andycivic

has anyone on here ever rewired the whole car to get rid of all the circut boards... kinda like a old mustang or camero something alot more simple

jjcobm

iTrader: (18)

If you get rid of all the circuit boards, most of your car will be non functional.

beefhole

iTrader: (29)

Unless you run a carb...

I OCD'd for a day and removed half my main (non-ecu) harness though. All power steering, AC, alarm, fuel injector resistor and auto adjust suspension wiring removed. Yikes....

jjwalker

People do it when doing race builds all of the time.

Just be prepared to have tons of switches to control things and also be prepared for the extreme labor involved.

What's the goal here?

SpeedOfLife

iTrader: (16)

yeah I can't say that it would make anything simpler lol

besides, microcontrollers are integral parts of our lives now and can do so many tasks efficiently, why would you want to go back to the early 20th century?

ion1rx

i rewired my complete fc from strach and all i can say is.... i would never want to do it again!

i used an aftermarket wiring loom, while still using the factory light switches and wipers... had no a/c, p/s eletric windows and was using a stand alone engine ecu

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

If you look in the FSM, you'll find that these "circuit boards" control most of the car. Unlike an older vehicle, Mazda integrated many of the body functions into the electronics. For example, there is a main CPU that controls many body functions like the horn, signals, etc. The engine ECU controls the engine. The logicon (heater controls) runs the entire heating and A/C system. There is an alarm module, power steering module, suspension module (for AAS cars), etc. etc.

It could be done, most certainly, but represents a monumental task and unless you are totally stripping the chassis to be used on the track, where every ounce of weight is important, it just simply isn't worth the hassle.

Old Mustangs and Camaros are simple, stone age cars with only a few (overloaded and under wired) circuits to contend with. There are a large amount of aftermarket companies building plug and play and modded wiring harnesses for those cars. Why? Because the stock wiring is crap. FCs have a few wiring issues for sure but these are generally easy to solve by just repairing or replacing the offending module (ie. idiot cluster resolder).

Evil Aviator

I think you are underestimating the function and replacement cost of the circuit boards. On my coupe I have new circuit boards and wiring for the gauges, fuel system, sound system, ECU, ignition system, most of the battery/charging system, and part of the horn system. So far I am out over $12,000, and I still have not touched the stock lighting system, warning system, heating/ac system, alarm system, cigaratte lighter, sunroof electrical, or wiper/washer system. My car didn't come with power windows/locks/mirrors, AAS, or ABS.

I am rather slow and **** retentive, but it took me over a month just to go through the manual to mark and tag everything that I wanted to replace or retain. Just a hint here, sift through the harness diagrams at the back of the manual first, then go to the individual system diagrams if you need clarification. If you start at the front of the book and work your way to the back of the book it will take you forever.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

I've been successfully pulling wiring harnesses and electronic control modules out of FCs for years. I think I've had to have done at least 25 or 30 cars...

Then I take them to the scrapyard to be cut up for recycled steel.



OP: Why do you want to remove the wiring and circuitry?

andycivic

mainly i want to fix the problem with the circut bords going out also half of the switches in my car doesnt work so i was thinking of getting rid of all the fc (problems) and puting everything on simple circuts and relays im not worried about the engine running its gonna be on a compleate stand alone system all i want to work is lights, blinkers, windows, wipers, heater, radio witch will probaly be wired by its self and i guess thats about it

texFCturboII

iTrader: (17)

Good luck man, if you've got the ability and know how to re-wire just about the ENTIRE non-emissions harness go for it. If not, do not even attempt to do what you are thinking. It would be far easier, and probably cheaper to just find out what is wrong in the system and repair it.

clokker

iTrader: (2)

Last summer I completely rewired our swapped FD (which has a much more complex wiring system than the FC)...it wasn't all that hard once I fully understood the schematics (which are quite convoluted).
All of the formerly computer controlled functions (horn, turn signals, hazards) were replaced with old style units from the auto store (just like an old Mustang!).
All told, I pulled 52 lbs. out of the car (including the extra wiring itself, the computer modules- body CPU #1, airbag and antilock brakes) and simplified the wiring and placement of components considerably.

I'd do it again, it was kinda fun.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Headlights/Marker lights/Dashboard lights are an easy fix.
Wipers are an easy fix.
When both are fixed properly, they shouldn't fail with normal use in your lifetime.

Idiot cluster lights and clock are an easy fix as well.

Blinkers don't usually fail IIRC. Maybe you should post up your problem with them.

There are no circuit boards associated with your power windows.

And heater would be fairly annoying to convert to mechanical operation.


Let's go system by system... What are the problems on your car?

licensedtothrill

Ok time to resurect this thread. I am in the middle of me engine rebuild and decided to gut out all of the unused emissions plugs and any that arn't being used. My main reason for the delete is I can't stand looking in and seeing all the random plugs left over.

EFI harness is now about half the size. Injectors, Temp sensors and wipers are still there.
However its been a pain trying to find any info on the body harness. My power steering, ac, and just about everything else has been deleted as well.
I'm looking for the wire diagram for the ac, adjustable suspension, and any other plugs that arn't needed to the car to run. everything else is expendable while the engine is out and harness is apart; driving lights and indecators are staying.

Thanks

florotory

It would be extremely labor intensive as well. I'm currently doing a wire tuck and the amount of hours I've spent doing it is rediculous. Anything is possible though. Just be prepared for headaches and frustration along the way

clokker

iTrader: (2)

The FSM has all the schematics you'd need but at this point it'd be simpler to just shitcan the entire stock harness and wire from scratch.

andycivic

Ok so the engine let go on me two weeks ago y'all are gonna hate me but it was Cheeper for me to do this my boss had a complete efi 302 swap at his shop he sold everything to me for 1000$ so I'm Putin that in now as for the complete rewire that's happening also I'm using a pre made kit it's a 26 circuit hot rod wiring kit with a fuze block and it's pre wired wich will make a lot simpler I'll let you guys know how it's goin the kit is like 290$ and I feel like it would cost that to fix all the things that is wrong with my car plus I don't have to worry with it ever again..

beefhole

iTrader: (29)

I don't blame or hate
As long as the car stays on the road I'm all for it. It only sucks when someone blows an engine and let's the car rot/go to the junk yard.

sharingan 19

iTrader: (16)

Rather see it in the yard so the parts can keep real 7's on the road.

speed_monkey

Don't mind the irrational hatred/ignorance. Go for it man, trust me you will have a blast. :p

paganizondadude

iTrader: (1)

I have zero OEM wiring in my FC and all my lights work and my engine runs.

I built my own "Painless Wiring." Partially reused the rear harness, front custom light harness is fully tucked and is removable with one plug, engine harness is all part of my Haltech PS2000, and the dash comes out with 2 large plugs that have the gauges/switches on them..

I don't have any creature comforts. No power windows, door locks, sunroof is deleted, no heater or a/c, ect. I do have a cigarette lighter for my inverter so i can charge the laptop for street tuning.

Would i do it again? YES. I hate oem FC wiring. But I learned alot from the project. Whole setup is less than 300 dollars and probably 50hrs and counting of work.

Old pic of it not finished..

andycivic

Yeah I don't let it bother me lol I know the car it gonna be a blast only worry I have is the convertible top but I'll get past it

nycgps

iTrader: (4)

with enough time and money, almost anything could be done.

but the real question is : is it worth it ?

depends on the person.

I can rewire the whole car myself, I am not an electrical expert but I know enough to know what kind of wires I should use, where they go, etc etc.

unless I want to make my car a total track car, forget it. that's just me tho.

speed_monkey

Well, he mentioned swapping in a 302.. In that case I would rather redo it all anyways so you have only what you need and where you need it, instead of adapting the mazda harness.
I still have the mazda harness in my swapped car, and I hate it... drives me nuts

As soon as I get set up in a garage it's coming out and getting redone.

clokker

iTrader: (2)

I think it depends on the car.

Seems that there are three types of RXs around these days:
-Extensively modified (including engine swaps), where the harness has been invaded with intent...sometimes well done, most often, not.

-Mostly unmolested but poorly maintained cars, suffering from exposure and neglect.

-Good condition cars where everything works most of the time.

I would definitely redo a car from the first two categories* and now, as the cars get ever older, might consider one from the third lot if I planned on keeping it.


*There are exceptions to this naturally.
I've seen some beautifully swapped cars whose electrical systems shame the OEM setup.