So I took a Pioneer Deh p4900ib deck out of my 80 rx7 to transplant it into a buddies car, and when I went to start my car, it doesn't do anything. The lights will turn on, but no lights come on in the dash, nor does the horn work. Also, no brake lights or turn signals, i.e. I'm assuming that i loosened some wire in the steering column, but at the same time I can only guess.

I leave for the Navy here in a week from today, and need to get the car fixed for my wife, so any help is much appreciated. Thank you!

 

When you say that it doesn't do anything do you mean that the car doesn't start or non of the dash/indoor lights turn on? If it's the latter...

I don't know if this will be helpful at all or anything but this happened to my wife one night and she was freaking out. Have you checked the fuses? Also while you were taking out your deck you may have accidentally turned the **** of the dash illumination. It' fairly close to the center console. Sorry if it's not helpful >.< and go Navy!

 

Heh. Thanks. No, unfortunately it is not the dash illumination **** turned down lol. The engine will not crank over, nor will anything even acknowledge I'm turning the key. Strangely, the lights WILL turn on. The head lights I mean. Thanks for the input. Heading back out to look at it. Wish me luck!

 

When I got my 7, the PO installed the stereo wrong. It made it so that there was a drain on my batt and when I turned the key to the 'acc' or 'on' position the running lights came on. The 12v+ constant wire and 12v+ acc were were switched in my case. Maybe you have the same prob and your batt drained b/c of it.

 

Ah was hoping it was something simple but alas not so. Good luck man. My older brother says check the grounding if you touched it during your uninstall, not sure what he means though o.o

 

I've had the issue with the stock fusible links when i turn the key, some things turn on, but very weekly, then when i crank, everything goes out. You might want to check (wiggle) them if you haven't upgraded, just to rule out their contribution to your issue.

 

Ok. Going back out for the day to work on the darn thing. Thanks for the replies

 

So does anyone know if wiring in a stereo acts as a circuit for the cars ignition system? A friend of mine told me that putting a deck in will fix the problem, because the ground in the stereo would ground the system. Any opinions?

 

Not true. If you think you have a bad ground then fix the ground. There is one on the starter and one of the drivers side shock tower. They are both supplied by the same negative cable from the battery. On some there is also a ground from the engine to the chasis.

I would remove the current stereo if it is hooked up and then fix the ground as described. If someone did a hack job of wiring, maybe they used a power wire from the ignition switch. I would run the wires back from the current stereo to see how it is wired in.

Good luck in the Navy. I spent 6 years from 1982 to 1989 as an Electronic Technician (ET) on two ships. The USS America and the USS Spurance.

 

So far I'm absolutely loving the support that I've received for joining. So first off, thank you.

Secondly, I went out and just found a fuse that was blown. These pics show the area. They are both from the same area, down by the hood release, and show a fuse (to which currently have NO idea as to what it is for), while the second is the fuse from which I pulled from said fuse case. Inscribed on the fuse is "250v5a". I know that 5a is 5 amps. While the 250 is voltage? Anyway, what is this for? Could this be part of my problem? The wife is out looking for a replacement at the moment, as this fuse was blown. As always, thanks for any help.

 

Well... A blown fuse is never good.

That type of fuse holder is not stock. You will just have to follow the wires to figure out exactly what it is wired to. As to why it is there.... that is a whole other ball game.

Replace the fuse and see what happens.

250 is the maximum voltage that it is rated for.

 

Replaced the fuse, nothing happened.
Gonna work on it some more tomorrow. I'm finding power to the wiper arm with the tester light, but none of the wires to the ignition seem to have any.

 

Sorry, but that type of fuse holder IS stock on an 80... there is one clipped to the side of the ECU, on an orange lead, right where the OP described finding this one. It's black on my car, not white, but in exactly that area.

A blown ECU fuse will stop things from happening pretty thoroughly, but a blown fuse is a symptom, not a fault.

Did you disconnect the battery while working on the stereo? If not, you may have shorted some wiring while working, and that could take out some fuses. If not, something may be shorted now. Did you have to cut any wires to remove the stereo? aer any wires or connectors possibly touching the car's metal framework now?

There's another ground point for much of the instrumentation & control, under the dash on the left hand side, known as X-15 on the locator diagram. If that ground is not solid, it effects most of the instrument panel electrical.

Go download the 1980 wiring diagram from here:

http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/manuals/19...ingDiagram.pdf

You will need it to locate things as well as know what wires do what. It also tells you which fuses on the block are for what circuits; knowing which one blew will probably be really helpful if finding your problem.

One I had tons of trouble with, back when I first was working on my 80: if you try to remove the stereo surround without disconnecting the battery, it was virtually guaranteed that the connector on the back of the cigarette lighter (which is poorly insulaed and surrounded by grounded metal) would short to ground, blowing the always-hot fuse it shares with the clock, room light, door buzzer, etc.

 

Based on the list of things you've provided that aren't working (horn, ignition, dash lights, brake lights, turn signals (plus stereo)) I'd suggest checking the middle fusible link on the link holder on the driver's side strut tower.

All those things work from that link... and the headlights do not.

 

Learn something new every day. Well I can say for sure it is not stock on 84-85the at least.

 

Just woke up. Time to get to it. Will check out what you said Divin. Thanks!

 

SAs are funny beasts in a number of ways; 95% same as an FB, 5% really different. and a few % difference between '79s and '80's as well

 

Well guys. I still have NOT figured out the problem. Looks like I'm gonna have to have the wife pay some guy to try and find a fix while I'm gone. Not the note I want to go into boot camp with, but whatever. Tomorrow is the last day to work on it. IF I don't get back on the forums to respond to you, it's because I'm in boot. My wife may respond, however. Thanks again for all your help. I really appreciate it. When I sell this car, I WILL be buying another in the future. These cars have a class that nothing else can top. So once again, thank you all.

Rx&7

 

I just wanted to say thank you to all those who helped me with this issue. It ended up being a fusable link in the engine compartment.

Thank you all!
RX&7's Wife. =)

 

The middle one, I bet?

Glad you got her fixed. Give your hubby an "Ooh-rah!" for me!