1998 Honda Passport parking lights will turn on, but not my

Tiny
MRLIND
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 HONDA PASSPORT
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
So the first issue I saw was, one night when I was about to leave for work (at night) I went to turn on my headlights and they wouldn’t turn on with a couple times off and on, they turned on. Kind of weird. As time passed it would do it every once in a while until it became a constant issue. So that’s the first problem, the parking lights will come on, but not the headlights. Now here are all the problems. When my switch is on the on position for the headlight (headlights wont turn on) my starter wont crank. When I turn my headlight switch off my starter will work. My radio will not work at all. My blower fan for my heater when you turn it on, it turns on my dashboard lights, which by the way my dashboard lights don’t work either. Also kind of a weird issues, but it goes hand in hand with the electrical problem. When I first had the problem off and on, when I had the problem (headlights won’t turn on) my car wouldn’t go into overdrive. When the headlights would turn on it would go into overdrive, now that it is a constant problem my car will not shift into overdrive. And I think that’s about it.I can work on my own cars, I have had racecars, older trucks, but I wondering if this is out of my league, I called a few places and they want a $100 just to tell me I have a problem. Also I looked under the hood to look for any bare wires that might be grounded out. And by my fuse box under the hood coming out the box does have a few bare wires. Could this be the issue? Any help would be great, if it seems like a big problem I will suck it up and take it in. Thanks! Also, when the headlights wont turn on and I pop the hood I can hear a hum coming from somewhere under the hood.
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 AT 1:09 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
Hello
Thanks for the donation.

It is definitely an elec. Issue you are having here. First, check and repair those bare wires you speak of. Then check and, if necessary, replace any fuses/relays that are faulty. I believe the bare wires may have grounded out and possibly fried a few fuses along with some relays as well? It is very possible. So, once these wires and fuses are checked out and fixed, post results and we will begin further diagnosis if the issue is still not fixed.

Thanks for using 2carpros. Com!
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Thursday, January 15th, 2009 AT 12:59 AM
Tiny
MRLIND
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
No more visable bare wires. Relays seem fine. I even took off the bottom cover of my fuse box. It all looks clean and connected fine. So same problem. When I turn the lights on the buzzing is coming from my lights relay. When I unplug it the buzzing stops and then my horn turns on warning me my lights are on. When the relay is in no warning horn. It has to be some problem near or around or with my fuse box under the hood because everything that has an electrical problem 50% is listed on the cover of my fuse box. So what I did was cover all bear wires swapped out relays for ones I knew were good. And no fix.
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Sunday, January 18th, 2009 AT 12:49 PM
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
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  • 16,542 POSTS
Okay, you will have to take a test meter and ensure all wires are getting power when they are supposed to. Also do wiggle test on all wires to search for any shorts in the wires.
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Sunday, January 18th, 2009 AT 3:27 PM
Tiny
MRLIND
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Ok will do. Im not too good at electical stuff. Use a test meter to make sure the relays are getting power? Fuses? Or all? And how should I do that? I really appriciate your help. The next thing will be take it to a place that will charge me 95 bucks an hour to tell me whats wrong.I kinda understand why its 95 bucks. Electical stuff is a pain.
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Monday, January 19th, 2009 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
You remove the relay/fuse from the power distribution center where the bare wires you fixed are at, and stick the end of the meter into the connector where the relay/fuse would normally seat. Tester will indicate wether power is present or not. While holding tester to connector, wiggle wires leading into that specific connector and see if it moves the tester needle. If so, that wire has a short and needs to be repaired.
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Monday, January 19th, 2009 AT 6:25 PM

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