[ludespeedny]

Here is a writeup of the repair for my Center console light issue.

I got a replacement transistor and soldered it in place of the blown one, and it works!

So here are the steps I did:
#1 follow smaeda's guide to remove the PCB.
http://www.tsxclub.com/forums/1st-gen-problems-fixes/62741-smaedas-guide-fix-center-console-light-problem.html

#2 de-soldered the existing blown transistor
#3 cleaned the contacts, and soldered the new one in place
#4 installed the radio and tested
#5 put everything back together.

The replacement transistor is a Panasonic 2SB1398.
The part numbers for digikey are 2SB13980QACT-ND. It was about $.85 for the part and like $3 shipping.

*notes
The transistor that blew completely removed the pad on the pcb on one of the legs. You can see in the third pic that on the top side part of it is in place. It was tricky to get the solder to connect to that. Just take your time and you will be fine.

Here are pics of the process
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kC8FG0H3nxNYKolGHcmfgXHVvMaWIHbplYboVErleTc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PkMF-lQw8ro/UNjfLJvbmWI/AAAAAAAAQwA/C3haWnLLRD0/s144/100_1533.JPG" height="108" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102366083717450362254/TSXConsoleLightsRepair?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">TSX Console lights repair</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pFLr4bhLIo2Cr-TByG5MEXHVvMaWIHbplYboVErleTc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eED0DiyVCTo/UNjfMNccBQI/AAAAAAAAQwI/0TDr5WpVLlI/s144/100_1537.JPG" height="108" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102366083717450362254/TSXConsoleLightsRepair?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">TSX Console lights repair</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cCFaRWcnxRRfxow91k8o53HVvMaWIHbplYboVErleTc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hxCdeXlfjJw/UNjfNArT22I/AAAAAAAAQwQ/qY_O86ynOEc/s144/100_1539.JPG" height="108" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102366083717450362254/TSXConsoleLightsRepair?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">TSX Console lights repair</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FOYUYhowkWiMqYXFoHeRIHHVvMaWIHbplYboVErleTc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-c5PrbKdKR2E/UNjfN9V4WtI/AAAAAAAAQwY/qkcJgP6lmTU/s144/100_1540.JPG" height="108" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102366083717450362254/TSXConsoleLightsRepair?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">TSX Console lights repair</a></td></tr></table>

It took a bit of time for me to do this since I had to track down the part get it ordered, etc. If you have the part it should only take you a couple hours to remove the radio, solder the transistor on and reinstall.

Let me know if you have any Q's and I'll try to help.

 

[ReDevil]

Sub'd for when I get the patience to attempt again lol Thanks!

 

[mikercp]

Hello had the same issue with the bottom climate controls not lighting up but radio light etc work.

I bought the transistor and Ive never soldered on a pcb board so I had a friend do it. It looks like the transistor is in there pretty good, but when I plugged everything back in, it didnt fix it and now all the lights are out not just my climate control.

I do remember him saying when he removed the old transistor 2 of the "contact rings" came out , but he just put another drop of solder on to hold it...My other buddy is gonna give it another shot I have 2 extra transistors to try just in case.

Hopefully we can get it to work otherwise I might be buying a new board.

 

[ludespeedny]

The wire on the top of my pcb was lifted off a bit and I think that is what needs to connect to the legs of the transistor. You can see it in one of the pics I posted.

 

[mikercp]

Oh are you referring to the 3rd pic you have ?

On the 3 holes on the pcb for the 3 prongs on the transistor leads, it would be on the 1st hole that you're referring to ?

 

[ludespeedny]

Yeah, the first leg from the left. I am not sure where that trace leads to, but I was thinking of using this to repair if needed.
CAIG CircuitWriter Pen : Soldering tools & supplies | RadioShack.com

Oh are you referring to the 3rd pic you have ?

On the 3 holes on the pcb for the 3 prongs on the transistor leads, it would be on the 1st hole that you're referring to ?

 

[Handyman John]

Heat sheild on new circuit board

ludespeedny, Thank you so much for putting the time into this fix for us. I have ordered the parts from Digikey ($.85). The new boards look like they have some kind of heat tape over the affected area of the board. Did you put some kind of heat shield on your board to help pervent future overheating or did you just replace the part and put it back in? If you did not use a heat shield, are your lights still working? One last thing...my lights are out on my steering wheel also , will this console fix correct those also? Thanks, John

 

[ludespeedny]

My lights are still working.
I did not put anything over the back - I think it is a protective pad to prevent shorting, not necessarily protection from heat. You can put something over if you want, but I did not and it is working fine.

I don't know about the steering wheel lights. I am not sure if I have them or not, could you show me an example of what they look like?

I wouldn't think this would fix those, but not sure.

ludespeedny, Thank you so much for putting the time into this fix for us. I have ordered the parts from Digikey ($.85). The new boards look like they have some kind of heat tape over the affected area of the board. Did you put some kind of heat shield on your board to help pervent future overheating or did you just replace the part and put it back in? If you did not use a heat shield, are your lights still working? One last thing...my lights are out on my steering wheel also , will this console fix correct those also? Thanks, John

 

[Handyman John]

Steering wheel back lights on 04

Someone posted that the 04 did not have back lit buttons but I bought my TSX used and did not know if it has or hasn't got the lights. I don't know how to attach a picture of the steering wheel.

 

[ludespeedny]

Yeah, I have the 04 so I don't have the steering wheel lights. Let me know if it does fix it though!

 

[ReDevil]

Someone posted that the 04 did not have back lit buttons but I bought my TSX used and did not know if it has or hasn't got the lights. I don't know how to attach a picture of the steering wheel.

Yeah 04 doesnt come from the factory with them. You can add them, I personally bought an 06 wheel with the buttons(Ones that light are black face/white writing, non-lit are silver face/black writing)and there is a DIY on an accord forum to wire the lights.

 

[coxodoina]

I get the patience to attempt again lol Thanks!

 

[danielcssl]

Fixed for less than a week

Hi all,
I fixed my 04 non-navi TSX stereo board using this same process. After repairs were completed I had working backlights on all my buttons, but only for about 4 days before they stopped working again.

I noticed some burned marks on the board near some surface-mount resistors. I wonder if they could be contributing to overloading the transistor.
I don't think it's worth fixing again unless someone has suggestions to prevent the issue from returning.

I recently upgraded to the TSX from a 1999 V6 Accord, in which I had installed a Pioneer HD radio with iPod and steering wheel integration. As much as I like the TSX radio interface, I do miss that Pioneer. I still have it, and am thinking of mounting it in the removable cubby with a Y adapter.
Has anyone here tried that? I'm going to look around the forum for suggestions.

I was really elated to have the backlights working - it's a great look. However, I was so let down when they burned out... I just can't recommend anyone go to all the trouble to try it themselves.
Just wanted to share my experience. Thanks for the write up. I forgot it was here and bumbled through the procedure, this would have saved me an hour or two.

 

[gonfishin]

has anybody else had success with sautering a resistor to remedy the problem? All my radio and a/c control lights are out except for the displays on both.

 

[ludespeedny]

Just an update for you, my console lights are still working. If nothing else, it only costs less than a buck, so go for it and if it doesn't work for you then you can buy the new board, but I had no issues with it, and helped one other person do the fix and his is working too (he is not on the forum though).

has anybody else had success with sautering a resistor to remedy the problem? All my radio and a/c control lights are out except for the displays on both.

 

[gonfishin]

Just an update for you, my console lights are still working. If nothing else, it only costs less than a buck, so go for it and if it doesn't work for you then you can buy the new board, but I had no issues with it, and helped one other person do the fix and his is working too (he is not on the forum though).

that is great news!

what was the total for the resistor shipped? would you happen to have an extra i can buy from you?

 

[ludespeedny]

I didn't get any extras, although in retrospect, I should have. I think the total came out under $4

 

[gonfishin]

I didn't get any extras, although in retrospect, I should have. I think the total came out under $4

cool. i'm going to pull the radio first to make sure it's that resistor or do you think that is what is common on all our boards?

 

[ludespeedny]

Yeah, from all the research I did it seems like that is a common point of failure for our boards and Honda boards. I would def pull it out and look before ordering the part to be sure, but check my pics and see that it is in the same spot.

 

[gonfishin]

So I tore into my radio and I made a strange discovery. My PCB is for sure fried but the resistor stated in the first post was not the culprit. Instead I found 7 small weird contacts that burned off the pad. It looks like I may need a whole new PCB because there is no way I am attempting to fix that. What's the best place to buy a new board from?