I am working on getting my 79 RX-7 running. When I bought it, the ignition lock was jammed and after several hours of trying to get it to turn, I decided to try a different route to fix it. So I took a grinder and chisel and removed the lock I am now going to wire up the ignition on switches. One switch for Acc, one for Run, and a third safety toggle for Ignition.

I am curious if anyone has done this and if so, the best way to wire it up. I know there is one hot wire going to ignition relay on the back of the starter relay and which wire I have to cross it with to start the car. (When I bought the car, the starter relay was hanging down from under the dash, it must have been broke off from the back of the ignition lock.) I figure I will have to split the power wire into a "Y". One wire to run through the Acc and Run switches and the other wire to go through the ignition switch.

I have had to use a large screw driver to turn the little plastic piece in the ignition relay to run, then use a wire to cross the points on the back to start the car. I want to get the switches wired up so it isn't as much of a hassle to start my car. Thanks.

 

Why not just replace the switch? I just did that on the '85 I'm working on. $99 from AutoZone.

In the meantime, I also fixed the old switch. Quite easy to work on. I don't know if they are different that the '79 switch or not.

Rich

 

The main thing is going to be for you to identify the wires on the back of the harness so that you know where they should correspond to. I would not recomend a toggle switch for the starter relay. For the Acc and on switch you may have multiple wires running into them depending on what they power. I would ground the car to a battery then run a 12v line with a small lead touch each wire on the back of the cylinder so you know which wire is doing what. Identify them and then start wiring. Replacing the switch would be eaiser.

 

I thought about replacing the switch, but I thought the switches would be cool. Almost everyone has a car where you have to put in the key and turn it to start their car, I want to be different. Plus, I am cheap. I paid under $10 at Wal-Mart for all switches.

Also, I know having a switch for the ignition isn't the best idea, but I got one of those cool looking switches with the flip up safety cover. It is spring loaded so all I have to do is flip up the cover and hit the switch. Once the car starts up, I just tap the safety cover and the spring pulls it down and turns off the toggle.

 

i wouldn't suggest the starter being powered by a toggle switch, if you're gonna do switches, at least make the starter a push button switch..

 

Makes it an easy steal

 

I have an extra ignition key cylinder with key, that works perfect . This part was sent to me by mistake a while back when I needed to replace my Rx7s ignition switch. Let me know if your interested

 

I have a "secret" fuel pump switch that cuts power to the fuel pump. If you don't know where the switch is, you won't get very far.

Thanks for the offer, but the switch itself that the wires go into is pretty messed up inside. If I got a new switch, I would also need the wiring and relay that goes behind it as well. Thanks though.