1983 Rx7 Windshield wiper Switch and motor
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 7
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From: Fayetteville
1983 Rx7 Windshield wiper Switch and motor
Hello:
Where can I get a winshield wiper switch and motor?
The prior loose steering problem I mentioned has now been fixed. Thank you to everyone who replied. Ended up taking the Rx7 to Superior Maxda in Bentonville who fixed ther steering and a few other items. However, now appears we need the wiper switch and/or motor. This is becoming an O J T project. (on job training)..
P S The 83 Rx7 has been quite a hit with the mechanics.
Again, thank you,
Lynda
Where can I get a winshield wiper switch and motor?
The prior loose steering problem I mentioned has now been fixed. Thank you to everyone who replied. Ended up taking the Rx7 to Superior Maxda in Bentonville who fixed ther steering and a few other items. However, now appears we need the wiper switch and/or motor. This is becoming an O J T project. (on job training)..
P S The 83 Rx7 has been quite a hit with the mechanics.
Again, thank you,
Lynda
Hi Lynda-
Capt. Obvious sez you/someone needs to figure out first if its the motor - or the switch.
The fact you just had service done involving the steering column issue seems mighty coincidental to it being the switch assy.
Do you work on the car yourself at all, or is this strictly your mechanic?
The column covers are pretty easy to screw apart and could at least tell you if the wires to the sw are a loose connection or broken wire there.
IF its the motor, again its usually wiring at the motor or the motor transmission has seized (which generally blows a fuse, have you checked fuses??)
The transmission is the rack the motor sits on, that articulates the wiper arms. It happens sometimes that they can be re-lubed to allow them to loosen up their swivel joints and function again. However, these pivoting joints are nylon, and they can fail (disintegrate) with age and UV exposure. Which means you would need to pull out the rack and replace the transmission assy. Surprisingly, I have seen these for sale (ebay) tho not sure if Mazda still stocks them. The transmission/motor assy is the same unit for all 1979-85 1st gen RX7s. Other wise used complete assys can be offered up for sale in the Parts For Sale Forum here. (I have a spare wiper assy I can sell you if it comes to that, for eg)
Finally, a 'gotcha' I discovered on my RX7 when the wipers died. The main harness connection AT the motor, had disintegrated due to UV exposure. The nylon connector is just sitting under the grille assy, exposed. When the connector body failed, the wires within no longer interconnected btw the motor and the main harness, so no power was getting to it. The fix was to break away the remains of the failed connector, note carefully (!!!) which wires go to which complimentary wires btw the 2 sides of the connector - and attach the loose wires back into a new connector.
So here is the rub. You can't BUY these connectors from Mazda! But-
I found a great source, called, believe it or not Eastern Beaver. Really.
https://easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec_...cna250-tl.html
This takes you to the correct connector page. You want the 4P250 CNA Tang-Less Set about 1/2 way down the page. This is pretty much identical to the OE connector that is broken. In fact, once you extract the wired ends from the old connector (easiest to just break the old connector apart to free them), the RX7s wires terminals will SLIP RIGHT INTO THIS CONNECTOR AND LOCK IN PLACE! Its literally plug-and-play.
I recall tho you may need to PULL the wiper mtr assy OUT of the car to make this easy to do. Not really a big deal, BUT - to remove the assy
THE WIPER ARMS NEED TO BE IN THE "UP" POSITION TO REMOVE. So the motor can't be in the normal "park" position against the bottom of the window. LOL- obv with power that would be a snap. But since they are dead, you will need to gently (or you will strip the wiper arm splines!!!! if you force it!) coax the transmission to the UP.
Anyway. some thoughts and ideas. Keep us posted. Ask questions!
Stu A
80GS
AZ
Capt. Obvious sez you/someone needs to figure out first if its the motor - or the switch.
The fact you just had service done involving the steering column issue seems mighty coincidental to it being the switch assy.
Do you work on the car yourself at all, or is this strictly your mechanic?
The column covers are pretty easy to screw apart and could at least tell you if the wires to the sw are a loose connection or broken wire there.
IF its the motor, again its usually wiring at the motor or the motor transmission has seized (which generally blows a fuse, have you checked fuses??)
The transmission is the rack the motor sits on, that articulates the wiper arms. It happens sometimes that they can be re-lubed to allow them to loosen up their swivel joints and function again. However, these pivoting joints are nylon, and they can fail (disintegrate) with age and UV exposure. Which means you would need to pull out the rack and replace the transmission assy. Surprisingly, I have seen these for sale (ebay) tho not sure if Mazda still stocks them. The transmission/motor assy is the same unit for all 1979-85 1st gen RX7s. Other wise used complete assys can be offered up for sale in the Parts For Sale Forum here. (I have a spare wiper assy I can sell you if it comes to that, for eg)
Finally, a 'gotcha' I discovered on my RX7 when the wipers died. The main harness connection AT the motor, had disintegrated due to UV exposure. The nylon connector is just sitting under the grille assy, exposed. When the connector body failed, the wires within no longer interconnected btw the motor and the main harness, so no power was getting to it. The fix was to break away the remains of the failed connector, note carefully (!!!) which wires go to which complimentary wires btw the 2 sides of the connector - and attach the loose wires back into a new connector.
So here is the rub. You can't BUY these connectors from Mazda! But-
I found a great source, called, believe it or not Eastern Beaver. Really.
https://easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec_...cna250-tl.html
This takes you to the correct connector page. You want the 4P250 CNA Tang-Less Set about 1/2 way down the page. This is pretty much identical to the OE connector that is broken. In fact, once you extract the wired ends from the old connector (easiest to just break the old connector apart to free them), the RX7s wires terminals will SLIP RIGHT INTO THIS CONNECTOR AND LOCK IN PLACE! Its literally plug-and-play.
I recall tho you may need to PULL the wiper mtr assy OUT of the car to make this easy to do. Not really a big deal, BUT - to remove the assy
THE WIPER ARMS NEED TO BE IN THE "UP" POSITION TO REMOVE. So the motor can't be in the normal "park" position against the bottom of the window. LOL- obv with power that would be a snap. But since they are dead, you will need to gently (or you will strip the wiper arm splines!!!! if you force it!) coax the transmission to the UP.
Anyway. some thoughts and ideas. Keep us posted. Ask questions!
Stu A
80GS
AZ
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville
Hello Eprx799
It appears we need the Wiper motor and switch. An older Mazda garage Lyn contacted in Texas mentioned we would likely need a Belt Crank Mechanism. Do you also have this? We moved from N Ca to Fayetteville Arkansas a few months ago. It appears the Rx7 didn't handle the bouncy trip on the car hauler truck.
Regardless Lyn has owned this car from inception (original owner) and it is time to give it more attention.
Please let me know the costs and merthod of payment. We have Zelle if you want.
Thank you,
Lyn and Bill
It appears we need the Wiper motor and switch. An older Mazda garage Lyn contacted in Texas mentioned we would likely need a Belt Crank Mechanism. Do you also have this? We moved from N Ca to Fayetteville Arkansas a few months ago. It appears the Rx7 didn't handle the bouncy trip on the car hauler truck.
Regardless Lyn has owned this car from inception (original owner) and it is time to give it more attention.
Please let me know the costs and merthod of payment. We have Zelle if you want.
Thank you,
Lyn and Bill
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville
Hello:
Sent you a nessage yesterday. Not sure it went as we had difficulties with lightning storms (internet was iffy). Interested in buying the wiper motor and related parts. Please PM me to let me know if you received and the costs and preferred method of payment.
Thank you
Sent you a nessage yesterday. Not sure it went as we had difficulties with lightning storms (internet was iffy). Interested in buying the wiper motor and related parts. Please PM me to let me know if you received and the costs and preferred method of payment.
Thank you
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