sure how similar it is to the '99.

[@Worldwidecastillo]

Yeah I just replaced the lights T5 LEDs. As u mentioned No bulb for the odometer. Sucks.

[@ignaciomaccari1906]

Buenas soy de argentina y tengo un legend c32 necesito de tu ayuda, gracias!

[@carapprentice]

Si, como puedo ayudarle?

[@BRobinson28]

Where are you located imma just send my Acura down to you

[@carapprentice]

Since I'm not a certified tech, I only work on family members' cars. If you send it to me, you may not get it back 🙂 Seriously, I may be able to assist with diagnosing the issue.

[@mttweeks]

My DC board was bad. Replaced the D1815 transistor and fixed the solder joints. Still have no odometer. Does anyone know what the input and output voltage is supposed to be? I only have 2.5v input to the board. Seems like that is my problem but this voltage is shared with the needle LEDs. That does seem like an LED voltage so not sure if my problem is in the main board or still in the small converter board.

[@carapprentice]

Based on the little I know about LEDs, 2.5V seems adequate. I'm not sure of the outgoing voltage to odometer board - I'm not able to work on my car right now, so I can't provide that info. There's a link to an alternate fix in the video description if you want to check it out.

[@mttweeks]

@@carapprentice Ehh, that doesn't make sense to me. His board requires an input voltage of at least 1.5v more than the output voltage. That is a step down dc-dc voltage board he is installing. I think it needs to step up, especially if it is only 2.5v input (which is probably my issue). Also i think it should be a dc-ac inverter. Vacuum fluorescent displays should have an AC voltage. Appreciate your help. Wish someone repairing this would have measured the voltage to point me in the right direction but I can't find anything.

[@priscilladavis3758]

Do you repair for others, because I can't do that?

[@carapprentice]

Unfortunately, I don't offer a repair service. A local TV repair shop may be able to complete the repair I showed, but I may have to do a follow-up video because my odometer's back light went out several months after posting this video. I haven't had a chance to investigate why it failed a second time.

[@aliumitozturk14]

good evening, I am writing from Turkey, I wanted to get information from you about the problem with my honda legend car.if I'm not going to bother you, I want to contact you, of course, if it's convenient for you.thank you

[@carapprentice]

Feel free to message me on Facebook or Instagram: @carapprentice

[@aliumitozturk14]

hello, i don't use instagram or facebook, can i send you pictures of the car on watsapp

[@carapprentice]

@@aliumitozturk14 I don't use Whatsapp. You can email me: [e-mail]

[@aliumitozturk14]

Hi