It's a 1980 GS and as the title states, my warning lights are all mixed up.
For example:
seatbelt is actually low coolant
Add coolant is actually handbrake
Exhaust overheat comes on when my headlamps are being retracted..

And the real kicker, having a dead alternator doesn't light up anything!

Does anybody know if this is a simple fix or what the cause of this is?
This problem has been with the car since I bought it (almost a year now); I've just been putting up with it but having been burned by it I'd like to fix it now.

Cheers,
Kam

 

that's a strage one for sure.. i would swap in an ohter cluster and see if that fixes the issue. every function is directed to the breadboard on the back of the cluster and the only thing i can can think of is that someone took the cluster apart and screwed with the warning light filler.

 

Hmm...
I don't have a spare I can swap in, but I will take it apart and see if I can see evidence of screwing around...

 

Seems to me that the pins are mixed up, might be the PO (previous owner) replaced the warning lights or the entire console.

You could relabel the lights, but I don't imagine you'd be posting here if that were an option.

That said, here's a link to the wiring diagram for a 1980: http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/manuals/19...ingDiagram.pdf

Flip in the PDF to page 20 (not scanned pages, the PDF page)

You'll see what the wiring diagram is supposed to look like.

That said, I'd suggest (painfully) taking out the cluster and re-mapping the wires to the cluster. This should kill a quiet afternoon; you see what voltages are on when (as an example) you sit in the seat and the low coolant light comes on. Write it down, then disconnect the wires and fake a high on each light until you get the right one.

Rewire.

Continue as needed.

That's the one way to be sure. Everything else will be a matter of replacing this and that and, yes, the other until the problem magically goes away. This way takes your time up front and gives you that warm fuzzy feeling that you know how it works.

 

Taran, thanks for posting that. I will likely do exactly what you described. There aren't that many lights to test anyway....

Now I've just gotta find time to start this epic adventure!

Cheers,
Kam

 

Makes me wonder if one of the two round connectors (X-05 and X-06) on the rear of the cluster isn't just connected one pin off; that's supposed to be prevented by a plastic key pin in the center of the connector, but they can be forced on incorrectly.

Before hacking at the wiring, make sure the connectors are actually seated correctly!

 

A definite must do. Not everyone understands that if it don't fit you don't force it.

 

If the 1980 has the same circular connectors that and 84 or 85 has them maybe somebody broke the key off in the center and attached them one pin off or something...

 

So after almost a month, I've finally got around to taking this apart.
The two round connectors are in the right place, but I notice now my cluster seems not to be the one in my haynes manual!

I've posted a picture of my cluster lit up from behind as well as a diagram from my haynes manual.

From left to right, facing the cluster:
Mine: Brake, Coolant Level, Seatbelt, Brake, Alternator, Oil level, Exhaust Overheat, High Beam

Haynes: Defog, Brake, Coolant Level, Alternator, Oil Level, Seatbelt, Headlight Retractor, High Beam

Essentially what seems to be wrong is my lamps are mislabeled? The right place lights up, it just doesn't say what it should.....

Does anybody know how this happened? Is my cluster from a different car?

Thanks,
Kam

 

Your cluster looks like its correct for an 80. I believe someone replaced your warning light label with one from a differrent year.

 

80's had no "Exhaust Overheat" sensor, & no bulb-checker circuit for the brake lights, so it's definitely not the right strip.

Watson's got it right, by George! Right cluster, wrong transparency strip.

 

What a strange thing to replace.....

I seem to be missing the whole over rev buzzer assembly too....

I guess when a car gets to be 30+ years old things that had no business being replaced start getting replaced....

Thanks for lending your minds gentlemen.

Kam

 

Some builds did not have the over-rev buzzer; pretty sure the standard 80 build was one such.

 

Yeah I confirmed this in another thread. There was no buzzer installed in the console
for 80 model year.

 

the strip looks as if its from an 81-83. and i can confirm for certain that 1980 RX-7 did not have a redline buzzer.