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1989 Rx7 Dash Lights and Rear Taillights not working?

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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 04:40 AM
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From: SoCali
1989 Rx7 Dash Lights and Rear Taillights not working?

well i finally bought my FC off a friend...

just a couple simple problems...

first of all the Dash lights dont work... actually no lights work.. in the whole instrument panels... such as AC and other various componants...


also

the rear tail lights only light up when the brakes are pushed... they dont work at night time when iam driving with the headlights on... only works when brakes are pushed...

anyone got the solutions for this before i attempt myself and screw it totally up...

lol


btw anyone know where i can order a drivers and passengers side door handle? i want some black ones and since the drivers side is broken i might as well get he passengers side too...
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 04:59 AM
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Blown fuse.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 05:02 AM
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From: SoCali
Originally posted by NZConvertible
Blown fuse.
exactly what is the fuse location?

iam not sure which fuse it is... any idea??

anyone have a fuse diagram?
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 05:45 AM
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This pic is for an 87, but it has what you need.



It's the 15A one labled ILLUM.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 05:56 AM
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It's not the fuse........

You need a new headlight switch.

While the interior and tail lights are on the same circuit, 9 times out of 10 the fuse will be fine.

The headlight switches in these cars are a known weakpoint, and frequently fail. I'm on my 3rd!

The reason I'm sure about this is because I have the same problem. Currently my car is "Daytime Only".
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 09:02 AM
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Vote #2 for headlight switch/harness connector.
Check the following by Icemark:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hreadid=164931
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 11:05 AM
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From: SoCali
well this is probably a dumb question but since iam a Newb here goes...

where exactly is the headlight switch?

heh..
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 11:20 AM
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You know the round **** you turn for your headlights? The whole switch assembly is attached to that ****. To get at it you have to remove the "hood" over your instrument cluster.

The switch its self is screwed to the back of that "hood".
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 11:21 AM
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I had to replace my headlight switch two times and those things are not cheap. It is the headlight switch because my Turbo II had the same problem. No taillights and no instrument lights. Pain!!
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 11:23 AM
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Agreed, I just fixed this problem with the dash lights not working.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 11:28 AM
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From: SoCali
Originally posted by Krazidawg
I had to replace my headlight switch two times and those things are not cheap. It is the headlight switch because my Turbo II had the same problem. No taillights and no instrument lights. Pain!!
hmm...ok... any idea where i can get this part and how much its gonna run me?

also while iam on a roll here.. right side window does not work at all... but left side works fine... even when i try to use the drivers side controls.. it doesnt work.. any idea?
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 11:35 AM
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actually.... mine wasn't the switch.... mine was the harness that connected to the switch.... one of the connectors was burned/melted/mangled, so i just picked up one from someone's parts car, and re-soldered all the connections together, plugged it back in and voila! simple enough.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 11:38 AM
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i just wanna get one thing clear.. my headlights work... but the tail lights and instrument lights dont.. i just wana get that clear incase someone missed it and makes a difference.. because i thought if the headlight is connect with the tail lights and instrument lights.. wouldnt the headlight go out as well?
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 11:40 AM
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yep, that's exactly what was wrong with mine... my headlights worked fine, but my tails & dash didn't... brake lights worked fine. my wiring harness that connected to the headlight switch was burned out.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 11:42 AM
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https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ight=headlight

scroll down, there's a pic of my headlight switch.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 11:48 AM
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Originally posted by poor college student
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ight=headlight

scroll down, there's a pic of my headlight switch.
hmm thats helps alot... iam gonna pull that out when i break shift with my dad in about 5 hours... iam gonna try and fix most of the things wrong...

any idea on the window doodad?

Left side works fine...

Right side doesnt work at all... nor on the right side switch or drivers side switch...
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 12:19 PM
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broken connection somewhere? broken motor? could be a multitude of things
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 12:29 PM
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Originally posted by x2delight
any idea on the window doodad?

Left side works fine...

Right side doesnt work at all... nor on the right side switch or drivers side switch...
Probably the driver's side lock out switch. They can get dirty and need rebuilding. When that happens, then the passengers switch fails entirely, but the drivers switch will still roll the passengers window up and down.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 05:33 PM
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DOES IT HAVE AN AFTERMAKET RADIO? COULD BE INSTALLED WRONG..
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 05:38 PM
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From: Rohnert Park CA
Originally posted by Tony Kerezsi
DOES IT HAVE AN AFTERMAKET RADIO? COULD BE INSTALLED WRONG..
An aftermarket radio installed incorrectly will only blow the fuse
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 09:04 PM
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Originally posted by poor college student
actually.... mine wasn't the switch.... mine was the harness that connected to the switch.... one of the connectors was burned/melted/mangled, so i just picked up one from someone's parts car, and re-soldered all the connections together, plugged it back in and voila! simple enough.
I currently have the same problem. My issue was BOTH sides of the boat. My harness looks JUST LIKE that pic, and where it plugs in is fried as well.

I am getting the replacement parts from a dude here on the forums. Just ask around and you can get the parts cheap.
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Old Oct 21, 2003 | 10:10 PM
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Don't forget when you put the new harness in, to use a little conductive grease in all the contacts and the exterior bulbs, and of course I do recommend the relay set up mentioned above.
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 12:23 AM
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Originally posted by Nick86
It's not the fuse........

You need a new headlight switch.

While the interior and tail lights are on the same circuit, 9 times out of 10 the fuse will be fine.
You're probably right, but the fuse is always the first thing you check when something electrical stops working, and x2delight does not appear to have done that yet. Always rule out the simple things first.

The instrument and taillights are the only things on the ILLUM fuse.
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 12:31 AM
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Check the easy stuff first guys, I just had this exact problem and the fuse was blown, I just wish I check it first now
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Old Oct 22, 2003 | 09:01 AM
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That is the same exact cell that is slightly burnt on my harness. Mine isn't nearly that bad though, so I didn't have to replace it.
When I looked it up in the manual, I think that is the coolant warning connector that is frying like that. It's the brown wire right next to the red and green one (dash lights).
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