Random wire
 

Theres some random wire sticking out of the bottom of my steering wheel, i have no clue what it is, it was attached to my STOP/HORN fuse and both stop lights AND horn work. i just finished changing all the fuses and everything works magically, i just don't know what this is. it was attached to the 15A Horn and Stop fuse, it was just kinda wrapped around and plugged in. I used the ohmmeter to check if there is any electricity on the wire and yeah there is i don't notice any changes pictures down here.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...3/DVC00111.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...3/DVC00112.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...3/DVC00113.jpg

The car was worked on before, obviously, but i don't know why or for what. I had been having problems turning it on a while ago but that was because we had a faulty battery. all lights work, hazard both blinkers, stop lights, and i get all the right beeps, radio and clock work too. they checked my alternator and that was fine, and battery is brand new. I am the second owner of the car so I don't know what was done to it. Help!

Looks like someone added that wire. Does the dash light dimmer work? The wire has 12V when not connected to the fuse? If so, I'd want to find out what's on the other end under the plastic panels. If you remove the column cover make sure to get all the screws out before snapping the two pieces apart. The screw nearest the dash on the left side has broken many column covers.

First off, you NEVER use an Ohm Meter to check for voltage. Its not meant for reading voltage and attempting to do so may damage your equipment. Use either a test light or a digital multi-meter. :)

Second, that wire looks added and not factory. My guess is its an Accessory for an old aftermarket radio, some sort of power for an abandoned alarm system?

Have you tried tracing to where the wire may have gone?

the dash dimmer does not work and neither do the gas gauge or the temp gauge, everything else is fine, and it wasnt a ohmeter it came with the fuses so its just a test light, the radio is alright, and i think it has something to do with the dash, i'll try unscrewing it, but this is the first car i work on myself so i might need some help, well not might, i will.

You could take the dash dimmer wire and jump it & the light will come on. I believe the rest of the things that aren't working are connected to the same wiring. They should work after you jump it.

jump the battery or jump the cable?! how?

I believe he's saying to tap into a known power wire and use it to supply voltage to the circuit...

oh alright i see, sounds risky, but if its the only way, i guess ill try it, or i can just re attach it to that fuse

joeymazda is taking a pic for ya to show u where and how.....he is a good guy

Jump
 

Jump the wire, not the battery. Here's a pic of what you have to do.

what did you attach it to? itself? i still dont get it :Wconfused

Go to the dash dimmer knob. Remove the plug from the back and the one that goes to the harness, cross the wire from one place to the other one (like in the pic)

For temperature gauge there is a sending unit under the oil filter. It looks like a tiny spark plug with a male terminal. Check to see if the Yellow/white wire is connected and making good contact. Your temperature gauge really, really, really needs to work. Fix this first. I wouldn't drive a rotary without a working temperature gauge.

What Joeymazda said. Red/green in that plug is 12v, Red/blue wire goes to the dash lights. When you jump it, dash lights get 12v when lights are turned on. 12v from an outside source to the Red/blue would also power the lights, but that extra wire would make them be on all the time.

I'm guessing from the pictures you have an 84-85.
To remove the column cover, remove all the screws from the recessed holes in the bottom 1/2. You will need a small to medium phillips. Remove the metal trim ring from the ignition switch. It just slides out. When everything is removed and the cover is wobbling freely, there are small tabs on each side that hold the two pieces together. Gentle squeezing or prying will free the bottom piece. When it is seperated you will find two wires and a small bulb socket still attached in the area of the ignition switch. Unscrew the bulb 1/4 turn or so and it will come out.

Fuel gauge is controlled by a sending unit on the tank. You can remove the left rear tire and the plastic fender liner for easy access. Without removing anything, you can lay on your back and reach up around the end of the tank to the connector. Wiggle it to be sure it is making contact.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1234642607
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1234642671

I found what it's connected to. What do i do?!?!?!

Is that a switch?

indeed it is. its right over the a/c so im assuming its for that

confused... do you have fog lights?

nope 100% stock, even has factory tires :lol:

Follow the wire past the switch.

any news?

i haven't gotten around to checking it, cause i im gonna have to take out all the bottom of the dash if i wanna follow it. and my dd is being cleaned up(oil on the carpets haha) so im waiting on that too, its just been really busy everywhere, ill report back when i can, probably tomorrow

It's hard to tell fom the pictures, but that doesn't look like a stock switch; pretty much all stock switches are connectorized either right at the back of the switch, or on a short pigtail.

Is it push-on/push-off, or toggle, or momentary, or ?

i know that it isn't a stock switch. i'm thinking the PO wanted to put in some aftermarket interior lights.

you can pull it and push it back in, and the first time i did, it sounds like some kind of tiny fan stopping, and it stops immediately when i pull it. i'm gonna have to contact PO but that guy is never available, and i owe him money for the plates :lol:

That's just odd. Being powered from the stop lights feed, it'd have power even with the key out. Which means it'd drain the battery eventually if left on.

You don't suppose he installed a low-power cabin vent fan, do you? Something to circulate air to help keep the interior cool when parked?

Can't wait to hear what this actually is...