How To Repair Odometer Faded Backlight Acura TL 1999 - 2003+

[@volchip]

One trick that I have used on this type of electronic problem is to remove the PCB board which drives the lamps. Take a lead free soldering iron ( higher temperature soldering than old type of leaded soldering iron) and touch each solder point reflowing the solder. What happens in a 99-03 or later car is that the lead free solder connections fail due to lack of lead. All modern electronics must have lead free solder. No exceptions. The inside of the car gets very hot in say Arizona which stress the solder. As the temperature changes the solder needs to expand and then contract when the car cools with the AC on full. in time the connections start to fail since the solder does not flow without enough lead! It takes only one connection to make the lamps not work! I fixed my CLS 03 this way using your video and my lead free soldering irons your video was key.

[@satwatchers]

Great job. I love the fact you showed us the website! Now I finally have a source for genuine parts. I have been searching for something like this for years. Thanks!

[@EMSV66]

Hi, Great video, very easy to follow. However, I don't really understand why you had to replace the circuit board as it seemed only the lights were out. I have another question: Do they use the same bulbs for the clock lighting? My clock is working but at night I cannot see it. Thanks!

[@Geetavish]

Excellent video tutorial. I took my 2003 Acura to a repair shop to replace the dashboard clock light. They repaired it but now I find the light behind the odometer backlight is not lighting up as well as the dashboard 5th gear backlight.

[@Geetavish]

Continues… is this due to some error while replacing the dashboard clock light? Happened on the same day of repair.

[@bigreendot]

Apparently with the 1999-2003 TLs, CLs, and RLs when you replace some bulbs on the dash/clusters, the other bulbs tend to give up, usually best to replace all available bulbs if possible whenever removing a few from same removal of panels.

[@jbyrd2401]

Great Video for All of us trying to Preserve These Amazing ClassicAcura Vehicles! Thank You Greatly *;*

[@danjohnson1645]

GREAT video and thanks for the time and effort you put into showing how this is accomplished. I have a 2004 Acura MDX and the odometer light and open door indicators are not illuminated. If you have a moment, can you comment if this procedure would be the same for the 2004 Acura MDX? The video you did was informative and provided excellent insight as to how to remove the dash panel cover and what will be found underneath. Again, GREAT job and thanks!

[@nickrainone4131]

Did you get this fixed on your 04 mdx? I’m currently having the same issue

[@TeksTherapy]

I'd love to do that for you but I don't know of anyone who has one. I can tell you one thing. I had many cars and took many apart to install things like amplifiers. Most panels are held in place with clips and if you pull on it gently they usually release. You can follow the steps in this video and maybe even check out my car amplifier installation video on my 06 Lexus to see how I take that car apart. These video tips can help you figure out your car. Take your time, you'll do fine

[@EMSV66]

Thanks again for the great video! Everything worked fine for me. In case anyone need the part for the lightbulb for the clock: 78181-SOK-A21: SOCKET (9.5V 1.14W)

[@parth0096]

can you do a video on replacing the gear indicator bulbs? my D5 light burned out on my 2003 TL type-s

[@alexjones7202]

I am having the same problem.

[@redsunny1918]

Hello! Tell me, what is the need for part No. 78147-SOK-A01"Print panel"?

[@KevinCln1]

I'm going to attempt this soon on our 2003 Acura TL. I know the 4 light bulbs are for the odometer back lighting. But, what was the small circuit board for.... ?? Our gear shift selector light is also out & I'm going to fix that myself too...

[@gmcx215]

thank you so much for having this tutorial i thought i was the only one that was having this problem..... very well done great video

[@ratbait5471]

This video helped me a lot. I just needed to put a piece of black tape on the check engine indicator.

[@vibra64]

When you pull out all the cables: when plugging them back in are they color coded or are they keyed to a socket? Also why would you need the odometer circuit board if only the lights needed to be replaced? Thanks good video.

[@TeksTherapy]

I thought I explained everything in the video?

[@jacobwebb8818]

They are keyed to the socket for anyone viewing this comment in the future, at least they were in my Accord

[@jacobwebb8818]

They are keyed to the socket for anyone viewing this comment in the future, at least they were in my Accord

[@jrjoey11]

ProvenHelper Do the other 4 light bulbs also light up the gear indicator in the dashboard (not the D5 but the tiny black square next to it)???? if not could you please tell which is the part fot it?? Thanks!

[@azimmey]

besides making me throw up 3 times cause of motion sickness :) it is a awesome video. My 97 RL is out but the main board is fried too :( no speedometer or trip. I had a repair shop send it somewhere to get fixed and they sent it back saying the board was fried (that's why I sent it there the dopes) but it came back worse cause now no temp gauge. Thank god I still have a gas gauge.

[@sotheamam1244]

Will those light bulbs fit 1996 rl Odormeter

[@johnnystewart6385]

Does the circuit board you installed control the speedometer as well? My speedometer does not work. My millage stopped working as well. Thanks in advance for your feed back.

[@dramzey68]

Do they make brighter bulbs for the odometer?

[@TeksTherapy]

After you replace all the bulbs, trust me everything is much brighter. But you might be able to find perhaps some led replacement bulbs in different colors. The OEM bulb with the maroon housing seen in my video is a Toshiba V-2 bulb. Good luck! And subscribe for future videos on the Acura.

[@SirBunghole]

I just swapped out the transistors on the board for new ones. Much cheaper and it worked. You can get them on aliexpress just search for the part number D1947A or 2SD1947A.

[@TeksTherapy]

Hmm did you make a video? Or take photos?

[@SirBunghole]

Sorry no. But they are good old school through-hole parts.Easy to take out and put in. A few minutes to do them.

[@volchip]

@@SirBunghole The transistors are NPN TO-220 devices. Any TO220 NPN will work.

[@charlesgibbs2009]

Does this goes for clock light also?

[@TeksTherapy]

@gmcx215 Thank you! I have to admit that I like getting comments from people who had success in doing their repairs because of my videos.

[@rvennerbeck]

Great! Very informative, Thank you.

[@TeksTherapy]

Thank you,.

[@johnrussert4848]

Will the PC work on a 1999 acura RL? Your You Tube video is very helpful.

[@TeksTherapy]

John Russert The process should be exactly the same for your #AcuraRL dashboard or very similar. Expand the information under my video for the website I used to find the part numbers. #CARDIY

[@bradsavage9837]

@@TeksTherapy I’d really appreciate any help or guidance for the RL thanks so much!

[@brybo86]

Did you ever replace the board on your RL? Mine is completely black/out.

[@joseeruiz8945]

very good & helpful DIY video thanks .

[@TeksTherapy]

Thanks Jose.

[@sonofaleph2140]

Great video...easy to follow

[@KevinCln1]

Thanks man. I just subscribed & I will stay posted for more Acura TL stuff. THANK YOU... ;-)

[@4000012528]

What are the bulb sizes?

[@hotclick11]

Thank you! Very informative & still works. I just replaced the circuit board & the LCD display came back on.

[@kabkbaas6127]

Would the be the same as my 1996 Acura RL? I can see up to 80klms in a dimmer light.... after that it gets brighter up to 200klms, then dims down like the opposite side. The odometer / trip meter etc. is completely black and unreadable! Thanks for any help u can provide.. nutech12 AT hotmaiL DoT Com

[@u4iagirl1]

I was advised by my local Acura dealer that by doing this it will reset the odometer to zero. They said I would have to send it off to be recalibrated to the correct mileage. Does anyone know if that is true? In the video it looks like you can just swap them out with no problem. Please help!

[@Mcbebblestin]

+u4iagirl1 resale value would be a lot higher ;)

[@SANJOSE1919]

u4iagirl1. that's. false

[@DaNnY88268]

what you are replacing is just the monitor not the computer, so no it will not reset

[@mbcaiost]

Great video man. Thank you!

[@TeksTherapy]

Thank you!

[@TeksTherapy]

The print panel is the LCD screen that was really dim. BTW: I just posted 2 new videos for the 2003 Acura TL. One is about fixing the hood lifts, and the other is about installing quiet wipers; just go to my channel by clicking on my channel name link (homeaddition) and look for my latest videos. P.S. You should subscribe because I plan to do a lot more DIY videos for that car :)

[@TeksTherapy]

@Riskteven Sorry, I'm not sure.

[@hippopominy9]

Very helpful

[@Suminion93]

I just swapped mines out and it’s completely black now ugh what a waste of time and money. I don’t know if they sent me the right one but not I don’t see anything on my miles

[@TeksTherapy]

Wow that's strange.

[@bigreendot]

Maybe it wasn't making contact with your new bulb when you put it in

[@Myrahh86]

Just when I go to buy the board, they discontinued it 🤦‍♂️

[@demetriusholmes6034]

Anyone, will this same fix apply to a 2001 RL i have the same issue

[@TeksTherapy]

99% most likely. Just go to a website like www.acurapartswarehouse.com/oem/acura~panel~print~reg~78147-S0K-A01.html and search for your own part #'s.

[@brybo86]

Did you ever replace the board on your RL? Mine is completely black/out.

[@TeksTherapy]

Great thanks!

[@ninhbac04]

I wish you bough LED lights so I can see what it looks like.

[@STONEMAKERCANADA]

hey

[@PeterRichardsandYoureNot]

Shake the camera more... I haven’t quite finished throwing up ALL of my dinner yet. There’s a bit more in there. ;-)

[@corban_young4079]

Peter Richards cancer