Should I be able to get a continuity signal between the black/green and black/yellow wires when I turn the ignition switch to the "on" position? It is currently removed from the car. I was doing some testing to find out why my wipers aren't working and found that I don't get a 12v signal to the black/yellow wire when the key is on. I removed the ignition switch to test continuity between these two contacts but there is none. Does the switch require power to complete the circuit (sort of like a relay)?

 

I think it's purely a switch. You may want to just get a new one, Rock Auto had them super cheap and they were Mazda OEM parts. Those contacts look pretty corroded.

Dale

 

I think I answered my own question about it requiring power to complete the circuit, it appears that it does not. On a side note, DO NOT EVER TAKE THESE APART! LOL

 

Its just dielectric grease making them look that way. Sorry Dale, didn't see your post before I posted the one about answering my own question. I had planned to buy a new one, just wanted to make sure I should be seeing continuity between those two wires with the key in the on position.

 

On a side note, I always use www.mazdaswag.com
I have priced out many things with Ray Crowe and mazdaswag always seems to be a little cheaper. I checked Rock Auto and the cheapest one they have is $63.99 and its not even OEM. MazdaSwag has the oem part for $35.59

 

That's a good price!

The one from Rock Auto is in another box but the bag it comes in has a Mazda part number label. But $35 is crazy cheap!

Ray is still the man for tracking down tricky parts though!

Dale

 

For some reason Rockauto's price is high on this part, they are about $38 or so from online Mazda dealers. Didn't know about Mazdaswag, that is good info.

As a slightly related note, here is a photo of my original ign switch from my 1995 36K mile car when i was doing the fuel pump circuit voltage investigation. There was nothing wrong with the function but I just replaced it anyway.

Check out the heat discoloring of the plastic housing! Probably normal for a switch of this age though. Not visible in this photo was the back view, where the discoloring kind of faded away into the plug section as distance increased from the electrical contact area.