Wiring issues. Help, please?
 

I got a late '78 SA22 GS model, and some idiot attempted to install an aftermarket stereo and amp. As a result, the moron got NO sound, hooked up the power wire to the amplifier to the power wire to the blower motor, so neither of those were working (fixed that) I've been trying to fix whatever he did, and get some other things working for about a month now. About ready to give up here :wallbash:

I've been doing some searching on here, and discovered that some member are having problems like mine after installing aftermarket systems, for instance, my dash instrument lights don't work (not that I Need them, just makes night driving a bit hard, lol) and my headlights go up when I turn on my headlights, but don't go down untill I retract them manually, but all my solonoids are working properly, but my headlight gauge in my dash is inopperative. As well as my power antenna switch, and my rear defroster switch. If these are related to wires in the back of the dash, which I know they are, can someone PLEASE help me out? Some moron that had no clue what he was doing seriously butchered everything back there. Additional info, the system he was trying to install is a Sony XR-65 cassette player that's on top of a Coustic (or something like that) 5-way amplifier. I traced the ground wire from the stereo unit to a little black box under my dash called an "Auto Page," also going to this are the negative wires from the 2 front speakers. Not sure if they're the factory speakers. Also leading from this "auto page" is a greenish gray wire labeled "Oign" And it's not connected to anything, it's just sort of hanging out. The power for the stereo is just hooked up to the fuse box, and as a TEMP. fix, I've spliced the amplifier power, and blower motor power to the same wire, just so I could have a heater in the morning.

This has literally got me bashing my head in the wall, and I'm tired of dealing with this crap. Don't have the money to take it to a stereo guy. The speaker wires from the stereo unit are hooked up to the Left/Right signal from the amp. as they should be, so when I connected a couple speakers (just 2 black box speakers that aren't connected to the car, they were just sitting in the back. They're out now) to the speaker connection wires from the amp, I got sound, but it was mostly just engine static, so I disconnected them. If anyone knows like what color wire does what, or could help me out somehow, it would be greatly, greatly appreciated. This is driving me absolutely nuts.

Step One
 

Download the Factory Shop Manual
Study the wire diagram
Replace the fusible links with plug in fuse links
(or install the 2 gen fuse link box)
Take two aspirin ( for the headache) and call in the morning with more details.

The wiring diagram is a must, and you'll probably end up having to take out all the "helpful" work the PO did.

Dash wiring requires some patience to fix, because space is tight and there's quite a lot of it back there. Generally, the best approach is:

1) get to understand the diagrams
2) find and reverse all previous mods unless you can prove they work
3) get everything working right without the new stereo parts (also known as : always start mods from a "known good" state)
4) install the stereo once you have control over the faults

It'll take time and patience, but you can fix it if you just keep at it.

The SA dash harness has a separate SUB-harness that operates a lot of the accessories on the center and right side of the dash. Any SA wreck's intact sub-harness will plug right in and - maybe - get you back to a "clean" square-one where you can start fresh on you stereo install, per DD's advice above.

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

as people have already suggested get the wiring manual http://foxed.ca/foxed/index.php?page=rx7manual also, i'm pretty sure your dash lights are due to your dimmer switch getting blowned up. which is caused by plugging in the two wires near the shift boot. they look like they go together but they don't. once you unplug those take your dimmer switch and make a bridge connecting the 2 red wires i believe. or replace dimmer switch with new.

thanks, guys. And yeah, the dimmer switch is really just kinda dangling in my dash, lol, the bottom half or so halfway illuminates, but I'll deal with that another time. Got the manual, let's hope for the best, and hope I don't hit my head on the dash too many times by accident since there's SO MUCH work space, lol

It's a lot easier if you pull the driver's seat; it's only four bolts, but then you can lay underneath the wheel easily, with your legs in the hatch area.

search for a combo switch cleaning thread, that should fix your head light problems, and make sure you fusible link wire going to the positive terminal is solid. trust me man my 85 gsl has been nothing but wiring nightmares i don't understand what would possess someone to do such retarded wiring hack jobs that get them no where lol