i got my rx-7 and my dash lights dont work how do i fix this is there a fuse or do i have to get a new dash?

 

Meter fuse under the dash in the main fuse block.

 

hmm...i seem to be having this problem for quite awhile, i solved it by just buying a 3M optix light from checkers and wiring it inside the dash for light.
i have also checked the dimmer switch and fuses and i had no luck w/ those.

 

If the meter fuse is still good, it could be the dimmer switch. If the roller on the dimmer has been rolled too far, it breaks the wires inside and the dash lights will be either off or on full, usually off. There is no repair for this, only replacement

 

Look under the shifter and there is a male and female connector there. Make sure they ARE NOT connected. If connected they will create a short and your dashlights will not work. I had that problem and was ready to rip my dash apart until someone on the club told me about that.

 

Yup check that connector under the shift boot and undo it, should only be hooked up on automatics. That's what was wrong with one of mine when I got it, apparently a well meaning mechanic hooked it up when they did the clutch.

 

hmm where under the shifter?

 

Pull up the boot. The connectors will lie just to the left of the shifter, down on the transmission casing. They may be tucked in under something, so look around, but they are probably right there on top.

 

As he said, if they are not readily seen dig around the space there and you will find them. Hopefully they will be connected so it will be an easy fix.

 

what do i do if that had been hooked up and the dash lights still dont work?

 

Those connectors can't be hooked up for the dash lights to work. Make sure they are unhooked. If they are unhooked and the dash lights still don't work, then of course it is another problem.

 

After you unhook them, you will probably have to replace the fuse for the dash lights in the fuse panel, since it probably got burned out while the connectors where attached.

 

Before you go pulling the shifter surround and boot, check the fuse and the dimmer roller. If the the roller for the dimmer keeps rotating and doesn't hit any stops, that's your problem. Roller should only rotate about 180-270*.

 

I know this is a long shot, but did either of you put a stereo in recently or modify one? Or did the last owner put one in? If you used a big black anonymous wire in the middle of the dash as a ground (it looks like a ground, feels like a ground, and is so damn conveniently located that it MUST be a ground.But mark my words, it ISN"T a ground!) , it'll instantly blow a fuse in the box (and keep blowing as soon as you replace it and turn your dash lights on) and knock JUST your dash lights out... we had a guy on another board fry his electronics from the dash back one time cuz of this... I'm surprised it doesn't pop up more often...

 

ok i think it the dimmer switch but where can i find one at a reasonable price?

 

Thanks for the reminder Trochoid, that's right the dimmer switch could be involved (hard to tell from bugman's cryptic comments). It's all coming back to me now, I had this problem more than a year ago on my newly purchased white 84 GSL, when I was first getting it on the road. And yes, the dimmer switch was involved.

In fact, the first thing I discovered was that my dimmer switch was burnt out, so I replaced it with my only spare one, along with the fuse. An easy job you would think, but with all that plastic shrouding that has to come off first, it's a whole lot harder than pulling up the shift boot.

So imagine my disappointment when it immediately burned out, along with another fuse. I also discovered that jumping the switch just blew out more fuses.

So that's when I started looking around for a deeper explanation and found the information that jezek refers to, about the coupling for the back up lights that sits on top of the transmission. It's only for automatic trnasmissions, but the mechanic who had recently replaced the clutch in my car before I got it apparently didn't know that and hooked up the coupling (probably one of the reasons I got the car cheap, the previous owner was tired of taking it in with one problem and getting it back with another).

Like jezek, I found this info on the RX-7 forum, a nice little tid bit I thought I'd share, with thanks to the members who originally posted the suggestion.

So bugman, a word to the wise, pull up that shift boot and check those wires BEFORE you install your new dimmer switch! This is real easy, especially if your boot mounting pins are already broken, as most are. However if you are one of the lucky one with some pins still intact, be careful not to lose the pins you have left while pulling up the boot.

You can find used dimmer switches on ebay from time to time:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1984-...spagenameZWDVW

Also I have noticed that the dimmer switch Mazda used in the 84/85 GSLs is virtually identical to the one in my 2002 MP5, so you may be able to find a used or even new one fairly easily, if it was used on a wide range of Mazda models.

Ray

 

Yeah, Ray, I wish I would have known to check the connectors first. I bought a new dimmer switch only to find out that wasn't the problem. Did Bugman check the connectors yet or not? I found the comments also a bit cryptic.

 

yes the connectors have been disconnected. i just need to know can i go to an auto parts store and buy a new switch or not.

 

I don't think an auto parts store will have the dimmer switch. Try Black Dragon Auto or Mazdatrix or even junk yards (try an online search).. Do a google switch and more possibilites will come up.

 

I meant google search not switch