Ok so I have a 98 civic LX that just randomly shuts off, I cannot say what causes it because it does it out of no where. I was told it might be something with the computer and to unplug it but it didn't help. I also have a problem with the gauge cluster lights. They will not turn on when the headlights are on my the indicator for seat belt, gear and everything else work with the headlights off but when I turn them on they shut off. Any ideas with these issues would be appreciated thank you

 

Your cluster lights: is prob your fuse the other part i have no idea, but the lights im pretty sure its the fuse.

 

Your going to have to be a little more specific about what the car does when it just shuts off...does it stutter at all...will it crank right back up after it shuts off...it could be many things.

 

like stated above, more info needed

 

already checked all fuses, I pulled the switch out also because on my fiances 93 it was a bad switch but it still didn't work any other ideas on the cluster lights? The only other info i have is that the previous owner had a system installed and after installing the deck he said the gauge lights went out. I have pulled the dash and there are no bare wires or cut wires??

The shutting off it just is like if I turn the key off the whole car shuts down sometimes it will come back on after a minute, most other times I have to crank it over and it doesn't always start up right away. It doesn't give any signs of it getting ready to shut off and it doesn't do it at a specific time thats why I'm having such a hard time figuring it out. It can never be something simple with cars.

 

Check the ignitor...when mine went it would shut the car down randomly while driving and then sometimes I could crank the car right back up other times it would just crank and crank untill after a while of sitting (like 10min+) it would finally start up. I drive a manual car and when it would shut down on me I would try to pop the clutch while I was still moving and it wouldn't even try to start because it wasn't getting any spark. The ignitor can test good even though it is bad too so don't let anyone tell you it tests fine. When I replaced mine I did an ohm test between the old and new one and the numbers were almost exactly the same...I concluded that something was getting hot inside of the ignitor and would come loose and once it cooled back down it would be fine kind of like a circuit breaker that reset itself.

 

sounds like you got a fuse box problem,the radio is inline with the cluster meaning they did that for a reason,i would look at your radio wirieng make sure nothing is touching or loose. then have a closer look at the fuse box

 

I thought for sure it was the radio after he told me about them going out after the install but all the wiring behind the radio and over to the fuse box is fine they aren't cut pinched. What I don't understand is why they are only not working when the headlight switch is on

 

did you check your fuses under the hood?...check the fusable links in the same spot as well

 

Sorry for taking so long to respond but I checked the fuses in the engine bay and they are fine as well