alrighty folks, so i am getting hella pissed at my '86 base model. i had that old problem of the parking lights and dash lights going out, due to the fried connector in the headlight switch. dealt with it for many months before i actually found it to be the problem, so i put all the wires in a new connector and spliced in a new wire to replace the one that was burned out. and everything worked fine! hooray!.... until just a couple days ago, when now my dash lights are fine, but the stereo and parking lights are out. took the dash apart to check the connector i replaced, and it's fine. WHAT THE FUDGE!?!?!

 

Bad headlight switch is the common cause.

As far as Mazda electrical systems, the FC is top-notch compared to many other cars of the same time period. Work on a mid '80's domestic and you'll see what I mean.

 

Actually, "body" electrical is not bad.
The engine harnesses get really bad - or anything in the engine bay - due to heat.

If you're getting problems like that, I would wonder if the car was in an accident?


-Ted