This is one of the BEST repair videos to date! Clear, logical, and thorough with good emphasis on order. I fixed one following your video, though I actually soldered a bridge similar to your circuit pen trace Thank you very much, this saved our day!!
Matt, my brother, you are THE MAN! When I got to the part where you talked about the CircuitWriter pen, I immediately paused it and Googled it to see where I could get it locally. I'm by no means proficient at soldering. I can do it but the results aren't pretty and I need lots of space between the part being soldered and basically anything else.... components, pets, kids, etc. When I saw the pen, I knew that was going to be the way to go due to the very tight space. Finished watching the video, jumped in the car and headed to Fry's Electronics and got the pen for $16.00 + tax. Heading out to the garage now to attack the issue and with a little bit of organization regarding the screws, plenty of patience and focus I should be able to knock this out of the park in about half an hour. I've already got the radio pulled. Wish me luck! UPDATE: After using the pen I let the unit sit overnight as per the directions on the pkg. I then reassembled everything and reinstalled it. The backlight worked until I turned on the headlights to check the button lighting. The backlight went out and the buttons remained dark. I suspect I didn't get enough of the "ink" applied to the rear side of the amp fuse - it's really tight in there with extremely limited access as you know. I am going to pull the radio back out and redo that area to see if that is the case. FINAL UPDATE: I am happy to report that the application of more of the conductive "ink" solved the problem. My radio's display as well as the backlighting of the HVAC buttons are working properly. Thank you again for this video!
Steve, that's awesome! Great job fixing this yourself and figuring out why the backlight quit working after your first try. It's definitely a tight area and I was concerned I would have the same problem that you did. I'm really glad to hear this video helped. Thanks for sharing your success story, and thanks for watching!
***** I'm actually trying this out with my brothers car and I'm hoping everything goes fine I hope I don't mess the whole system up or I hope I put enough ink.
Matt; I just completed the repair, ad your tutorial was MOST HELPFUL ! Thanks for the detailed steps ! I actually removed the defective current limiter and just soldered across the 2 spots on the board. super easy and took me 10 minutes. I just applied the soldering gun to one side at a time and the limiter popped right out. I did have to grind down the tip of my soldering iron in order to fit into the narrow opening on the outboard side of the limiter. Again, a huge thanks for your tutorial ! ~Phil.
Dude you the man! I did this repair exactly as you did. Works perfectly now on my ‘03. Thanks for posting this. Makes it easy if you know right where to go to find the bad component. Circuit writer with a tiny micro paint brush. 👍👍👍👍. PS Honda dealer told me like 2 grand to fix.
Thanks for posting the two videos. I was able to fix my son's 2003 Accord radio in about two hours (one hour on the repair and the other hour searching for tools). I used the jumper wire method. I soldered a small wire from the right side of the component you point out that's bad to the left side of the one just above it (they are electrically connected). Worked fine and I saved about $500. Thanks!!
It worked like a charm. Thanks Matt Payne! I've been driving around with a flashlight at the ready so I could tell what my screen said. Now, I'm all set. Thanks for the tip.
+Forrest Cook That's great to hear! I'm really glad this worked for you and that you found my video to be helpful. Thanks for sharing your success story, and congratulations for repairing your vehicle on your own!
This video saved me a few hundred dollars. My 04 Accord was way out of warranty and I didn't want to put too much money on it. The circuit writer pen is expensive ($23 at my local Radio Shack) but it works. The ink was not conductive at first when I checked it with a multimeter but it became conductive after 24 hours. Now my radio display and AC button lights are working again. Thanks,
+Brian Chen After two months, when driving with head lights on, I smelled something burning and then the radio panel lights and all AC control button lights went out. Not sure what happened but I think it has something to do with the repair.
Thanks Matt that just worked for me too, the component you are jumpering it R197 R being a resister. It’s super hard to get to the left side and circuit pen didn’t work for me, maybe a bad pen. So I unsoldered the right hand side and wiggled the resister until it snapped off leaving the left leg and enough room to solder across from leg to track pad. Worked perfectly. Cheers
Hey Matt, great job on the video. Did your repair on my Honda and it worked. Started the repair on a Saturday and being the impatient soul that I am only waited 20 hrs and initially thought repair a no go for me.It's my second car with snows that I drive in winter. Three days later start it up and bingo. Lesson learned wait the full 24 hours for the circuit writer to cure. Thx
Hey Dennis, that's great to hear! I'm really glad it worked out. I can't take credit for the idea, but I'm happy to know you found this video helpful. It's nice being able to do things on your own and save money, isn't it? Thanks for watching!
Thanks, matt, this was so helpful, even though this video is 7 years old, I fixed my Radio display with your three-part video. I followed your video, with a small change, instead of the circuit writer pen, I got some soldering help from a friend who used a piece of wire and jumped it keeping the resistor in place on the board. The fix worked and my display is back on. PS: Just so others know the resistor that is bad is R797.
Common problem that Honda was well aware of. The dealer replaced mine no charge. They tried to say the supercharger cause excess voltage spikes. Now my speedometer backlight is out. All of the other lights work.
I really appreciated all of your great detailed instructions on this application. I am getting ready to attack mine……I have the same thing, but i noticed that my radio does not have the anti theft light on the right side. Hoping that will not make a difference. You really did a great job and cannot say enough about your attention to detail.
+MegatTomslick1 Thanks for the compliments! I am not 100% sure, but I don't think the lack of anti-theft will make a difference. If your circuit board looks identical to the one in my video, then you should be good to go. Good luck, and let me know how it goes!
Hi Matt, I saw Mitch's video, but since he did not show the part where he actually soldered or bridged the wires, I was left not knowing how to perform the task. He did provide the alternative pen method and then I came across your video. I thought your video was going to show a more detailed approach to soldering/bridging the cables; however, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw you used the pen method!! I might go with this method. (Maybe you should include "pen method" on the title of the video.) Thank you for demonstrating a more detailed process with the removal and placement of the radio, as well.
Matt - this video is awesome. Very clear and concise. I'm going to attempt this today, but first: the symptoms of my honda 2006 accord are that the auxiliary button (I installed cable and had been working great for years until this problem) and the cd player no longer function. Radio still works, although sometimes cuts out on me (sound up, no volume). Backlights sometimes go out, although sometimes work too. Yesterday, the cd player randomly started working after months of not working, but then when I attempted switching cds, the new cd did not play. Also, I noticed that my battery tends to die or drains pretty frequently, and I'm wondering if that's related. Finally, my a/c unit stopped working as well. Have any of your followers/commenters experience the same or similar problems? Thanks for your help!
Thomas Jameson Thomas, thanks for the kind words! I can't take credit for the actual solution, as I found that posted elsewhere, but I'm glad my video series was helpful to you. As for your issues, commenter catie hamrick mentions a similar issue with the radio audio sometimes coming/going, and after some research, I found that lots of other people have experienced that as well. It turns out Honda actually issued a recall for 2003 and 2004 Accord factory radios - I found a copy of the Technical Service Bulletin here: ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/thebesthonda/2009-03-10_213318_03_accord_radio_illumination.pdf I would contact your dealership to see if they'll work with you, even if you may be beyond the warranty period. I read a post on one message board that said a dealership had paid half of someone's repair even though they were out of the warranty period. It sounds like you probably have a bad radio motherboard, or a shorted power or speaker wire, but it would probably take a lot of troubleshooting to determine the exact cause. I would start by calling your local dealership to see if they will help you out. If not, maybe you can purchase a used factory radio and install it. Let me know what the dealership says....I'm sure lots of other people would like to know, too! Good luck!
third time's a charm :) I did this project over the weekend and I had to try 3 times with the circuitwriter pen, so a total of 3 coats, but after the third attempt it worked! It actually didn't work at first after the 3rd attempt, but the lights all started fading to bright after the radio was on for about 15 mins on the 3rd attempt and now they all work fine! Hopefully it stays working! Thanks for the instructions!
Matthew Piro Matthew, that is great to hear! Congratulations on tackling this on your own and for having the patience to keep at it until you solved the problem! Thanks for watching and commenting.
Thanks for the detailed video. I lost the backlight on my 2003 Accord radio and had seen a few videos but yours was the one I followed. Good instruction and my radio (& AC controls) are visible again. The clips on the bottom of the radio panel were a bit tricky. BTW my radio included a CD changer but the resister/diode/fuse component was in the same place. I ground it away with a Dremel and bridged the connection points with solder.
I just wanted you to know that your repair video was very detailed and explicit. I'm not sure I want to do this work myself but I can recommend your particular video to a repair technician who can do it for me. Thanks for such a fine explanation and demonstration. Richard M.
Matt, Thanks for posting this. My radio went dark couple of weeks ago and I was looking for some clues and I rather hit the jackpot here. I'll give this a try on weekend. I looked for replacement circuit board (OEM) and its somewhere b/w 75-100 bucks. Even if I ended up buying new board, I'll still have 200-300 bucks that I have to give dealer to fox this. !
First of all thank you sooo much for taking your time in making these videos. It was very detailed and helpful. Anybody that has this very common problem , I'm sure they can fix it. My circuit board was a little different but same concept and i fixed mine with your hep. Thanks again.
Emyrose Martinez Thanks for the compliment! I'm really glad you were able to repair your radio. It always makes me happy to hear that one of my videos helped someone. Congratulations on repairing your vehicle on your own!
Hey, at 14:00 that is a Virginia State Inspection sticker! I have an '03 that needed this fix. Dealer did it. Very common problem on these turdbox Hondas. Now the backlight for the speedometer is out.
It’s difficult to see, but did you just coat the outside of the resistor with the pen? And maybe one side? Or is there more to it? This fix is in my future and I just want to be sure.
Hi Matt. Great video, very detailed. I am having the same problem on my 04 Accord EX sedan. I have a few questions for you. 1. What would you say is the difficulty level for using the pen on your radio? I would like to attempt this but I am not that skilled at using one as I never had before. 2. Would this all work the same way for an 04 Accord radio? 3. What’s the success rate of doing all this? I would hate to do all this for nothing. Great video again and thanks for helping us Accord owners!
I actually did everything on your video. It worked. the thing is that when I put everything back up and running I tried to use my AUX which is an external cable and it doesn't work. I dk if it is something on the radio itself or that maybe the aux unplogged itself, because it doen't even show AUX on the radio when I press the button. Help please
Liz Tang I'm really sorry to hear that, Liz. That is the first time I've heard of that problem. What year was your vehicle manufactured? It is my understanding that the factory 2003 radio did not have a built in "AUX" connection, even though there is a "CD/AUX" button on the radio face. I believe the AUX connection has to be an aftermarket plug-in connection that hooks to the back of the radio. If your vehicle was made in 2003 or earlier, I would suspect that your auxiliary connection did not get hooked back up when you re-installed the radio unit in the dash. Where is the "AUX IN" plug located?
***** Liz, check out this video, particularly at about the 5:35 mark: ruclips.net/video/4yP3YGCtQ_I/видео.html It looks like the AUX adapter plugs into the bottom of the radio, so it may be possible that the connector pulled out without you even realizing it when you removed the radio from the dash. You may have to remove the storage bin from below the radio unit to see if you can find the connector in there. Good luck!
This is an awesome video btw. My has a 2003 accord with the same issue. After watching your video last week I decided to do it for my friend. Removing the trim panel/ radio was a breeze I wad able to remove it in less than 10 min. While I was opening up the radio I noticed it was different than yours. I had to remove the cd portion to get to the motherboard. It was completely different than yours. There's no r797 fuse/amp. It was a complete was of time.
JAMESON DORCELY Ah man, I'm really sorry to hear that it didn't work out for you Jameson. I've heard from several other people that their radio unit is different, like your friend's. If anyone else here reads this and can offer some advice, please chime in. Thanks for the kind words. Good luck....I hope you can find some information about your friend's radio.
Matt, awsome video. Before I begin this task , I have a quick question for you. The ink circuit path is only there to bypass the chip ? Your toothpick is there to prevent the ink to make contact with the chip on both sides ? Sorry for my bad english , I hope you are understanding my questions.
hey, congrats on fixing the problem that bugs most honda accord drivers. so how's everything working out so far? since you just bridged it over with a sort of conductive paint without any resistance, did it cause anything else in the car not working at all? I just took everything apart today, and am thinking to bridge with a 220 ohm resistor over it and see how that would work.
Hi kszeng, thanks for watching. I actually performed this repair for a friend, who later sold the car to another friend of my family. According to the new owner, so far everything is working as it should, with no side effects from the repair. I don't know for sure if any resistance is required in this circuit, or if the failed part was simply a fail-safe fuse. Obviously my repair is not factory-quality, and I imagine if there was a surge in voltage/current, then other components could potentially be damaged. However, on a 10-year-old vehicle, my friend did not want to spend a lot of money to fix the problem and was willing to take the risk of bypassing the failed component. I'm not sure if a 220 ohm resistor will work or not, but if you try it out, let me know how it does...I'm curious to know.
hi there may also be a resistor for the AC button because there is no signal on to the Relai in the engine room but the entire air conditioning works when bridges the relays on .thx
hey bro good vid. i have the same issue back lights and center console lights... i followed ur vid but my circuit board is diff theres no r797 resistor
Shavoy, I'm sorry to hear that. Yuleni posted above that she encountered the same problem. You can check out my suggestion to her above. Beyond that, I'm afraid I'm stumped by that situation. I'm sorry I'm not more help. Maybe a specialty electronics shop could at least help you identify the problem? I hope you're able to get it figured out. Let me know if you do. Good luck!
Yeah, the board on my 2005 is completely different and doesn't have the same piece that is at the heart of the problem. Unfortunately that wasn't evident until I got well into it. And unfortunately Google search only gets this as the best match and still not finding anything to cover the difference. Just wanted to put that here before someone else rips into it as far as I did before finding out they couldn't finish. Great video -- just doesn't give me all I need.
Doug Meyer Dough, so sorry to hear you got all that way only to realize your motherboard is different! Several other folks have had that same problem. I wish I could offer a solution, but this particular vehicle is the only one I've done this repair on. Hopefully someone else will be able to figure it out and can post their method here. Good luck, and please let us all know if you do figure it out. Thanks for watching and commenting!
+imoldskul I mentioned this somewhere else, but will repeat here in hope that it helps you and others. What I ended up doing was buying a rebuilt one off of eBay. BUT, not only did that one have a problem, but so did the 2 replacements I got under warranty too -- each slightly different problem, like one the lights didn't work, and another the climate controls didn't work. In the end, the place I was buying it from recommended upgrading to the 6 CD version instead. It was a little more, but fit just fine (but had to watch to get the correct climate controls, since that has both a single and dual version). Since installing that one, I have had NO PROBLEMS AT ALL! I would highly recommend this option -- just be sure the place you are buying it from understands you are doing an "upgrade swap" and will work with you if the one you get isn't the correct one.
Hi Matt, I am performing this job on my car radio and I am at the point where I have the circuit board before me and to my surprise, I do not have a 2.3 ohms receptor where it should be. I have the one above and the one below, but the receptor that belongs in the middle is missing. Instead, what I believe I have is the metal rectangular shaped part that goes below the receptor and it says 000. How would you recommend I proceed?
Hi Yuleni, that is pretty strange for sure. It sounds like perhaps the resistor in question became detached, so there is no way for the current to pass from one side of where the resistor should be to the other side. I'm not really an expert with circuit boards, but if I was in your position, I would probably take my digital multimeter (used to test electrical circuits - if you don't own one, just Google search "multimeter"; you can purchase one at any home improvement store) and use it to check for continuity across where that resistor should be. The multimeter should come with instructions on the different settings; once you set it to the setting to measure for continuity, touch one of the wire leads to one side of where the resistor should be, and then use the other wire lead to touch the other side of where the resistor should be. What you are testing for is to see if current is flowing from one side to the other (in other words, circuit " continuity); if there is continuity, the multimeter should play an audible tone. More than likely you will find that there is no continuity, meaning that you will need to "draw" a splice in with a circuit writer pen to allow current to pass from one side to the other. To be sure, you can also take a small piece of wire and touch the ends on either side of where the resistor should be and then check for continuity again. You should then get circuit continuity. If so, I would then try using the circuit writer pen method to bridge the gap where the resistor should be. However, please take this advice with caution, as I am not an expert. Please try this at your own risk. Let me know if you are able to figure it out though. Good luck!
Hi Matt, thank you for your reply. I really appreciate it. I actually used the circuit writer pen and applied the ink just as you did on the video. (I did this before reading your reply.) I dismissed the fact that I did not have a resistor because I figured the reason why people were having issues with their backlight was because the resistor was not working, so not having one at all would not make a difference. After I applied the ink, I waited the recommended time instructed on the writer pen until it dried. I placed the radio back on and sadly, it did not fix the backlight. At this point, I really just want to buy the 2.3 amp fuse or resistor (online inconsistency on whether the black part is a fuse or resistor). Would you happen to know where I can purchase this resistor. I have searched for hours. Radio shack has the 2.2 receptor, but it doesn't look like the black part I need. Another online user used the 2.2 and reported negative results (it did not work). Would you happen to know where I can find this famous resistor? I still have the circuit board in front of me. I took it out again.
Yuleni Pulido Yuleni, unfortunately I really don't know where to purchase this part, or even what specifically it is. When I did my repair, I read a lot of different opinions about whether this component was a actually a resistor, or something else. In your case, I would still suggest checking for circuit continuity now that you have "drawn" a circuit bridge. It could be possible that your conductive ink just did not make good electrical contact on one side or the other, thus not allowing current to flow through. A continuity test would tell you. If that checks out, I'm afraid I'm out of suggestions....perhaps a specialty electronics shop could point you in the right direction if you took the circuit board in to show them what you are working on? Let me know how it goes. Best of luck!
Hi matt, My mother has an 03 Honda Accord LX. It had all the same symptoms to your video( radio not working, lights wont work underneath radio) Although once I opened up the radio, the lay out was completely different. The screws were internal and actually under the disk tray which I had to remove. Once finally getting to the actual motherboard there was no black resistors, and everything was completely different. I was wondering if you knew the solution to this or if you knew the correct resistor/fuse to this model motherboard that I have. Thanks for the help!
Dustin Hovanec Dustin, I am really sorry to say that I am not sure where the bad resistor can be found on the different motherboard that you have. You and several other people have all commented about having a different setup in your radio unit. I really wish I could offer more help! I would look for a Honda forum to see if any folks there can help you out. As popular as Accords are, I imagine someone somewhere has isolated the resistor on the motherboard that you have and can assist you. Thanks a lot for watching, and I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you solve your issue. Please check back in if you do figure it out! Good luck!
***** Hi Dustin, start checking all the resistors and caps, and diodes there are plenty of vids out there that can teach you this if you do not know how. A very good DMM (digital multimeter) can be purchased at harbor freight Item #98674 even if it is not on sale this is a fantastic meter has more functions than my Fluke. I even use the temp probe on the oven so I have an exact temp. Ok, you can eliminate the power supply since that works. back trace the backlight and test everything in that path. Oh, and when you find it. Don't forget to post it. Lastly see videos on how to discharge the caps. They keep a charge when the power supply is not on. Key words discharge capacitors or (caps). Good luck.
Thank you for the video, my car the radio work, but the lights on the buttons those which suppose to turn with the dash lights is not working night time I can't see the buttons any idea on what could be?
Hey Jake, I'm really sorry for the super delayed response...I'm not totally sure how you would an an auxiliary jack without some sort of adapter, but I am far from an electronics expert. I would check a Honda forum and look in the tech/electronics section...I'm sure someone there can help you out!
My 2003 Honda Accord EX radio and CD player will work after I enter the reset code, but the radio plays for about 2 minutes, then shuts down; while the radio is working during those two minutes, I CAN play a CD. All other features do work, like the heater, the lights, temp control, everything else, just not the radio. Does anyone have any idea what could be my problem. The dealer wants $135 just to diagnose, then, more, of course, to repair. I realize that all these posts took place a few years ago, but HELP? Just bought the car from the Honda dealer in Santa Maria, CA, and will contact them about the recall and try to get them to do the right thing. Matt's video was awesome. Couldn't figure out how to contact Matt. Would if I could figure that out.
Thanks Matt. I followed your tutorial about 2 months ago and I fixed the problem using a conductive ink gel. However, today the screen went black again. I used some conductive ink that came in a syringe, and I am not sure if it's lower quality ink than what you used, but I need to try to fix it again for good. Did anyone else radio went dark after a few months?
matase Man, that stinks...I'm sorry to hear that. The best fix would obviously be to remove the resistor and install a new one, but as far as I know, my repair is still working (the vehicle in my video belonged to a friend, and he has since sold it to another friend). I'm sorry that your repair didn't last longer.
***** It's alright, but it does suck a bit that I will have to remove all the paneling and the radio again. I just want to make sure your fix at least lasted for half a year? Maybe I'll put up the same conductive ink as what you used. I had some cheaper brand conductive ink, but it came in a more convenient syringe pack. I wouldn't be able to install a resistor in such a tight spot. My radio light didn't just die and never come back. For a few days after my radio screen went dark, sometimes my lights would come back on for like 10 seconds after I started my car in the morning. Maybe I am thinking, this cheaper kind ink deteriorated over time and now doesn't conduct electricity when that part of the circuit heats up.. Thanks for getting back to me.
matase I think you are definitely onto something about the conductive ink. It sounds like the circuit continuity is being affected either by the ink's conductivity, or possibly the ink failing and wearing off over time. Let me know if you are able to sort it out. Good luck!
Hi together, I've got a similar problem i.e my radio is the gps navigation system. That means the display is outsourced into the upper part of the middle dasboard. There one can find a smaller display then in the standard radio. This is becoming more and more dim after 13 years. Do you think this fuse is also the reason for my problem? The display is not totally dark but the readout is very bad at daylight.
If you look at the video showing the part there is a "R797" on the circuit board just to the right of the component. From what I read it is a 0.1 ohm resistor. Doubtless it is a "fusible resistor" meaning it is not there so much for the resistance but acting more like a fuse. On the other side of the metal to which it is close are power transistors which are affixed to the metal as a heat sink and R797 probably goes to one of them. Any other other power loss to the unit could possible be a similar resistor failure. A continuity/resistance check would tell much.
+Pie 4life I did the repair in this video in a friend's vehicle in October of 2013. He has since sold the car to another friend of my family that I see on a regular basis, and last time I asked, everything was still working normally. So the repair has lasted at least 27-28 months
Sorry just got this car as a commuter and having the same issue. My question is what exactly did you do? Did you just paint over it or connect them all together? I am not following lol.
So, i had this problem. I tackled it with vigor! I didn't get the results I wanted when I used the circuit writer pen and the liquid bleed over to the two side circuits a little. I then scraped it on each side to ensure there wasn't a connection between the 3 buttons. Also, the middle button didn't have the black cover on it so i just covered it all with the circuit pen. I then decided just to pop that piece off and put the solder between the two contacts under that piece. Now the display is not very bright. So I am worse off. I plan to add more solder with the pen in hopes that it just needs a thicker connection between the two contact points. Anyone have ANY advice or input? Thanks!
+28jonmark If adding more conductive ink with the pen does not help, you may want to try to put a jumper wire in and actually solder it in place, or purchase the actual resistor and solder it in. I got lucky in that my repair worked with the conductive ink, but others have had the same problem you have. Several people have also said they had a problem if they did not allow the conductive ink to "cure" for 24-48 hours before testing the repair. Good luck! I hope you can sort out your problem.
+Matt Payne I was able to get the the part I popped off 'glued' back down and let it 'cure' properly. And now the lights work!!! But unfortunately they stay on without the car being on so now I think/fear that my battery might drain down. have you seen others comment or share how they fixed this problem of the lights being on without the car turned on? Thanks for your quick response.
+28jonmark Man, that's a bummer....progress, but not quite there yet. Sorry to hear that. A few other people have commented that they had this same problem, but I'm not sure if anyone ever found a permanent solution. The temporary fix is to remove the fuse for the radio from the main fuse box when the vehicle is not in use, but that is obviously an annoying thing to have to do. I haven't been able to find a solution by browsing online forums, but you might want to do some research on your own. From what I've read, it sounds like there is a constant, unswitched 12V power supply to the radio for the clock. My guess is that some malfunction of the motherboard is allowing this power to cross over into the circuit for the radio display; or, it's possible that somehow your repair may have allowed this unswitched current to bleed into the display circuit. I'm sorry I can't give you a more definitive answer, but I hope you can figure it out. If all else fails, you could trace out the power wire going to the radio and install an in-line switch that you could turn on and off from inside the vehicle, rather than having to remove the radio fuse. Good luck!
+28jonmark +Matt Payne I am seeing the same problem and didn't really put a ton of ink on the resister. Since it's been a few months, are there any updates on what you did/if it is still working? Would love to know, as I am concerned it may further damage the stereo and/or drain the battery.
+Brandon Wells Hey Brandon, I'm sorry to hear you're having this issue. The vehicle I repaired in this video belonged to a friend, and he has since sold it, but I also know the person who purchased it. Last time I asked, the repair was still working OK, so it has lasted for at least 27-28 months to this point. I wish I could offer more information about what might be causing your situation, but other than a motherboard failure or some conductive ink bleeding onto another circuit, I'm not sure what to suggest. I'm far from an electronics expert, unfortunately. I would search some online Honda forums to see if you find any pertinent information...hopefully someone smarter than me can help you out. Best of luck, and please let me know if you figure something. That information could be invaluable to others who see this and have your same problem. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hi Matt, firstly awesome video .... I've been searching everywhere for a solution to this annoying problem. Hopefully you could help answer one question? My radio back light display is operating fine, however its the back lights for hvac control buttons for certain areas such as power button, ac functions and the disc stack numbers have stopped lighting up (climate control seems to be lighting up ok). Do you believe your repair will solve the issue? or does your repair need to be applicable to both the radio back light and as well as hvac back lights to not light up? Thanks !
Mark Luong Thanks for watching Mark! I'm sorry for the delayed response. I am honestly not totally sure if this repair will resolve only the AC control backlight issue. I have a feeling it would, but I am really only guessing about that. I'm not an electronics guru, so I hate to send you down the wrong road. I would look around for a Honda online forum to see what information you can dig up there. I'm sorry I'm not more help! Thanks for watching and commenting!
If you look at the video showing the part there is a "R797" on the circuit board just to the right of the component. From what I read it is a 0.1 ohm resistor. Doubtless it is a "power resistor" meaning it is not there so much for the resistance but acting more like a fuse. On the other side of the metal to which it is close are power transistors which are affixed to the metal as a heat sink and R797 probably goes to one of them. Any other other power loss to the unit could possible be a similar resistor failure. A continuity/resistance check would tell much.
Hey Matt, Thanks for the detailed video. I have a question btw. My radio and light are working now but only some buttons and ac controller (wind temperture and power control) does not have light. Do you think this is because of that fuse as well?
Hmm....that is an excellent question! I can't answer this definitively, but if you are willing to take the time to remove your radio, you should be able to test for resistance/continuity across the resistor I bypassed to see if you have an issue with yours. I'm sorry I can't give you a better answer. I hope you get it sorted out, though...please let me know what you find if you do dig into it. Good luck!
he'll yeah man, thanks good job on the video. I pulled the tiny piece off the circuit board then melted solder across connecting the two metal pieces. But did you realize the light used to be blue? I wonder if that bad piece had anything to do with the blueness? either way I'm happy, but kinda miss the ambient blue light.
+slumber56 Wow, really? That's weird. I actually never knew what color the light was originally, as the vehicle in this video belonged to a friend. I had never seen the backlight working. That is quite odd about the color changing, though I suppose the change could have something to do with the resistance in the circuit being decreased by bypassing the built-in resistor. I'm glad the repair worked for you....thanks for watching!
Hi Matt, Do you know by any chance if I could change the original unit with an aftermarket one and still keeping the face plate.The main reason would be that I don't want to change the look of my dashboard. I'm thinking of something that would perfectly fit with the face plate brackets and connections. Thanks ! great video btw.
+Nicolae Andronic Thanks for the kind words! Unfortunately, I am not aware of an aftermarket stereo unit that utilizes the factory faceplate. However, I want to say that I read about someone who had installed a separate stereo in the small compartment below the factory unit and left the factory unit in place. I'm not exactly sure how that would be wired though. I would start by visiting some Honda forums - I'm sure there are some really knowledgeable and helpful people out there. I honestly am really not very familiar with Hondas; the vehicle in this video actually belonged to a friend and I told him I'd help him try to fix the radio. That was pretty much my one and only experience working with a Honda (or car audio, for that matter!) Good luck to you - I hope you can find a solution that works. Thanks for watching!
Hey man great video followed everything and worked just great!! But there is one problem the HVAC lights stay on all the time even when the car is turned off do you know why??
Jose Callejas Jose, thanks for the kind words! I'm really sorry to hear that your backlight is staying on even when the car is turned off. Several other people have commented that they have had this same problem. I'm not exactly sure what causes that, but one viewer commented that he was able to correct this same problem by disconnecting the negative battery cable for 15-30 seconds. Another viewer recently commented that the dealer had told him this problem was related to the mother board and the only fix was to install a new radio. I would try disconnecting the negative battery cable to see if that works (I don't understand why that would do anything, but it's worth a try). Beyond that, you may have to contact the dealer, or do some research at an online Honda forum. I'm sorry I'm not more help, but I really hope you can figure out your issue without spending a lot of money. If you do find a solution, please share it here so others can benefit. Thanks, and good luck!
HI, nice video. I have a problem with my fm module on my motherboard. My motherboard appears to be the same as yours. Do you, by any chance, know where I can find the diagrams for this motherboard? I need to know which pin is the "af out" pin
Hi Orlando, I'm not totally sure, but check out the link below...you may find what you need there: www.tehnomagazin.com/Auto-radio-car-connector/HONDA-Car-Radio-Wiring-Connector.htm Otherwise, I would check out a Honda forum, specifically the tech/audio section. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I am can help you out. Good luck!
I know there's a ton of positive feedback on this video. I'm going to try it so I have some questions if someone can answer. Can someone who has done this confirm it works (my problem is the same as everyone else, no illumination on radio/heater display)? Is there anything pertinent to know that is not covered in the video? Thanks
thanks for the video, really helpful!! I did everything, and worked perfect! but when i started the car, the light turned off again!! I'm sure i left it for a day when i used the circuit pen!! any ideas plz?
Hi ma sa, thanks for watching, and I'm sorry to hear the repair didn't work out the first time! I'm not sure I have any brilliant suggestions, other than trying to make the repair again and insuring that you have good electrical contact on both sides of the bad component. If you try it again, you might want to leave peripheral trim pieces off for a few days just to make sure the repair works permanently...if not, you can always pull the radio back out easily that way. I hope you're able to sort it out. Let me know how it goes.
hi I love your video I have a factory radio in my Honda Accord just like yours but I have the 6 disc CD changer and all my CDs are stuck in it I want to take the radio off then try to take the CDs out myself how do you recommend I go about doing that
Hi I have a question, I have 2004 accord and my stereo is a regular like this eatereo on the video, is not working, so I bought one and is diferent say "dual" on the air butoms and is 6 cd changer, so do tou know if works on my car?
Lamont Robinson Hi Lamont, unfortunately I think the intermittent sound issue is probably a problem with the radio's motherboard. I believe the repair in this video will only repair the issue with the radio/AC controls backlight not working.
Hy Matt, nice video all i want to know is while coating that middle resister do we actually have to attach the ink with other two resisters as well. can u plz explain me briefly how to coat properly . much appreciated
Sallar, thanks for watching! You do not need to (and do not want to) connect the other resistors with the conductive ink. You simply want to create a "bridge" to bypass the bad resistor/fuse by connecting the right side to the left side with the conductive ink. I hope that makes sense. Good luck with your repair!
What if the ink ha a contact with the other two resisters, because when i was coating the bad resister the ink ha the connected on the sides of other resisters.i put the radio back and it did not worked. i there any possibility that i can clean the resister and try again
Sallar Bloch you need to clean that up or else you may end up with a short circuit. It's very important that you only bridge the one resistor shown in the video.
Sallar Bloch As diatribe pointed out already, you definitely need to try to clean the conductive ink off of the other resistors. If you have fused all three resistors together, I imagine the radio will not work and you could potentially do some serious damage if you try to operate it that way. I'm not sure what to suggest cleaning with, but I would check the fine print on your conductive ink pen to see what kind of solvent it suggests for clean up. Use it sparingly though. Good luck.
Does any body have problems with the volume going down on its own also is it possible to just replace the factory stereo with an other from the salvage yard ???
Hey Matt when you fixed this problem was it just for the back light that wasn't working or was it also the audio and display? bc I have the opposite problem back lights work but my stereo won't play and I have no display at the same time. And has the problem completely gone away?
Emmanuel, I fixed this problem in a friend's vehicle, but if I remember correctly the HVAC backlights weren't working, nor was the backlight for the radio display. However, the audio did work fine. Your issue sounds different. Unfortunately I am not sure how to fix that one, but it sounds like you might have a bad/grounded speaker wire. I found this thread about it: www.clubcivic.com/board/showthread.php?s=753d1376a94f4a6d5003da03a442aea8&t=185235&page=2 I hope that might be helpful.
very detail video, Thank you, i watched complete video but my stereo problem is little different then yours, stereo is on but there is no volume from speakers. Every thing is normal but no sound from speakers, please help me .
Syed Ali Syed, I am not quite sure what may be causing your issue, but I suppose it's possible you have a blown fuse. I would do some research on a Honda forum such as this one: honda-tech.com/audio-security-video-27/ You can probably find some good information there. As a last result, you could remove your stereo from the car and take it to a local electronic repair shop to see if they can diagnose your problem. I'm sorry I'm not more help, but I hope you can solve your problem. Good luck, and thanks for watching!
Syed Ali Unfortunately, I'm not sure about that. If you haven't already posted a question on an Honda forum, I would do that - there are some really knowledgeable people that can probably help you with the specifics of the mother board. Good luck, and I'm sorry I'm not more help!
hey matt before your fixed everything what was the initial problem for me the back light doesn't light up anymore and i can't use the radio or the cd player therefore i can't listen to music. i don't know if this is the same problem honda had a recall on these models but i missed that boat and I'm trying to fixed this myself. the heat works but it doesn't show the temperature because the backlight doesn't work. if i do this would the sound start working again? any info would be great
Tommy Yu Tommy, the car in this video belonged to a friend, but his radio would play music. He just could not tell what station the radio was tuned to because the back light would not work. His CD player did not work either, but that was a separate issue. If your radio backlight and HVAC lights are not working, the repair in this video should solve your problem. However, as several people have commented below, there were apparently multiple motherboards used in the Honda factory radios, so depending on which one you have, it may not match the one pictured in this video. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the other motherboards and can't really offer any assistance in locating the bad resistor on them. Best of luck if you decide to take on this repair. The worst that can happen is that you remove the radio and discover you have a different motherboard. If that is the case, you could try to purchase a used radio unit and install it yourself. Thanks for watching!
Hey there, which model of Accord did this radio come out of? I have an LX which had the more basic version of the stereo. The more complex units came with the higher trim level models. I was wondering if this is the more basic model. Thanks!
Hi tx for video..I have same problem in my accord 2009 but when opened radio look different from one in ur video. Please can you help me don't know what to look...
adis eminovic Adis, I'm very sorry to say that I'm not at all familiar with the circuit board for the 2009 Accord radio. I would try to find a Honda electronics online forum and ask some of the knowledgeable people there. I'm sure someone can point you in the right direction. I'm sorry I'm not more help. Thanks for watching!
i'm soooo nervous to do this! but i'm glad to know i can instead of taking it to someone or paying a ton a money on repair/new radio! was the radio also not working? your info says radio backlight/hvac controls. probably a stupid question but i just want to make sure it's the same problem. i have an 07 but it looks exactly the same.
catie hamrick Hi Catie, in my case, the radio still worked, but the display would not show up, nor would the lights in the knobs for the heat/AC. The CD player also did not work, but that is a separate issue not fixed by the repair in my video. Are you not getting any sound out of the speakers with the radio on?
***** no, no sound coming out of the radio. every now and then (rarely now) the digital display flashes at me. and recently, the sound will just come on for a few seconds then cut off again. (it actually freaked me out the other day! i heard someone talking and i realized it was my dead radio!)
catie hamrick Hi Catie, after doing some research online, I've come across some interesting information. It appears that Honda actually issued a recall due to the large number of issues with some of the '03-'04 factory radios. It sounds like the recall was extended up to about 100,000 miles. You may have more miles than that, but I would start with your local Honda dealership and explain your issues, and maybe they will work with you. I'm not sure what the actual cause of your issue is, but I have a feeling that there is either a shorted power wire, a shorted speaker wire, or the radio's motherboard has gone bad. I have also read about a possible recall with the ignition switch, and I suppose it's possible that could be contributing too. Check out these links...some other folks describe the same situation you are experiencing. www.hondaaccordforum.com/forum/audio-visual-electronics-10/stereo-problems-2003-honda-accord-40460/ community.cartalk.com/discussion/2283094/2003-honda-accord-with-a-possessed-radio honda-tech.com/honda-accord-crosstour-2003-current-118/2003-honda-accord-radio-audio-dead-static-not-working-2537054/ If the dealership says you are not covered by recall, I think your least expensive option would be to try to find a used (but tested/working) ractory radio from a junkyard and install it yourself. You can remove the bad radio exactly as shown in my video, and then just connect the wiring to the "new" radio and put everything back together. Or, you could do as someone posted in one of the links above and install an aftermarket radio. If you are handy with a circuit tester, you could also check for power to the radio once you have it removed from the dash, and you could check for wiring shorts in both the power wires and speaker wires to see if you can find a wiring issue not related to the actual radio itself....but electrical gremlins can be really difficult to find sometimes, even for seasoned professionals. Good luck, and let me know what you find out from the dealership!
***** thank you for all this! i'm waiting for a circuit writer pen to get here then we're going to take the thing apart! i guess we'll just figure something out; it's already broken :/ i do have a couple of airbag recalls i have to get checked out so, maybe i'll ask about the radio, too. thank you for researching! awesome videos!
my climate control icons still wont illuminate with the headlights on. Do you think its a possibility that the strip bulbs are burnt? i havent checked for voltage to the lights yet. I am also plugged into an aftermarket external aux system to a component area of the radio that was previously being used for xm radio, etc. im thinking some power source was disconnected with the new wire set plugged in.
so its not the aftermarket aux clip that is keeping my climate control from illuminating. i know this because i plugged the old cable into the radio and nothing changed. i am looking at the backside of the faceplate and there seems to be a series of fuses near the ribbon which powers the led strip for the climate control. not sure if its a similar problem like with the radio.
Hey Matt, the inside of my radius seems to look a little bit different than yours. Can you tell me which connection number that was? In the same general area I see one labeled R707 and another one labeled C713. Can anyone provide me with clarity on that? Additionally, can you link us to the pan you use for this?
Hi Matt, I have the same problem too. Have you read any suggestions that it's one of the resistors that's causing the problem? The resistor is placed next to the part you're shortcuting. Thx.
Hi Kunwen Yuan, I have not ready any definitive suggestion about what may cause the part to go bad initially. I have read opinions that it is simply an issue with the part that I "bypass" in the video - supposedly this part just goes bad over time and stops working. However, I suppose it is possible that another resistor could possibly be the root source of the problem and could be causing other parts to fail. Do you have the same radio problem?
Hi Matt, thank you for reply. I do have the same problem. The worse thing is I sent my car to dealer to replace timing belt, and they disconnect the battery, so now I have a CODE, which is hard to solve without LCD backlight. Now my car is absolutely silent...
Kunwen Yuan Ah man, that's a bummer. Sorry to hear about that. I would see if you can repair it the same way I did, so that you can put in the code on the radio. Let me know how it goes if you do try it out. Good luck!
Kunwen Yuan you can put in the anti theft code without the display working. If you don't know what the code is, you can go to your local dealer to obtain it. Put the code into the radio. If it doesn't work the first time, just push the radio power button and enter code again. There should be a beep then it should start working.
Thank you very much Matt for this solution. I had been searching for this. I have a query..... I own a Honda accord V6 3.0l 2004 model, it has automatic climate control, but sometimes the climate control just stops working. Nothing works in the climate control, neither the buttons, nor the fans and also the climate control portion on the screen goes blank. There is also the problem same as in this video. But the climate control automatically comes back on. Sometimes it takes a few minutes while on the other hand, at times, it takes even days. What can be the problem? I really need help regarding this.
Wow, that's definitely an interesting issue, Prathu! I'm sorry to hear you're having that problem. I'm honestly not sure if that might be caused by an issue with the radio motherboard/electronics, or if it could instead be an electrical wiring problem. I don't have a good answer for you, but I would suggest you post your question in the electronics section of one of the various online Honda forums. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I am might be able to help you. I hope you're able to figure it out! Please let me know if you do! Good luck.
Hey good video, I think I am having essentially the same problem with my 2003 accord, only difference is that mine has the navigation with it. Do you happen to have the references where you found this information?
Marcus Pitre I actually got the idea for the repair from a video posted by a guy named Mitch Cox. I'm not sure how he figured out which resistor was causing the problem. I posted my video basically as a one-stop-shop to demonstrate the removal of the radio, the repair, and the re-installation, because I could not find any other videos that showed all of these steps in one video. I'm not familiar with the navigation system setup, but what I would do is look for an online Honda forum (message board) and browse through the threads there. If you can't find the information you need, post a new thread, and I'd be willing to bet someone very knowledgeable can help you out. Good luck, and thanks for watching! If you figure out your issue, feel free to post your results here....there may be others out there in the same boat as you!
I would like to know you knew where the problem was in the radio? I'm in the process of doing it and hoping that it will work but just not sure if it will.. and if that not problem what else could it be ?? I already check the fuse inside the car and that ok
Annette Wells The only reason I knew to look there was because I found another RUclips video about how to repair the issue. However, that video didn't document how to actually remove the radio, so I had to watch bits and pieces of other videos to figure out that process. That's when I decided to make one video that demonstrated the entire repair from start to finish. I can't take any credit for the initial idea, though. Are your symptoms that your radio backlight will not work, so you cannot see the radio display, and the lights in your heat/AC controls will not light up? If so, then most likely this repair will solve your problem, unless your radio unit happens to be one of the models that is different than the one in this video. Several other people have commented that they began this repair, only to realize they have a different radio than in this video. Best of luck...I hope this will solve your problem!
Annette Wells Sorry to hear that, Annette! You might be able to purchase a radio secondhand from a junkyard...that might save you a little bit of money. Hopefully another coat of the circuit writer pen will work, though. You might want to wait 24 hours before trying the radio out; another viewer commented that his repair seemed to fail quickly the first time because he did not allow the ink to cure. Good luck!
maybe you can help me out: my lights are no problem on my dash when in reference to the temp lights and such, but my damn stereo either wont stay on or the whole display goes in and out in and out? Do you think I need a whole new system? Thanks.
+stillettopumps86 Hmm, I seem to remember reading about that issue, and I think it is probably related to the motherboard inside the stereo unit. I could be wrong about that, but before you go tearing into it, I would check out some Honda forums to see what you can find. I'd hate for you to go through the trouble of the repair in my video only to find out it didn't help solve your issue. Good luck, and let us know if you figure it out!
This is one of the BEST repair videos to date! Clear, logical, and thorough with good emphasis on order. I fixed one following your video, though I actually soldered a bridge similar to your circuit pen trace Thank you very much, this saved our day!!
Matt, my brother, you are THE MAN! When I got to the part where you talked about the CircuitWriter pen, I immediately paused it and Googled it to see where I could get it locally. I'm by no means proficient at soldering. I can do it but the results aren't pretty and I need lots of space between the part being soldered and basically anything else.... components, pets, kids, etc. When I saw the pen, I knew that was going to be the way to go due to the very tight space. Finished watching the video, jumped in the car and headed to Fry's Electronics and got the pen for $16.00 + tax. Heading out to the garage now to attack the issue and with a little bit of organization regarding the screws, plenty of patience and focus I should be able to knock this out of the park in about half an hour. I've already got the radio pulled. Wish me luck!
UPDATE: After using the pen I let the unit sit overnight as per the directions on the pkg. I then reassembled everything and reinstalled it. The backlight worked until I turned on the headlights to check the button lighting. The backlight went out and the buttons remained dark. I suspect I didn't get enough of the "ink" applied to the rear side of the amp fuse - it's really tight in there with extremely limited access as you know. I am going to pull the radio back out and redo that area to see if that is the case.
FINAL UPDATE:
I am happy to report that the application of more of the conductive "ink" solved the problem. My radio's display as well as the backlighting of the HVAC buttons are working properly. Thank you again for this video!
Steve, that's awesome! Great job fixing this yourself and figuring out why the backlight quit working after your first try. It's definitely a tight area and I was concerned I would have the same problem that you did. I'm really glad to hear this video helped. Thanks for sharing your success story, and thanks for watching!
***** I'm actually trying this out with my brothers car and I'm hoping everything goes fine I hope I don't mess the whole system up or I hope I put enough ink.
Matt; I just completed the repair, ad your tutorial was MOST HELPFUL ! Thanks for the detailed steps ! I actually removed the defective current limiter and just soldered across the 2 spots on the board. super easy and took me 10 minutes. I just applied the soldering gun to one side at a time and the limiter popped right out. I did have to grind down the tip of my soldering iron in order to fit into the narrow opening on the outboard side of the limiter. Again, a huge thanks for your tutorial ! ~Phil.
+philmorrissette Awesome job, Phil! I'm really glad this worked for you and that you found my video helpful. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Dude you the man! I did this repair exactly as you did. Works perfectly now on my ‘03. Thanks for posting this. Makes it easy if you know right where to go to find the bad component. Circuit writer with a tiny micro paint brush. 👍👍👍👍. PS Honda dealer told me like 2 grand to fix.
Thanks for posting the two videos. I was able to fix my son's 2003 Accord radio in about two hours (one hour on the repair and the other hour searching for tools). I used the jumper wire method. I soldered a small wire from the right side of the component you point out that's bad to the left side of the one just above it (they are electrically connected). Worked fine and I saved about $500. Thanks!!
That's awesome! Nice work, and thanks for watching and commenting! I'm glad I could help.
It worked like a charm. Thanks Matt Payne! I've been driving around with a flashlight at the ready so I could tell what my screen said. Now, I'm all set. Thanks for the tip.
+Forrest Cook That's great to hear! I'm really glad this worked for you and that you found my video to be helpful. Thanks for sharing your success story, and congratulations for repairing your vehicle on your own!
I have 03 Honda with this problem. I followed this repair exactly and it worked! Thank you Matt.
Nice work, Charlie! I'm glad you found this video helpful!
MAN 9 YEARS LATERRRRRR and this video helped me in a really good way man thank you!
I'm so glad to hear that this helped you! Thanks for watching!
This video saved me a few hundred dollars. My 04 Accord was way out of warranty and I didn't want to put too much money on it. The circuit writer pen is expensive ($23 at my local Radio Shack) but it works. The ink was not conductive at first when I checked it with a multimeter but it became conductive after 24 hours. Now my radio display and AC button lights are working again. Thanks,
+Brian Chen After two months, when driving with head lights on, I smelled something burning and then the radio panel lights and all AC control button lights went out. Not sure what happened but I think it has something to do with the repair.
Thanks Matt that just worked for me too, the component you are jumpering it R197 R being a resister. It’s super hard to get to the left side and circuit pen didn’t work for me, maybe a bad pen. So I unsoldered the right hand side and wiggled the resister until it snapped off leaving the left leg and enough room to solder across from leg to track pad. Worked perfectly. Cheers
Thanks for the video, saved a lot of money. To add, its a Fuse and can buy it on eBay.
Search for "ICP-S2.3TN FUSE 2.3A 50V SMD FAST 2.3 ICP-S2.3"
You're welcome, and I'm glad you found this helpful! Thanks for the helpful information, also!
Thank you for this info! "ICP-S2.3TN FUSE 2.3A 50V SMD FAST 2.3 ICP-S2.3" I found part on eBay.
Hey Matt, great job on the video. Did your repair on my Honda and it worked. Started the repair on a Saturday and being the impatient soul that I am only waited 20 hrs and initially thought repair a no go for me.It's my second car with snows that I drive in winter. Three days later start it up and bingo. Lesson learned wait the full 24 hours for the circuit writer to cure. Thx
Hey Dennis, that's great to hear! I'm really glad it worked out. I can't take credit for the idea, but I'm happy to know you found this video helpful. It's nice being able to do things on your own and save money, isn't it?
Thanks for watching!
Thanks, matt, this was so helpful, even though this video is 7 years old, I fixed my Radio display with your three-part video.
I followed your video, with a small change, instead of the circuit writer pen, I got some soldering help from a friend who used a piece of wire and jumped it keeping the resistor in place on the board.
The fix worked and my display is back on.
PS: Just so others know the resistor that is bad is R797.
Common problem that Honda was well aware of. The dealer replaced mine no charge. They tried to say the supercharger cause excess voltage spikes. Now my speedometer backlight is out. All of the other lights work.
I really appreciated all of your great detailed instructions on this application. I am getting ready to attack mine……I have the same thing, but i noticed that my radio does not have the anti theft light on the right side. Hoping that will not make a difference. You really did a great job and cannot say enough about your attention to detail.
+MegatTomslick1 Thanks for the compliments! I am not 100% sure, but I don't think the lack of anti-theft will make a difference. If your circuit board looks identical to the one in my video, then you should be good to go.
Good luck, and let me know how it goes!
Hi Matt, I saw Mitch's video, but since he did not show the part where he actually soldered or bridged the wires, I was left not knowing how to perform the task. He did provide the alternative pen method and then I came across your video. I thought your video was going to show a more detailed approach to soldering/bridging the cables; however, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw you used the pen method!! I might go with this method. (Maybe you should include "pen method" on the title of the video.) Thank you for demonstrating a more detailed process with the removal and placement of the radio, as well.
Matt - this video is awesome. Very clear and concise. I'm going to attempt this today, but first: the symptoms of my honda 2006 accord are that the auxiliary button (I installed cable and had been working great for years until this problem) and the cd player no longer function. Radio still works, although sometimes cuts out on me (sound up, no volume). Backlights sometimes go out, although sometimes work too. Yesterday, the cd player randomly started working after months of not working, but then when I attempted switching cds, the new cd did not play. Also, I noticed that my battery tends to die or drains pretty frequently, and I'm wondering if that's related. Finally, my a/c unit stopped working as well. Have any of your followers/commenters experience the same or similar problems? Thanks for your help!
Thomas Jameson Thomas, thanks for the kind words! I can't take credit for the actual solution, as I found that posted elsewhere, but I'm glad my video series was helpful to you.
As for your issues, commenter catie hamrick mentions a similar issue with the radio audio sometimes coming/going, and after some research, I found that lots of other people have experienced that as well. It turns out Honda actually issued a recall for 2003 and 2004 Accord factory radios - I found a copy of the Technical Service Bulletin here:
ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/thebesthonda/2009-03-10_213318_03_accord_radio_illumination.pdf
I would contact your dealership to see if they'll work with you, even if you may be beyond the warranty period. I read a post on one message board that said a dealership had paid half of someone's repair even though they were out of the warranty period.
It sounds like you probably have a bad radio motherboard, or a shorted power or speaker wire, but it would probably take a lot of troubleshooting to determine the exact cause. I would start by calling your local dealership to see if they will help you out. If not, maybe you can purchase a used factory radio and install it.
Let me know what the dealership says....I'm sure lots of other people would like to know, too! Good luck!
you sir are an absolute don! super easy fix. extremely tricky to get that one side soldered but I'm extremely happy with the results. thank you!
+Ducer Blackman You're welcome! I'm really glad this worked for you! Thanks for watching.
third time's a charm :) I did this project over the weekend and I had to try 3 times with the circuitwriter pen, so a total of 3 coats, but after the third attempt it worked! It actually didn't work at first after the 3rd attempt, but the lights all started fading to bright after the radio was on for about 15 mins on the 3rd attempt and now they all work fine! Hopefully it stays working! Thanks for the instructions!
Matthew Piro Matthew, that is great to hear! Congratulations on tackling this on your own and for having the patience to keep at it until you solved the problem! Thanks for watching and commenting.
Thanks for the detailed video. I lost the backlight on my 2003 Accord radio and had seen a few videos but yours was the one I followed. Good instruction and my radio (& AC controls) are visible again. The clips on the bottom of the radio panel were a bit tricky. BTW my radio included a CD changer but the resister/diode/fuse component was in the same place. I ground it away with a Dremel and bridged the connection points with solder.
Oops! I have an '04 Accord.
I just wanted you to know that your repair video was very detailed and explicit. I'm not sure I want to do this work myself but I can recommend your particular video to a repair technician who can do it for me. Thanks for such a fine explanation and demonstration. Richard M.
Thanks Richard! I hope you're able to get your radio working again. Thanks for watching!
Matt, Thanks for posting this. My radio went dark couple of weeks ago and I was looking for some clues and I rather hit the jackpot here. I'll give this a try on weekend. I looked for replacement circuit board (OEM) and its somewhere b/w 75-100 bucks. Even if I ended up buying new board, I'll still have 200-300 bucks that I have to give dealer to fox this. !
No problem, I'm really glad so many people seem to find this helpful! Let me know how your repair goes. Thanks for watching!
First of all thank you sooo much for taking your time in making these videos. It was very detailed and helpful. Anybody that has this very common problem , I'm sure they can fix it. My circuit board was a little different but same concept and i fixed mine with your hep. Thanks again.
Emyrose Martinez Thanks for the compliment! I'm really glad you were able to repair your radio. It always makes me happy to hear that one of my videos helped someone.
Congratulations on repairing your vehicle on your own!
Just fixed my 03 using your video. Thank you very much
Very Very well articulated!! Thank you. Havent tried yet, seems like a few hour job. Looking forward to getting at mine.
So is that fix the same for all honda accord radios I have a 2004 that does not play a bunch of loud noise and crackling? Nice video
So thankful you made these 3 videos.
Hey, at 14:00 that is a Virginia State Inspection sticker! I have an '03 that needed this fix. Dealer did it. Very common problem on these turdbox Hondas. Now the backlight for the speedometer is out.
It’s difficult to see, but did you just coat the outside of the resistor with the pen? And maybe one side? Or is there more to it? This fix is in my future and I just want to be sure.
Where is the fuse that feeds the damn yellow wire/constant 12V?
Great video. I fixed my Honda using your instructions!
Oh, forgot to say thanks for the video - it is excellent.
J Germ Thanks for the compliment! I hope you're able to repair your issue.
Thanks for the video brother. When I opened mine up it had already been soldered and had broke loose lol
and how did you fix that? i am in the same boat
Hi Matt. Great video, very detailed. I am having the same problem on my 04 Accord EX sedan. I have a few questions for you.
1. What would you say is the difficulty level for using the pen on your radio? I would like to attempt this but I am not that skilled at using one as I never had before.
2. Would this all work the same way for an 04 Accord radio?
3. What’s the success rate of doing all this? I would hate to do all this for nothing.
Great video again and thanks for helping us Accord owners!
I actually did everything on your video. It worked. the thing is that when I put everything back up and running I tried to use my AUX which is an external cable and it doesn't work. I dk if it is something on the radio itself or that maybe the aux unplogged itself, because it doen't even show AUX on the radio when I press the button. Help please
Liz Tang I'm really sorry to hear that, Liz. That is the first time I've heard of that problem. What year was your vehicle manufactured? It is my understanding that the factory 2003 radio did not have a built in "AUX" connection, even though there is a "CD/AUX" button on the radio face. I believe the AUX connection has to be an aftermarket plug-in connection that hooks to the back of the radio. If your vehicle was made in 2003 or earlier, I would suspect that your auxiliary connection did not get hooked back up when you re-installed the radio unit in the dash.
Where is the "AUX IN" plug located?
***** Liz, check out this video, particularly at about the 5:35 mark:
ruclips.net/video/4yP3YGCtQ_I/видео.html
It looks like the AUX adapter plugs into the bottom of the radio, so it may be possible that the connector pulled out without you even realizing it when you removed the radio from the dash. You may have to remove the storage bin from below the radio unit to see if you can find the connector in there.
Good luck!
Its external. Not factury
Thanks alot ill be sure to try this on my girlfriends car soon and I’m hoping it will work
Great demo, by chance did you do a demo on the diagnostics to determine the problem with the radio?
This is an awesome video btw. My has a 2003 accord with the same issue. After watching your video last week I decided to do it for my friend. Removing the trim panel/ radio was a breeze I wad able to remove it in less than 10 min. While I was opening up the radio I noticed it was different than yours. I had to remove the cd portion to get to the motherboard. It was completely different than yours. There's no r797 fuse/amp. It was a complete was of time.
JAMESON DORCELY Ah man, I'm really sorry to hear that it didn't work out for you Jameson. I've heard from several other people that their radio unit is different, like your friend's. If anyone else here reads this and can offer some advice, please chime in.
Thanks for the kind words. Good luck....I hope you can find some information about your friend's radio.
Matt, awsome video. Before I begin this task , I have a quick question for you. The ink circuit path is only there to bypass the chip ? Your toothpick is there to prevent the ink to make contact with the chip on both sides ? Sorry for my bad english , I hope you are understanding my questions.
hey, congrats on fixing the problem that bugs most honda accord drivers. so how's everything working out so far? since you just bridged it over with a sort of conductive paint without any resistance, did it cause anything else in the car not working at all? I just took everything apart today, and am thinking to bridge with a 220 ohm resistor over it and see how that would work.
Hi kszeng, thanks for watching. I actually performed this repair for a friend, who later sold the car to another friend of my family. According to the new owner, so far everything is working as it should, with no side effects from the repair. I don't know for sure if any resistance is required in this circuit, or if the failed part was simply a fail-safe fuse. Obviously my repair is not factory-quality, and I imagine if there was a surge in voltage/current, then other components could potentially be damaged. However, on a 10-year-old vehicle, my friend did not want to spend a lot of money to fix the problem and was willing to take the risk of bypassing the failed component. I'm not sure if a 220 ohm resistor will work or not, but if you try it out, let me know how it does...I'm curious to know.
hi there may also be a resistor for the AC button because there is no signal on to the Relai in the engine room but the entire air conditioning works when bridges the relays on .thx
You need to come to Philly and do my radio . I have the same car same year.
Detailed and informative, thanks for uploading.
SasiKiran Panati Thanks for the kind words, and you're welcome!
hey bro good vid. i have the same issue back lights and center console lights... i followed ur vid but my circuit board is diff theres no r797 resistor
Shavoy, I'm sorry to hear that. Yuleni posted above that she encountered the same problem. You can check out my suggestion to her above. Beyond that, I'm afraid I'm stumped by that situation. I'm sorry I'm not more help. Maybe a specialty electronics shop could at least help you identify the problem?
I hope you're able to get it figured out. Let me know if you do. Good luck!
Thanks for the easy fix guide.
+Robert C. Michel It worked perfectly. I soldered across the fuse and it worked fine.
Yeah, the board on my 2005 is completely different and doesn't have the same piece that is at the heart of the problem. Unfortunately that wasn't evident until I got well into it. And unfortunately Google search only gets this as the best match and still not finding anything to cover the difference. Just wanted to put that here before someone else rips into it as far as I did before finding out they couldn't finish. Great video -- just doesn't give me all I need.
Doug Meyer Dough, so sorry to hear you got all that way only to realize your motherboard is different! Several other folks have had that same problem. I wish I could offer a solution, but this particular vehicle is the only one I've done this repair on. Hopefully someone else will be able to figure it out and can post their method here.
Good luck, and please let us all know if you do figure it out. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Doug Meyer Same issue here. 05 board is a RE1HN11C PANEL.MAIN 84D60306Y01 -B-. It also does not have a ribbon cable that connects the CD player.
+Miyake Skeete hi, i have the same board with same issue. We need a solution asap! :) If you know something dont be hasty and keep us informed!!
+imoldskul I mentioned this somewhere else, but will repeat here in hope that it helps you and others. What I ended up doing was buying a rebuilt one off of eBay. BUT, not only did that one have a problem, but so did the 2 replacements I got under warranty too -- each slightly different problem, like one the lights didn't work, and another the climate controls didn't work. In the end, the place I was buying it from recommended upgrading to the 6 CD version instead. It was a little more, but fit just fine (but had to watch to get the correct climate controls, since that has both a single and dual version). Since installing that one, I have had NO PROBLEMS AT ALL! I would highly recommend this option -- just be sure the place you are buying it from understands you are doing an "upgrade swap" and will work with you if the one you get isn't the correct one.
+Doug Meyer With the upgrade swap does this also fix the issue with the radio?
How long did this work for you? Is it still working with this fix?
Hi Matt, I am performing this job on my car radio and I am at the point where I have the circuit board before me and to my surprise, I do not have a 2.3 ohms receptor where it should be. I have the one above and the one below, but the receptor that belongs in the middle is missing. Instead, what I believe I have is the metal rectangular shaped part that goes below the receptor and it says 000. How would you recommend I proceed?
Hi Yuleni, that is pretty strange for sure. It sounds like perhaps the resistor in question became detached, so there is no way for the current to pass from one side of where the resistor should be to the other side. I'm not really an expert with circuit boards, but if I was in your position, I would probably take my digital multimeter (used to test electrical circuits - if you don't own one, just Google search "multimeter"; you can purchase one at any home improvement store) and use it to check for continuity across where that resistor should be. The multimeter should come with instructions on the different settings; once you set it to the setting to measure for continuity, touch one of the wire leads to one side of where the resistor should be, and then use the other wire lead to touch the other side of where the resistor should be. What you are testing for is to see if current is flowing from one side to the other (in other words, circuit " continuity); if there is continuity, the multimeter should play an audible tone. More than likely you will find that there is no continuity, meaning that you will need to "draw" a splice in with a circuit writer pen to allow current to pass from one side to the other. To be sure, you can also take a small piece of wire and touch the ends on either side of where the resistor should be and then check for continuity again. You should then get circuit continuity. If so, I would then try using the circuit writer pen method to bridge the gap where the resistor should be.
However, please take this advice with caution, as I am not an expert. Please try this at your own risk. Let me know if you are able to figure it out though. Good luck!
Hi Matt, thank you for your reply. I really appreciate it. I actually used the circuit writer pen and applied the ink just as you did on the video. (I did this before reading your reply.) I dismissed the fact that I did not have a resistor because I figured the reason why people were having issues with their backlight was because the resistor was not working, so not having one at all would not make a difference. After I applied the ink, I waited the recommended time instructed on the writer pen until it dried. I placed the radio back on and sadly, it did not fix the backlight. At this point, I really just want to buy the 2.3 amp fuse or resistor (online inconsistency on whether the black part is a fuse or resistor). Would you happen to know where I can purchase this resistor. I have searched for hours. Radio shack has the 2.2 receptor, but it doesn't look like the black part I need. Another online user used the 2.2 and reported negative results (it did not work). Would you happen to know where I can find this famous resistor? I still have the circuit board in front of me. I took it out again.
Yuleni Pulido Yuleni, unfortunately I really don't know where to purchase this part, or even what specifically it is. When I did my repair, I read a lot of different opinions about whether this component was a actually a resistor, or something else.
In your case, I would still suggest checking for circuit continuity now that you have "drawn" a circuit bridge. It could be possible that your conductive ink just did not make good electrical contact on one side or the other, thus not allowing current to flow through. A continuity test would tell you. If that checks out, I'm afraid I'm out of suggestions....perhaps a specialty electronics shop could point you in the right direction if you took the circuit board in to show them what you are working on?
Let me know how it goes. Best of luck!
I might do that. Thanks.
Yuleni Pulido That looks like a fast-acting fuse....but I honestly have no idea if that is the part you need. I'm sorry I can't offer more expertise!
Holy cow, that amp chip has been getting hot! Look at the burnt circuit board at 5:15
My cd player broke in 07 accord. Will this fix that ?
Hi matt, My mother has an 03 Honda Accord LX. It had all the same symptoms to your video( radio not working, lights wont work underneath radio) Although once I opened up the radio, the lay out was completely different. The screws were internal and actually under the disk tray which I had to remove. Once finally getting to the actual motherboard there was no black resistors, and everything was completely different. I was wondering if you knew the solution to this or if you knew the correct resistor/fuse to this model motherboard that I have. Thanks for the help!
Dustin Hovanec Dustin, I am really sorry to say that I am not sure where the bad resistor can be found on the different motherboard that you have. You and several other people have all commented about having a different setup in your radio unit. I really wish I could offer more help! I would look for a Honda forum to see if any folks there can help you out. As popular as Accords are, I imagine someone somewhere has isolated the resistor on the motherboard that you have and can assist you.
Thanks a lot for watching, and I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you solve your issue. Please check back in if you do figure it out! Good luck!
***** Hi Dustin, start checking all the resistors and caps, and diodes there are plenty of vids out there that can teach you this if you do not know how. A very good DMM (digital multimeter) can be purchased at harbor freight Item #98674 even if it is not on sale this is a fantastic meter has more functions than my Fluke. I even use the temp probe on the oven so I have an exact temp. Ok, you can eliminate the power supply since that works. back trace the backlight and test everything in that path. Oh, and when you find it. Don't forget to post it.
Lastly see videos on how to discharge the caps. They keep a charge when the power supply is not on. Key words discharge capacitors or (caps).
Good luck.
Excellent job - thanks so much!
Tru Briggs Thanks, and you're welcome! I'm glad you found this helpful!
Thank you for the video, my car the radio work, but the lights on the buttons those which suppose to turn with the dash lights is not working night time I can't see the buttons any idea on what could be?
I did mine today..Working great..Thanks man
Awesome! I'm really glad this worked for you. Thanks for watching!
Would it be possible to directly add an aux jack to this without the adapters?
Hey Jake, I'm really sorry for the super delayed response...I'm not totally sure how you would an an auxiliary jack without some sort of adapter, but I am far from an electronics expert. I would check a Honda forum and look in the tech/electronics section...I'm sure someone there can help you out!
Thank you so much for this.. future reference... my lights haven't gone out yet.
You're welcome! Hopefully you'll never need to make this repair...
Thanks for watching!
My 2003 Honda Accord EX radio and CD player will work after I enter the reset code, but the radio plays for about 2 minutes, then shuts down; while the radio is working during those two minutes, I CAN play a CD. All other features do work, like the heater, the lights, temp control, everything else, just not the radio. Does anyone have any idea what could be my problem. The dealer wants $135 just to diagnose, then, more, of course, to repair. I realize that all these posts took place a few years ago, but HELP? Just bought the car from the Honda dealer in Santa Maria, CA, and will contact them about the recall and try to get them to do the right thing. Matt's video was awesome. Couldn't figure out how to contact Matt. Would if I could figure that out.
Thanks Matt.
I followed your tutorial about 2 months ago and I fixed the problem using a conductive ink gel.
However, today the screen went black again. I used some conductive ink that came in a syringe, and I am not sure if it's lower quality ink than what you used, but I need to try to fix it again for good.
Did anyone else radio went dark after a few months?
matase Man, that stinks...I'm sorry to hear that. The best fix would obviously be to remove the resistor and install a new one, but as far as I know, my repair is still working (the vehicle in my video belonged to a friend, and he has since sold it to another friend). I'm sorry that your repair didn't last longer.
***** It's alright, but it does suck a bit that I will have to remove all the paneling and the radio again. I just want to make sure your fix at least lasted for half a year? Maybe I'll put up the same conductive ink as what you used. I had some cheaper brand conductive ink, but it came in a more convenient syringe pack. I wouldn't be able to install a resistor in such a tight spot.
My radio light didn't just die and never come back. For a few days after my radio screen went dark, sometimes my lights would come back on for like 10 seconds after I started my car in the morning. Maybe I am thinking, this cheaper kind ink deteriorated over time and now doesn't conduct electricity when that part of the circuit heats up..
Thanks for getting back to me.
matase I think you are definitely onto something about the conductive ink. It sounds like the circuit continuity is being affected either by the ink's conductivity, or possibly the ink failing and wearing off over time. Let me know if you are able to sort it out. Good luck!
Thank u...
You r great
Matt or viewers
Do you know where the radio unlock code is stored. In the radio portion you were working on or the screen?
Hey man awesome video. Life saver. Is that radio a 6 cd or one cd radio?
I believe his is the six disk. I have a single disk and mine looks completely different.
@@cobraguy99982 dude thanks for that crucial info. Its verification.
Hi together,
I've got a similar problem i.e my radio is the gps navigation system. That means the display is outsourced into the upper part of the middle dasboard. There one can find a smaller display then in the standard radio. This is becoming more and more dim after 13 years. Do you think this fuse is also the reason for my problem? The display is not totally dark but the readout is very bad at daylight.
If you look at the video showing the part there is a "R797" on the circuit board just to the right of the component. From what I read it is a 0.1 ohm resistor. Doubtless it is a "fusible resistor" meaning it is not there so much for the resistance but acting more like a fuse. On the other side of the metal to which it is close are power transistors which are affixed to the metal as a heat sink and R797 probably goes to one of them. Any other other power loss to the unit could possible be a similar resistor failure. A continuity/resistance check would tell much.
Thanks for identifying the component!
so how long did it last ? its been what 3 years ? @Matt Payne
+Pie 4life I did the repair in this video in a friend's vehicle in October of 2013. He has since sold the car to another friend of my family that I see on a regular basis, and last time I asked, everything was still working normally. So the repair has lasted at least 27-28 months
***** Cool ! mine goes turns off and on sometimes i seen it on onces but this was a good video !
Sorry just got this car as a commuter and having the same issue. My question is what exactly did you do? Did you just paint over it or connect them all together? I am not following lol.
So, i had this problem. I tackled it with vigor! I didn't get the results I wanted when I used the circuit writer pen and the liquid bleed over to the two side circuits a little. I then scraped it on each side to ensure there wasn't a connection between the 3 buttons. Also, the middle button didn't have the black cover on it so i just covered it all with the circuit pen. I then decided just to pop that piece off and put the solder between the two contacts under that piece. Now the display is not very bright. So I am worse off. I plan to add more solder with the pen in hopes that it just needs a thicker connection between the two contact points. Anyone have ANY advice or input? Thanks!
+28jonmark If adding more conductive ink with the pen does not help, you may want to try to put a jumper wire in and actually solder it in place, or purchase the actual resistor and solder it in. I got lucky in that my repair worked with the conductive ink, but others have had the same problem you have. Several people have also said they had a problem if they did not allow the conductive ink to "cure" for 24-48 hours before testing the repair.
Good luck! I hope you can sort out your problem.
+Matt Payne I was able to get the the part I popped off 'glued' back down and let it 'cure' properly. And now the lights work!!! But unfortunately they stay on without the car being on so now I think/fear that my battery might drain down. have you seen others comment or share how they fixed this problem of the lights being on without the car turned on? Thanks for your quick response.
+28jonmark Man, that's a bummer....progress, but not quite there yet. Sorry to hear that. A few other people have commented that they had this same problem, but I'm not sure if anyone ever found a permanent solution. The temporary fix is to remove the fuse for the radio from the main fuse box when the vehicle is not in use, but that is obviously an annoying thing to have to do. I haven't been able to find a solution by browsing online forums, but you might want to do some research on your own. From what I've read, it sounds like there is a constant, unswitched 12V power supply to the radio for the clock. My guess is that some malfunction of the motherboard is allowing this power to cross over into the circuit for the radio display; or, it's possible that somehow your repair may have allowed this unswitched current to bleed into the display circuit.
I'm sorry I can't give you a more definitive answer, but I hope you can figure it out. If all else fails, you could trace out the power wire going to the radio and install an in-line switch that you could turn on and off from inside the vehicle, rather than having to remove the radio fuse.
Good luck!
+28jonmark +Matt Payne I am seeing the same problem and didn't really put a ton of ink on the resister. Since it's been a few months, are there any updates on what you did/if it is still working? Would love to know, as I am concerned it may further damage the stereo and/or drain the battery.
+Brandon Wells Hey Brandon, I'm sorry to hear you're having this issue. The vehicle I repaired in this video belonged to a friend, and he has since sold it, but I also know the person who purchased it. Last time I asked, the repair was still working OK, so it has lasted for at least 27-28 months to this point. I wish I could offer more information about what might be causing your situation, but other than a motherboard failure or some conductive ink bleeding onto another circuit, I'm not sure what to suggest. I'm far from an electronics expert, unfortunately. I would search some online Honda forums to see if you find any pertinent information...hopefully someone smarter than me can help you out.
Best of luck, and please let me know if you figure something. That information could be invaluable to others who see this and have your same problem. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hi Matt, firstly awesome video .... I've been searching everywhere for a solution to this annoying problem. Hopefully you could help answer one question? My radio back light display is operating fine, however its the back lights for hvac control buttons for certain areas such as power button, ac functions and the disc stack numbers have stopped lighting up (climate control seems to be lighting up ok). Do you believe your repair will solve the issue? or does your repair need to be applicable to both the radio back light and as well as hvac back lights to not light up? Thanks !
Mark Luong Thanks for watching Mark! I'm sorry for the delayed response. I am honestly not totally sure if this repair will resolve only the AC control backlight issue. I have a feeling it would, but I am really only guessing about that. I'm not an electronics guru, so I hate to send you down the wrong road. I would look around for a Honda online forum to see what information you can dig up there.
I'm sorry I'm not more help! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Ur video was really. Helpful''thank you''
jaime raymundo You're welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Did anyone figure exactly what the component is? A resistor or diode? Any visible part numbers on it?
If you look at the video showing the part there is a "R797" on the circuit board just to the right of the component. From what I read it is a 0.1 ohm resistor. Doubtless it is a "power resistor" meaning it is not there so much for the resistance but acting more like a fuse. On the other side of the metal to which it is close are power transistors which are affixed to the metal as a heat sink and R797 probably goes to one of them. Any other other power loss to the unit could possible be a similar resistor failure. A continuity/resistance check would tell much.
Worked!!!!!!! Many thanks!
Hey Matt, Thanks for the detailed video.
I have a question btw. My radio and light are working now but only some buttons and ac controller (wind temperture and power control) does not have light. Do you think this is because of that fuse as well?
Hmm....that is an excellent question! I can't answer this definitively, but if you are willing to take the time to remove your radio, you should be able to test for resistance/continuity across the resistor I bypassed to see if you have an issue with yours.
I'm sorry I can't give you a better answer. I hope you get it sorted out, though...please let me know what you find if you do dig into it. Good luck!
he'll yeah man, thanks good job on the video. I pulled the tiny piece off the circuit board then melted solder across connecting the two metal pieces. But did you realize the light used to be blue? I wonder if that bad piece had anything to do with the blueness? either way I'm happy, but kinda miss the ambient blue light.
+slumber56 Wow, really? That's weird. I actually never knew what color the light was originally, as the vehicle in this video belonged to a friend. I had never seen the backlight working. That is quite odd about the color changing, though I suppose the change could have something to do with the resistance in the circuit being decreased by bypassing the built-in resistor.
I'm glad the repair worked for you....thanks for watching!
Hi Matt, Do you know by any chance if I could change the original unit with an aftermarket one and still keeping the face plate.The main reason would be that I don't want to change the look of my dashboard. I'm thinking of something that would perfectly fit with the face plate brackets and connections. Thanks ! great video btw.
+Nicolae Andronic Thanks for the kind words! Unfortunately, I am not aware of an aftermarket stereo unit that utilizes the factory faceplate. However, I want to say that I read about someone who had installed a separate stereo in the small compartment below the factory unit and left the factory unit in place. I'm not exactly sure how that would be wired though.
I would start by visiting some Honda forums - I'm sure there are some really knowledgeable and helpful people out there. I honestly am really not very familiar with Hondas; the vehicle in this video actually belonged to a friend and I told him I'd help him try to fix the radio. That was pretty much my one and only experience working with a Honda (or car audio, for that matter!)
Good luck to you - I hope you can find a solution that works. Thanks for watching!
Awesome vid man...
Do I only need to color the top of the resistor? Or I need to color whole piece of resistor? Please help !
does the HVAC controls work through the radio too??
Hey man great video followed everything and worked just great!! But there is one problem the HVAC lights stay on all the time even when the car is turned off do you know why??
Jose Callejas Jose, thanks for the kind words! I'm really sorry to hear that your backlight is staying on even when the car is turned off. Several other people have commented that they have had this same problem. I'm not exactly sure what causes that, but one viewer commented that he was able to correct this same problem by disconnecting the negative battery cable for 15-30 seconds. Another viewer recently commented that the dealer had told him this problem was related to the mother board and the only fix was to install a new radio.
I would try disconnecting the negative battery cable to see if that works (I don't understand why that would do anything, but it's worth a try). Beyond that, you may have to contact the dealer, or do some research at an online Honda forum.
I'm sorry I'm not more help, but I really hope you can figure out your issue without spending a lot of money. If you do find a solution, please share it here so others can benefit. Thanks, and good luck!
where can i find a replacement ribbon cable? i tried doing some googling but wasnt sure... thanks.
great video, thanks a lot
Sandeep Gupta Thanks for watching, Sandeep!
HI, nice video. I have a problem with my fm module on my motherboard. My motherboard appears to be the same as yours. Do you, by any chance, know where I can find the diagrams for this motherboard? I need to know which pin is the "af out" pin
Hi Orlando, I'm not totally sure, but check out the link below...you may find what you need there:
www.tehnomagazin.com/Auto-radio-car-connector/HONDA-Car-Radio-Wiring-Connector.htm
Otherwise, I would check out a Honda forum, specifically the tech/audio section. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I am can help you out. Good luck!
I know there's a ton of positive feedback on this video. I'm going to try it so I have some questions if someone can answer. Can someone who has done this confirm it works (my problem is the same as everyone else, no illumination on radio/heater display)? Is there anything pertinent to know that is not covered in the video? Thanks
thanks for the video, really helpful!! I did everything, and worked perfect! but when i started the car, the light turned off again!! I'm sure i left it for a day when i used the circuit pen!! any ideas plz?
Hi ma sa, thanks for watching, and I'm sorry to hear the repair didn't work out the first time! I'm not sure I have any brilliant suggestions, other than trying to make the repair again and insuring that you have good electrical contact on both sides of the bad component. If you try it again, you might want to leave peripheral trim pieces off for a few days just to make sure the repair works permanently...if not, you can always pull the radio back out easily that way. I hope you're able to sort it out. Let me know how it goes.
***** i appreciate your reply, i will try to do that all over again and let you know. I hope it works this time
hi I love your video I have a factory radio in my Honda Accord just like yours but I have the 6 disc CD changer and all my CDs are stuck in it I want to take the radio off then try to take the CDs out myself how do you recommend I go about doing that
Thank you! It's fixed!
You're welcome - great job!
Hi I have a question, I have 2004 accord and my stereo is a regular like this eatereo on the video, is not working, so I bought one and is diferent say "dual" on the air butoms and is 6 cd changer, so do tou know if works on my car?
thanks bro good help nice video
Matt Payne,
Question: Does this repair solve the symptoms of the radio/CD sometimes play and sometimes doesn't play at all?
Lamont Robinson Hi Lamont, unfortunately I think the intermittent sound issue is probably a problem with the radio's motherboard. I believe the repair in this video will only repair the issue with the radio/AC controls backlight not working.
Hy Matt, nice video all i want to know is while coating that middle resister do we actually have to attach the ink with other two resisters as well. can u plz explain me briefly how to coat properly . much appreciated
Sallar, thanks for watching! You do not need to (and do not want to) connect the other resistors with the conductive ink. You simply want to create a "bridge" to bypass the bad resistor/fuse by connecting the right side to the left side with the conductive ink.
I hope that makes sense. Good luck with your repair!
What if the ink ha a contact with the other two resisters, because when i was coating the bad resister the ink ha the connected on the sides of other resisters.i put the radio back and it did not worked. i there any possibility that i can clean the resister and try again
Sallar Bloch you need to clean that up or else you may end up with a short circuit. It's very important that you only bridge the one resistor shown in the video.
Sallar Bloch As diatribe pointed out already, you definitely need to try to clean the conductive ink off of the other resistors. If you have fused all three resistors together, I imagine the radio will not work and you could potentially do some serious damage if you try to operate it that way. I'm not sure what to suggest cleaning with, but I would check the fine print on your conductive ink pen to see what kind of solvent it suggests for clean up. Use it sparingly though.
Good luck.
Does any body have problems with the volume going down on its own also is it possible to just replace the factory stereo with an other from the salvage yard ???
Hey Matt when you fixed this problem was it just for the back light that wasn't working or was it also the audio and display? bc I have the opposite problem back lights work but my stereo won't play and I have no display at the same time. And has the problem completely gone away?
Emmanuel, I fixed this problem in a friend's vehicle, but if I remember correctly the HVAC backlights weren't working, nor was the backlight for the radio display. However, the audio did work fine. Your issue sounds different. Unfortunately I am not sure how to fix that one, but it sounds like you might have a bad/grounded speaker wire. I found this thread about it:
www.clubcivic.com/board/showthread.php?s=753d1376a94f4a6d5003da03a442aea8&t=185235&page=2
I hope that might be helpful.
very detail video, Thank you, i watched complete video but my stereo problem is little different then yours, stereo is on but there is no volume from speakers.
Every thing is normal but no sound from speakers, please help me .
Syed Ali Syed, I am not quite sure what may be causing your issue, but I suppose it's possible you have a blown fuse. I would do some research on a Honda forum such as this one:
honda-tech.com/audio-security-video-27/
You can probably find some good information there. As a last result, you could remove your stereo from the car and take it to a local electronic repair shop to see if they can diagnose your problem.
I'm sorry I'm not more help, but I hope you can solve your problem. Good luck, and thanks for watching!
do you have any idea which IC is sound IC on board ? i asked from one repair person from other country & he told me to locate sound IC and replace it.
Syed Ali Unfortunately, I'm not sure about that. If you haven't already posted a question on an Honda forum, I would do that - there are some really knowledgeable people that can probably help you with the specifics of the mother board.
Good luck, and I'm sorry I'm not more help!
hey matt before your fixed everything what was the initial problem for me the back light doesn't light up anymore and i can't use the radio or the cd player therefore i can't listen to music. i don't know if this is the same problem honda had a recall on these models but i missed that boat and I'm trying to fixed this myself. the heat works but it doesn't show the temperature because the backlight doesn't work. if i do this would the sound start working again? any info would be great
Tommy Yu Tommy, the car in this video belonged to a friend, but his radio would play music. He just could not tell what station the radio was tuned to because the back light would not work. His CD player did not work either, but that was a separate issue.
If your radio backlight and HVAC lights are not working, the repair in this video should solve your problem. However, as several people have commented below, there were apparently multiple motherboards used in the Honda factory radios, so depending on which one you have, it may not match the one pictured in this video. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the other motherboards and can't really offer any assistance in locating the bad resistor on them.
Best of luck if you decide to take on this repair. The worst that can happen is that you remove the radio and discover you have a different motherboard. If that is the case, you could try to purchase a used radio unit and install it yourself.
Thanks for watching!
Hey there, which model of Accord did this radio come out of? I have an LX which had the more basic version of the stereo. The more complex units came with the higher trim level models. I was wondering if this is the more basic model. Thanks!
onlymarkallen This wasn't my vehicle (it belonged to a friend), but I believe it was an EX model. Thanks for watching!
Hi tx for video..I have same problem in my accord 2009 but when opened radio look different from one in ur video. Please can you help me don't know what to look...
adis eminovic Adis, I'm very sorry to say that I'm not at all familiar with the circuit board for the 2009 Accord radio. I would try to find a Honda electronics online forum and ask some of the knowledgeable people there. I'm sure someone can point you in the right direction.
I'm sorry I'm not more help. Thanks for watching!
i'm soooo nervous to do this! but i'm glad to know i can instead of taking it to someone or paying a ton a money on repair/new radio!
was the radio also not working? your info says radio backlight/hvac controls. probably a stupid question but i just want to make sure it's the same problem. i have an 07 but it looks exactly the same.
catie hamrick Hi Catie, in my case, the radio still worked, but the display would not show up, nor would the lights in the knobs for the heat/AC. The CD player also did not work, but that is a separate issue not fixed by the repair in my video.
Are you not getting any sound out of the speakers with the radio on?
***** no, no sound coming out of the radio. every now and then (rarely now) the digital display flashes at me. and recently, the sound will just come on for a few seconds then cut off again. (it actually freaked me out the other day! i heard someone talking and i realized it was my dead radio!)
catie hamrick do you know which piece that is?
catie hamrick
Hi Catie, after doing some research online, I've come across some interesting information. It appears that Honda actually issued a recall due to the large number of issues with some of the '03-'04 factory radios. It sounds like the recall was extended up to about 100,000 miles. You may have more miles than that, but I would start with your local Honda dealership and explain your issues, and maybe they will work with you.
I'm not sure what the actual cause of your issue is, but I have a feeling that there is either a shorted power wire, a shorted speaker wire, or the radio's motherboard has gone bad. I have also read about a possible recall with the ignition switch, and I suppose it's possible that could be contributing too.
Check out these links...some other folks describe the same situation you are experiencing.
www.hondaaccordforum.com/forum/audio-visual-electronics-10/stereo-problems-2003-honda-accord-40460/
community.cartalk.com/discussion/2283094/2003-honda-accord-with-a-possessed-radio
honda-tech.com/honda-accord-crosstour-2003-current-118/2003-honda-accord-radio-audio-dead-static-not-working-2537054/
If the dealership says you are not covered by recall, I think your least expensive option would be to try to find a used (but tested/working) ractory radio from a junkyard and install it yourself. You can remove the bad radio exactly as shown in my video, and then just connect the wiring to the "new" radio and put everything back together. Or, you could do as someone posted in one of the links above and install an aftermarket radio. If you are handy with a circuit tester, you could also check for power to the radio once you have it removed from the dash, and you could check for wiring shorts in both the power wires and speaker wires to see if you can find a wiring issue not related to the actual radio itself....but electrical gremlins can be really difficult to find sometimes, even for seasoned professionals.
Good luck, and let me know what you find out from the dealership!
***** thank you for all this! i'm waiting for a circuit writer pen to get here then we're going to take the thing apart! i guess we'll just figure something out; it's already broken :/ i do have a couple of airbag recalls i have to get checked out so, maybe i'll ask about the radio, too. thank you for researching! awesome videos!
my climate control icons still wont illuminate with the headlights on. Do you think its a possibility that the strip bulbs are burnt? i havent checked for voltage to the lights yet. I am also plugged into an aftermarket external aux system to a component area of the radio that was previously being used for xm radio, etc. im thinking some power source was disconnected with the new wire set plugged in.
so its not the aftermarket aux clip that is keeping my climate control from illuminating. i know this because i plugged the old cable into the radio and nothing changed. i am looking at the backside of the faceplate and there seems to be a series of fuses near the ribbon which powers the led strip for the climate control. not sure if its a similar problem like with the radio.
Can I use a copper wire
Hey Matt, the inside of my radius seems to look a little bit different than yours. Can you tell me which connection number that was? In the same general area I see one labeled R707 and another one labeled C713. Can anyone provide me with clarity on that? Additionally, can you link us to the pan you use for this?
I wish I could leave a photo inside this comment so you could see exactly what I’m talking about.
Hi Matt, I have the same problem too. Have you read any suggestions that it's one of the resistors that's causing the problem? The resistor is placed next to the part you're shortcuting. Thx.
Hi Kunwen Yuan, I have not ready any definitive suggestion about what may cause the part to go bad initially. I have read opinions that it is simply an issue with the part that I "bypass" in the video - supposedly this part just goes bad over time and stops working. However, I suppose it is possible that another resistor could possibly be the root source of the problem and could be causing other parts to fail.
Do you have the same radio problem?
Hi Matt, thank you for reply. I do have the same problem. The worse thing is I sent my car to dealer to replace timing belt, and they disconnect the battery, so now I have a CODE, which is hard to solve without LCD backlight. Now my car is absolutely silent...
Kunwen Yuan Ah man, that's a bummer. Sorry to hear about that. I would see if you can repair it the same way I did, so that you can put in the code on the radio. Let me know how it goes if you do try it out. Good luck!
Kunwen Yuan you can put in the anti theft code without the display working. If you don't know what the code is, you can go to your local dealer to obtain it. Put the code into the radio. If it doesn't work the first time, just push the radio power button and enter code again. There should be a beep then it should start working.
Thank you very much Matt for this solution. I had been searching for this.
I have a query..... I own a Honda accord V6 3.0l 2004 model, it has automatic climate control, but sometimes the climate control just stops working. Nothing works in the climate control, neither the buttons, nor the fans and also the climate control portion on the screen goes blank. There is also the problem same as in this video.
But the climate control automatically comes back on. Sometimes it takes a few minutes while on the other hand, at times, it takes even days. What can be the problem? I really need help regarding this.
Wow, that's definitely an interesting issue, Prathu! I'm sorry to hear you're having that problem. I'm honestly not sure if that might be caused by an issue with the radio motherboard/electronics, or if it could instead be an electrical wiring problem. I don't have a good answer for you, but I would suggest you post your question in the electronics section of one of the various online Honda forums. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I am might be able to help you.
I hope you're able to figure it out! Please let me know if you do! Good luck.
Thanks
Hey good video, I think I am having essentially the same problem with my 2003 accord, only difference is that mine has the navigation with it. Do you happen to have the references where you found this information?
Marcus Pitre I actually got the idea for the repair from a video posted by a guy named Mitch Cox. I'm not sure how he figured out which resistor was causing the problem. I posted my video basically as a one-stop-shop to demonstrate the removal of the radio, the repair, and the re-installation, because I could not find any other videos that showed all of these steps in one video.
I'm not familiar with the navigation system setup, but what I would do is look for an online Honda forum (message board) and browse through the threads there. If you can't find the information you need, post a new thread, and I'd be willing to bet someone very knowledgeable can help you out.
Good luck, and thanks for watching! If you figure out your issue, feel free to post your results here....there may be others out there in the same boat as you!
Thanks Matt. I'm check that out
I would like to know you knew where the problem was in the radio? I'm in the process of doing it and hoping that it will work but just not sure if it will.. and if that not problem what else could it be ?? I already check the fuse inside the car and that ok
Annette Wells The only reason I knew to look there was because I found another RUclips video about how to repair the issue. However, that video didn't document how to actually remove the radio, so I had to watch bits and pieces of other videos to figure out that process. That's when I decided to make one video that demonstrated the entire repair from start to finish. I can't take any credit for the initial idea, though.
Are your symptoms that your radio backlight will not work, so you cannot see the radio display, and the lights in your heat/AC controls will not light up? If so, then most likely this repair will solve your problem, unless your radio unit happens to be one of the models that is different than the one in this video. Several other people have commented that they began this repair, only to realize they have a different radio than in this video.
Best of luck...I hope this will solve your problem!
***** I reconnected it and it didn't work I mite put more of the pen on If it doesn't work I'll look into just getting a replacement at a deal ship :(
Annette Wells Sorry to hear that, Annette! You might be able to purchase a radio secondhand from a junkyard...that might save you a little bit of money. Hopefully another coat of the circuit writer pen will work, though. You might want to wait 24 hours before trying the radio out; another viewer commented that his repair seemed to fail quickly the first time because he did not allow the ink to cure.
Good luck!
maybe you can help me out: my lights are no problem on my dash when in reference to the temp lights and such, but my damn stereo either wont stay on or the whole display goes in and out in and out? Do you think I need a whole new system? Thanks.
+stillettopumps86 Hmm, I seem to remember reading about that issue, and I think it is probably related to the motherboard inside the stereo unit. I could be wrong about that, but before you go tearing into it, I would check out some Honda forums to see what you can find. I'd hate for you to go through the trouble of the repair in my video only to find out it didn't help solve your issue.
Good luck, and let us know if you figure it out!