82streetracer

iTrader: (1)

WTF,

Im pulling my center console and guage cluster apart so I can create a sheetmetal cover for everything so I can install guages,

well, Im ditching the cigarette lighter and the ashtray to make room and I noticed that the ashtray light uses Fiberoptic cable from the cigarette lighter light.

******* cool...


anyways, as far as the guage cluster wiring goes, I was planning on ditching the warning lights all together (minus the Brake and Lamp) What I need to know is, if I loose the alternator warning light, will the alternator still work, or will I have to rid something up?

I know some alternators are started or something using the warning light circuit.

also, the center console turned out great, and Im going to start on the shifter cover, and the guage cluster tommorow

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

The Fiat X1/9 uses fiber optics for center console lights too.

I'm not sure about this, but it might be a good idea to keep the light. If necessary, install it in the engine bay adjacent to the alt.

82transam

iTrader: (18)

yea I noticed that fiber optics thing a while back while I was installing my head unit. It stuck me as really odd in a 20+ year old car, very cool indeed.

GavinJuice

Just goes to show you Mazda was way ahead of their time, and thats the shiznat!

enigma32

You should be able to disconnect the alternator warning light, based on the wiring diagram, but as Jeff20B says, you should probably keep it, even if it's not in the stock location...

82streetracer

iTrader: (1)

the problem is it is part of a printed circuit as part of the rear of the guages,

I am replacing all the guages in the car with Autometer sport-comp (which happen to be te same black and orange as the origanal, and should look pretty damn sweet)

Looking at the hanynes manuel, there is a diode along with the light in the circuit. this might suggest that it is needed, but the diagram seems off, ******* haynes.

Switching to a one wire alternator would be ideal, but its more money and more work.

enigma32

The diodes in that whole section (which all attach to the Alternator Warning Light) just make it so all the idiot lights come on when the key is in "run" but the engine isn't running.

82streetracer

iTrader: (1)

thanks, ill probably hook something up near the alt, but that area is really cramped with the billet fuel regulator and all the lines in that area.

purple82

I think you are confusing fiberoptics with light pipes. Light pipes are simply pieces of a clear plastic used to transfer light from it's source to some other location. They've been around forever.

Fiberoptics is used to transfer data through optical wiring. It's a much more refined version of a light pipe.

82streetracer

iTrader: (1)

cool, whatever

just thought it was cool that it was on a 20+ year old car,

and the lowest possible model at that

faye x7

I find that it's stupid and cheap on Mazda's part to do that. The light it gives off is basically nothing.

82transam

iTrader: (18)

i don't think its meant to actually illuminate an area, its just supposed to light the orange plastic enough so that you can locate the ash tray at night.