Ok...here are my 3 conversations on 3 different days with 2 different dealers (3 different parts people).

Parts, can I help you?

Me: I have a 94 rx7 the odometer quit displaying, you can barely read the numbers during the day, its blank at night.

Hold on.........Ok, you need to replace the speedometer gauge, the wiring is integrated. The price is $480.00.


Me: But it works, it just doesn't display..isn't it using a bulb?

No, its an LED, when it goes out you need to replace it.

me: that sucks.


That was collin at Walnut Creek Mazda.

next was a parts guy at Fremont Mazda.

Parts

yea, my odometer is not lighting up can I order a bulb please. its a 94 rx7.

Hold on ...... Sir...you need to replace the entire speedometer, the circuitry is integrated.

How much?

$485.00

Oh thats great, for a ******* light bulb. Tell mazda to suck me [hang up]

Today I called Walnut creek mazda again talked to a different technician.

Parts

yea, my odometer quit displaying on my 94 Rx7, I can see it during the day faintly but at night it doesn't display. I found a picture of the back of the cluster and there is a light bulb in the back. I would like to order it, its the one in the back of the odometer.

hold on......Ok, sir...looks like you need to order the entire speedometer.

But there is a lightbulb in there, thats all I need.

I know but mazda doesn't sell one for it. maybe you can talk a junk yard into selling you one.

So I have to buy a 480 speedometer for a .75 lightbulb?

yea, mazda lists all the bulbs in the assembly, but they dont have anything listed for the odometer.

I love Mazda .

Yea, aren't they great?

Ok, first I would like to thank snook, Max P and Mor for responding to my PM's and for the other 6 or 7 that had this issue before and didn't bother to respond to my PM's I hope you dont find this thread .

I took the gauge cluster out today and found that the bulb is actually the same bulb as the ABS bulb (which mazda does carry) Its the same color (blue) and when I hooked it up, it worked. Im not sure why some of the bulbs have brown plastic housing and others are blue, but I matched the blue one and it worked. I'll order one for my ABS.

Anyway I read a lot of threads and a number of you got the same story from mazda and a few replaced the speedometer gauge for nearly $500 bucks for a stupid .75 bulb. BITE ME MAZDA, your prices suck, your quality is cheap and your service/parts people suck dirty filthy, stinky, sweaty donkey *****.

here is a pic of the bulb, its fuzzy but you get the idea. its a 20 minute fix to exchange your abs bulb .

 

I would like to thank zerobanger for trying out all of the mods I want to do on his car first....of course he's still MOSTLY stock!!

glad I could be of assistance bro...

Snook

 

They don't know the car, they just look it up on the microfilm. I had to go to several dealers to replace the bulb for the ignition. I finally special ordered it but it still doesn't light up. ...you got a fix for that?

 

I would guess the wire came loose. If you cant trace the wire back to where it connects to the ignition wire, its easy to wire your own. Just hook a 14 gauge wire to the ignition wire right above the fuse box one to the light, then ground it. when the car is on the ignition light will be on. But in reality, you likely have a wire that came loose, i'd guess.


and so what, they dont know the car ok...but atleast mazda can list the bulb, its just another thing they 'forgot'.

 

hey zerobanger if you want i got an extra gauge cluster hanging around w/ all the bulbs.

PM me if you still need that bulb for the ABS i'll mail it to you for free.

mike

 

Tanabe...I need the bulbs! =) ZeroBanger has been pm'ing me with all the info but it'd be easier just to get the bulbs off you if he doesn't want them.

 

Haha I laid claim to the bulbs already Bitch!!!

Its my reward for solving this issue...

Actually, tanabe, its ok give the bulb to Mor, u guys prbably live close anyway.

Since my check engine light does not work with the power fc, Im gonna just use that light for my missing bulb and put a fake light that turns on when you first strart that car and then turns off for the check engine (you need for emissions and power fc does not light it up).

thanks

 

If anyone cares I am beginning to find Mazda's source for these bulbs. On the bulb it says "Toshiba V-2". I did a search and found this so far.

http://www.toshiba-lighting.fr/automotive.htm

getting there

 

ok here's what i got guys...



all the bulbs worked perfectly fine last time i had that dash on so...

zerobanger i assume you need the blue bulb 3rd from the bottom-right corner right?

mor... uh yet me know what you need first of all color/how many etc. then we'll work something out.


mike

 

Mike...

that would be the bulb I need, its the same as the other 2 blue bulbs on the cluster.

For the life of me, IM not sure what the difference is between the brown and the blue ones, they ALL say V-2. I didn't want to take a chance on messing things up with voltage limits, etc so I took the same color. The one I used for my blown odometer bulb is the blue one on the right hand side bottom, so that one is missing now.

I guess what im trying to say is that I can use 1 blue bulb from the cluster, doesn't matter which .

Thanks!!!

 

Can I have a blue one too?

 

PM'd you both

 

My driver side door compartment lid was slightly broken. I went to the dealer and asked for a replacement.

They say "We only sell the entire compartment for $300!". I said "c'ya" and fixed the damn thing myself... don't know how long it will hold though

 

The Difference is the Wattage of the bulbs - The V-2 reffers to the Model/Style of the Bulb&Holder. The small bulbs are 1.5, 2, or 2.5 watts ,(Brown, Blue, Black) iirc & larger ones are 3 watts, I will have to check my FSM when I get home to be sure, I also Have a Bunch of spare bulbs (for the Inst cluster) available for sale as I cut up 2 complete clusters while doing the AutoMeter guage install into my inst. cluster. I also have a spare Odometer, Tach ( from an Auto) & 2 ea Oil Pres, Water Temp & Fuel Gauges (oem) available.

Zero, PM Me I have the BLUE bulb you need & Iwill let one go for a little less than $300

 

The small Instrument Cluster bulbs are :

Black = 3w
Blue = 2w
Brown = 1.4w

If you are going to substitute use a Lower wattage bulb ie sub a Brown one for the blue or black or blue for the black not black for brown. to avoid possibly overloading the circuits.

 

Is that a picture of Mars? Just kidding. I sometimes go to the Fremont Mazda to pick up small orders. The parts department employees are dicks and are unpleasent. They usually want the VIN to lookup parts. I'm not surprised that Mazda wants you to buy a new cluster. I bet many other auto manafacturers are similar.

-Jeff

 

I'll take one of them blue bulbs for the odometer