[Bunkie]

It worked!

[Bunkie]

I would like to thank mystifield88 and hypo for the instructions on how to fix this problem. It took only two hours and wasn't difficult even for a software engineer like me. Here are my notes and photos that may help you.

With best regards,
Kirill

Thanks Kirill! My wife's radio display is now working again thanks to you and mystifield and hypo! They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, your pictures were worth a thousand bucks! Her display went out when she had about 95,000 miles, but I didn't find out about the extended warranty until after she'd gone over 100,000. We have a very early '03, bought in Oct, 2002, manufactured in Japan. The radio serial # is one of the first thousand and was manufactured in June, 2002.

[don juan]

Let me tell you my story about this problem.

I recently bought an 03 Accord off eBay. Got a great deal from a respected dealership and everything was great... EXCEPT the knobs and controls on the AC panel would not light up when my lights were on. The radio would light up and display just fine, and I could even see the green status lights that indicated whether the AC was on or not, but the back-lighting for the words on the controls and knobs would not work.

I googled the problem and found this topic. I saw that Honda was covering this up to 7 years / 100k miles, so I immediately printed off service bulletin 04-027 and went armed with it to my local dealership.

That was my first mistake. I should have contacted corporate Honda first.

The dealership took it in for a diagnostic and told me my problem was unrelated to service bulletin 04-027 because my radio display was working fine. I was told that the car's aftermarket alarm system may have caused the problem and that possibly there was a surge or spike that caused all of the backlights to short out. I would have to pay over $100 for them to replace the light bulbs, and it wasn't even guaranteed that this would work.

So, it was at this point I called corporate Honda. After describing my problem to them, they told me I should be covered and to go back to the dealership. I took the car back, and the dealership said the same thing. Then corporate Honda told me that since the dealership is their "eyes and ears", they must go by the dealership's diagnostic.

Fortunately, I know a guy who has a lot of clout at this particular dealership. He talked to their service department and they agreed to replace the radio circuit board for free even though they said this was not the problem. Wouldn't you know it... when I picked up the car, the backlighting was WORKING!

If I didn't have hookups at the dealership, I would have been screwed out of this free repair. I plan on calling corporate Honda to explain to them what all happened. Although I can't really blame the dealership so much as the exact wording on the service bulletin for the symptom is:

The audio display and controls (knobs, buttons, bars) of the audio-HVAC display module are dim or dark.

Well, my audio display definitely WASN'T dark. I could see the radio LCD just fine... everything ELSE was dark, and replacing the radio circuit board DEFINITELY fixed the problem.

I am going to contact corporate Honda so hopefully they will clarify this on their service bulletin.

If your Accord is having problems like described here, but your actual radio LCD is NOT dark, don't give up. You should be covered under this service bulletin!

[Honda guy38]

This might just help, I do work for Honda Manufacturing, Anyway my 2003 did the same thing, I also realise that there is a service bullentin on this also. However when my car did this I was told it was just a matter of pushing a button. It worked. When the radio is off push the CD/AUX button for about 10 seconds and the lights go out, Do the same thing and the light comes back on. Give it a try.

[don juan]

This might just help, I do work for Honda Manufacturing, Anyways my 2003 did the same thing, I also realise that there is a service bullentin on this also. However when my car did this I was told it was just a matter of pushing a button. It worked. When the radio is off push the CD/AUX button for about 10 seconds and the lights go out, Do the same thing and the light comes back on. Give it a try.

Um... no offense but if it were just a matter of pushing a button, honda would not be doing a $700 repair for free. What you are describing is unrelated the issue described here.

[xyi3nce]

This might just help, I do work for Honda Manufacturing, Anyways my 2003 did the same thing, I also realise that there is a service bullentin on this also. However when my car did this I was told it was just a matter of pushing a button. It worked. When the radio is off push the CD/AUX button for about 10 seconds and the lights go out, Do the same thing and the light comes back on. Give it a try.

Hi, I just ried that and id di not work. Are you sure there isn't something else that you did?

[Scottyd]

My 2003 Honda Accord EX has a problem with the backlighting on the radio and the ac controls. All the lights have gone out, but everything else on it seems to work still. I have looked for a blown fuse but could not find one. Any suggestions?

I just brought my car back to the dealer today... 2003 Honda Accord EX Coupe. Same problem. It's a know problem. The circuit board is blown. They are fixing it at no cost under the regular original warranty (which I thought had expired). Bring it into a Honda Dealer or call them. First time I didn't have to fight with them about service. They've fixed my horn twice on that car... and my black vinyl window stripping after I complained and complained.

Now if only they had an audio aux jack fix so I can hook up my iPod.

Good luck

[Honda2003EXL]

I have a Honda Accord EXL 2003 with 45000KM. I bought the car in November 2002. The backlight on my car went out a couple of weeks ago. When I ran through this blog, I was very disappointed with Honda because I don't have any extended warranty.

But, I just called my dealer and he said the warranty on this part was extended by Honda and he gave me an appointment to change the face plate (or may be the radio completely) on November 19th.

So, call your dealer and they should set it up.

[jeo1758]

Thanks for the diagram on removing the radio.I was just looking for one and hoping some one would have found one and shared it.Thanks

[OhAnn101]

My 2003 Honda Accord EX has a problem with the backlighting on the radio and the ac controls. All the lights have gone out, but everything else on it seems to work still. I have looked for a blown fuse but could not find one. Any suggestions?

Thank you all for your informative posts. My 2003 Accord lost it's back-lights for radio/cd unit a week ago (under 45,000 miles). I did a back and forth phone conversation with the dealer as I read your experiences. Never did I have to call Honda America, I'm impressed with the dealer's service department and how efficient they are. The service bulletin referred to "04-027" is dated July 9, 2004 but a newer one was issued after they realized how to pinpoint the design flaw. Now only a chip/board (okay I'm not technical people) needs to be replaced. Yes, Honda did extend the warranty coverage for this so many out there only need phone their dealer armed with the 04-027 # but be aware that they use to replace your unit with a REFURBISHED unit. Now, you just get a new chip/board (okay - whatever) installed.
Thank you all for your advise!

[markaruhl]

My 2003 Honda Accord EX has a problem with the backlighting on the radio and the ac controls. All the lights have gone out, but everything else on it seems to work still. I have looked for a blown fuse but could not find one. Any suggestions?

I have the same problem. Honda USA sent me a notice extending the warr. On radio to seven yrs. The only problem they limited to 100k miles. Guess what they want to charge me $800 to fix the problem because I have over 100k. I am going to discuss this with Honda. They knew they had a problem but had an out on the mileage. This disturbs me that Honda will not take care of their customer. Hopefully they will take care of me.

Email me with any other comments [email protected]

[AlmondTofu]

Has anyone with a 2003 LX had this problem and gotten it solved by Honda America?

[Texas83]

My 2003 Honda Accord EX has a problem with the backlighting on the radio and the ac controls. All the lights have gone out, but everything else on it seems to work still. I have looked for a blown fuse but could not find one. Any suggestions?

Can someone please help! I have a 2004 Honda Accord that does not fall under the VIN range that is on the bulletin. American Honda is not willing to help since I am the second owner. What can I do?

[jwillterp]

I have a 2003 LX with this problem. Calling Honda of America, I was told that my LX (non-V6) was not covered under the service bulletin. However, I inquired that I wanted to open a case on this. After ''talking to his supervisor'' I was told that the service bulletin had just been updated today to show all 03 models fell under this category. I know this is probably incorrect, and that they finally gave in. So now I have a case number and should get this resolved shortly! Keep pressing until they give in.

[mconners]

I own a 2003 Honda Accord EX and have the dark display problem as discussed in this forum. I just called Honda America at 1-800-999-1009. I cited the 04-027 service bulletin and this forum. They told me the issue has an updated service bulletin as of Feb 2008. The warranty has been extended for 7yrs or 105,000 miles. Just take the car in and have the issue diagnosed. The Honda dealer of your choice will diagnose the problem and replace the radio free of charge. I will update further when I have the radio replaced at the dealer.

[jwillterp]

Yes, I got the same response about three weeks ago when I called American Honda. I took it to my local dealer who is replacing it free of labor and parts. However, they did need to send the radio to American Honda to get fixed. I was told it would take between 5 and 90 days!! I am still waiting, day 30 and counting...

[mconners]

I thought I would update my experience for "jwillterp" and others. I did take my Honda in to the dealer (Pohanka Honda in Fredericksburg, VA). They diagnosed the problem and replaced the radio. The process took about 1 1/2 hours. No questions and no charge. My 2003 Honda has 69,000 miles.

[nicolaas]

My 2003 Honda Accord EX has a problem with the backlighting on the radio and the ac controls. All the lights have gone out, but everything else on it seems to work still. I have looked for a blown fuse but could not find one. Any suggestions?

I'm an electronics engineering Friday 21 march 2008; I was repairing a display problem of a Honda accura 2004 the Radio, clock an air-conditioning lights was not working. I was a little bit afraid because so far I now the new radio's have a pin code, so I've to work on the radio without disconnect the power but let I make it shorter at the begin of the main-print board close to the big transistors is a small (little) black fuse 2.3A, I've solder a new one and the lights works again. The fuse is between a diode and a transistor. I was looking on the internet and I saw that lot of people with Honda cars have the same problem. The best thing is to let a technician repair it for you.

[phoenix honda]

Just this morning as got in my car, I noticed that the radio/CD/clock display is dead. The radio works. It looks like the LCD backlight is dead. The lights behind the climate control buttons are fine.

I still have close to year/11000 miles of my 3 year / 36000 miles warranty left. This problem is covered by the warranty, I assume. Has anyone had difficulty getting this fixed under this warranty?

Thanks,

Baskaran

I just had mine repaired under a recall. Good up until 100,000 miles. Yes, You read it right.

[phoenix honda]

I found a recall for this problem online. Google honda radio recall. Good up to 100,000 miles. Strictly a lighting problem. Not a CD repair.