Here is a link to a video that shows my first attempt at a test rig for ICUs. I made it with a fuse box, a chime, a flasher relay, and a custom PCB. It is much easier than installing it in a car just to test it.
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- Key position 1
- Start
- Brake test light
- Voltage regulator
- Oil pressure switch
- Defroster
- Intermittent Wipers
- Headlights
- Turn signals
- Oil pressure
- Door open chime
- Key in reminder chime
Dude this is so bad ass!
Still don’t have a confirmed 100% functional ICU to test with so I have not been able to validate the defog, Intermittent, or Key reminder test circuits. The other possibility is that I am testing with a 100% functional ICU and my test rig is not configured correctly. I’ve never heard of the key reminder failing, have you?
I’m not familiar with testing electronics like this. My key on reminder routinely does not work. Do you have the electronics manual? It should get you the circuits to be sure.
I did get the key reminder beeper to work, but I found a small flaw in my design that explains why the Intermittent wiper and Defog tests were not working. I jury rigged it and got the intermittent wiper test to work but it looks stupid with jumper wires running all over the place, so I ordered an updated circuit board. Nothing ever seems to work exactly the way I hope it will the first time. I’ll have an update on this project in about a month. Now that I know the concept is good I’ll make it a bit more professional looking next time.
Do you work with electronics for your career?
That’s funny, I don’t think I ever had a “career” I just had a bunch of different jobs. I did work in a television repair shop for a year or so.
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Very interesting, From an electrical and engineering standpoint. I love it. once you work the kinks out on this one. A MFR test rig would be a great addition.
Nfulfx. Time to print up a proper housing for it. 
Dude. If you can sketch up something on paper, I’ll make it a reality.
Thanks, but I think that would be a waste of effort, its just a test rig it doesn’t need to be pretty.
True, but ICU diagnosis is extremely valuable.
Would you be able to create a rig like this for the AC Switch? I have 3 or 4 of these and they seem to be REALLY finicky about kicking on the AC compressor.
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I would agree something this handy would be very helpful to a lot of people!!
Sorry I’ve been busy with other priorities for the past couple weeks. The AC switch is a pressure switch, I guess you could hook up a pressure gauge and some way to pump up the pressure and just see if it closes at the correct pressure, but that is not something I want to get involved with.
The reason I was building this test rig was so I could test an aftermarket ICU I am working on without the need to install it in a car each time I needed to do another test. I now have what I think is a working prototype and you can watch this video to see a demonstration. A couple years ago I needed a replacement for the ICU in my fourth gen Honda Civic and after getting 5 or 6 bad ICUs from various sources I gave up and decided the only solution was to make it myself. After that other Civic and CRX owners wanted one so I made a few more and eventually the word got out so now I have made well over a hundred of those. Several second gen owners noticed and have asked me to make one for the Integra but I didn’t have an Integra to test it in so I had to make this test rig as well as the ICU.
Eighty percent of the Integra ICU was a simple copy/paste from the Civic ICU but the oil pressure flasher and the defogger circuits are unique to the Integra.
I just rewatched the video and realized that I neglected to demonstrate the corner light blinker circuit on the aftermarket ICU, that functionality is copied from the Civic ICU so I’ll just tell you that it does work correctly.
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Never the less, Very impressive engineering!
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I’m excited for there to be a viable aftermarket product for this unit. I’m on my second ICU and they are coming harder to come by.
An ICU with modern electronics would be amazing.