so im doing the FC thermoswitch, and it seems the only way to get to it is to remove the waterpump housing. is there a paper or metal gasket where the housing meets w/ the motor? if its paper ill have to order a new one.

any tips/pointers/warnings you have would be greatly appreciated. i thought id be able to easily swap it out... guess not. time to tear the car apart once again. -heath

 

In DaleClark's write up he doesn't mention removing the waterpump.

Here's the thread if you want to read it over:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/its-official-do-not-buy-miata-thermoswitch-until-you-read-397156/

 

You won't need to remove the waterpump or thermostat housing, however, you will most likely have to remove the alternator. Take your time and be very careful with the connectors. They will probably be brittle. Not a hard job, but you will spend an hour or two...

 

^Just to confirm, you do have to remove the alternator but it's not that hard. IIRC, the hardest part was putting the alternator back on, as the "ears" of the alternator were pretty tight and were hard to get back on the mounting. I finally used a flat file to make it slip on a bit easier.

 

I concur - with the crossover pipe and alternator off, it wasn't *easy* to get to, but it was no big problem.

Dale

 

i also just did this last weekend, and it was a good thing i did because my original thermoswitch wasnt even connected.
take off the 3 top hoses on the airbox (this gives you access to the lower airpump adjusting bolt) the turbo crossover, the vacuum box, the mount for the vacuum box and the alternator (will need to loosen the airpump to remove the belt). then, it is hiding behind the coolant filler neck. you can just barely get to it with a 17mm closed wrench....try to use one that is slightly angled, as the area there is tight. the other option would be a very hard to find 17mm socket that is deep enough to allow the connector to be covered but shallow enough to fit in the small space. i couldnt find such an animal.

best of luck!

 

If you remove the cross over pipe and alternater you can get a wrench on there. You can barely get it on there so be careful when it slips off so you dont bust a knuckle. The sensor above it however is very easy to bust/break so just be careful upon removing it.

 

You're going way to far if you remove the pump. Be carefull removing the alternator. Oil meter lines run under it.

 

Why would the Fc have a thermo switch when it uses the older non-electrical fans?

 

oh man..im gonna be installing mine soon...hopefully it wont be a pain in the ***

 

It's the 89-91 FC thermoswitch. The older ones must have mechanical clutch fans.

 

if you change the thermo switch then the fan mod will be unecessary right? Since the fan already kicks in a lower temp. unless the sole puepose of the fan mod is to cool down the car after shutting it down.