My logicon is getting goofy in it's old age and i was going to re-solder it but i've run into a roadblock: That long wire that goes back into the depths of the dashboard.

I've searched around and i've found some vague explanations that i have to take apart some part of the dashboard to get to it, but i haven't found any pictures or diagrams of exactly /where/ this connector is.

I'd like to do this without breaking the plastic on my otherwise perfect dashboard. Does anyone have any pictures or diagrams that show how to get at that connector?

Thanks in advance.

 

you can remove the vents at the base of the windshield to get to the plug, first remove the center piece which will expose a bolt, remove that bolt.
Then carefully remove the drivers side vent, the plug is in there.
Do yourself a favor and tie a string to it before you pull it out, this way you can snake it back in when your done.

The vent will probably break when you try to remove it.

 

There is a panel that runs by the glass on the front of the dash board. IIRC there is 1 tiny bolt in the middle and 4 other bolts. I think the little one is under a little plastic cover. Once you get that panel out you can reach down to the connector if you have little hands. IF you have big hands like normal people you probably are going to have to undo the dash bolts and pull it back a couple of inches. There is a good writeup in the archive or FAQ about this. also, remeber to attach a string to the cable when you undo it and pull out hte logicon so you can get the cable back where it needs to be.

 

Thanks for the replies!

What part comes out? the vents themselves or the plastic part of the dashboard?

I popped that small center piece off and found the screw but none of my sockets or screwdrivers fit (too close to the windshield). I'm going to have to borrow some tools.

Does anyone have any pictures of this thing?
Why the heck would Mazda fish that cable all the way back there like that...

 

Don't try and remove the plastic dash vent. 3" before that is a little crease that can be popped open with a flathead. Use gloves cause the metal is sharpe. Once you remove the Logicon you will find out that it is real easy to replace.

 

uhhhh...actually you can just remove the screws ON the logicon back cover and unplug the connector on the logicon motherboard??? Hasnt anyone else done this before easy peasy...

 

Wait what? I'm going to go take a look at that...

 

How are you supposed to get the logicon out far enough to open it and disconnect these wires?

 

it comes just far enuff to turn it and remove the screws done it several times on the 9 rx-7s I have had...have 2 logicons sitting on shelf right now waiting for the next failure hehe

 

Please elaborate.
This is how far i can get the logicon out with the wires the way they are. I could pull harder, but i'm worried doing that is going to rip wires out of a connector. That stubby screwdriver is the only one i've got that will fit in there and it doesn't work because the handle doesn't clear the corner of the logicon.

Is the connector for these underneath that black module on the back of the logicon? Does that module detach?


Sorry about the weird colors, someone else had been fooling around with my camera and i didnt know it was in color map mode because the sun glared out the screen too much.

 

According to the google cache of this site: http://www.lemmings.com/mark/rx7logic.htm I'm going to have to de-solder all those wires from the logicon while it's in the car in order to get them off the motherboard. The only soldering iron i have has a big station attached to it that wouldn't really work well in the car.

Back to the taking the dashboard apart idea. Does that plastic panel on the top of the dash near the windshield have any more screws other than that one in the center? I got that screw out and it still feels held down by something.

 

no desoldering there are plugs on the board...just manuever it to get the screws out it can be done and is easier then the dash crap...one screw I believe on the black piece bottom which when removed gets you a little more room with the wires to get the white cover off then you can get to the connectors on the board...trust me ...or give up and pull dash hahaha

 

ALMOST want to go pull mine in 5 mins record time to prove a point... but cause did it before several times on different cars my brain wins over my impulses....remove black box screw then it all becomes clear...



here are plugs that detach logicon from board

 

man them plugs are hard to get to back there, its pretty easy to remove the vent and just unplug the whole thing.

 

Ok that makes a LOT more sense. That's just the front face of the logicon. Good enough for me. I got it out and re-soldered it but those screws are a BITCH. The plugs themselves weren't so hard really.

Thanks for the info, this was VERY helpful especially that picture Tiers posted.