3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Whats this "FD" switch

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 08:43 PM
  #1  
DMRH's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 587
Likes: 2
From: Sydney, Australia
Whats this "FD" switch

Was going through a box at an import wreckers & came across this centre console switch from an (obviously) JDM RX-7.

Haven't seen it before in any of the catalogs & am unsure of its function.

It toggles into "on" & "off" mode with 3-wires attached.

I have enhanced the symbol on the centre console button for easier identification.

Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 08:45 PM
  #2  
wReX's Avatar
Does not drive a WRX!!!
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio
Fog lights?
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 08:51 PM
  #3  
austinsFD's Avatar
Ahhhh Motherland!
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
From: CA: Van Nuys
yup there fog lights
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 09:02 PM
  #4  
DMRH's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 587
Likes: 2
From: Sydney, Australia
No guys. Its not the fog lights. Have the fog light button & its a head light with a "hash" symbol in front.

I'll take a pic to show the difference & post it later.

In 12 years of playing with FD's (92+) I have never come across this one, very strange
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 09:06 PM
  #5  
2GSLSE's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 531
Likes: 5
From: Front Royal VA.
maybe its for a radar jammer
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 09:08 PM
  #6  
turbojeff's Avatar
Do it right, do it once
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,830
Likes: 14
From: Eugene, OR, usa
Headlight washers?

Some Canadian models have them..
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 09:09 PM
  #7  
Pg-Unlimited's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: N/a
If this switch came from the same location as the Rear Defroster and Fog Lamp, this switch would be the Canada Headlight Cleaner Switch.

Page Z-83, 93 Workshop manual.

Thanks,

Steven
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 09:36 PM
  #8  
bigmack000's Avatar
Rotor DEMON !
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 0
From: alberta canada/soon to be cape coral FL:D
Originally posted by turbojeff
Headlight washers?

Some Canadian models have them..
not the washer button.
maybe a back up alarm lol who knows
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 09:59 PM
  #9  
JONSKI's Avatar
5yr member, joined 2001
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 908
Likes: 1
From: Marco Island, FL
The switch itself is blurry, yet the printing is sharp and clear... I'm thinking photoshop.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 10:02 PM
  #10  
diablone's Avatar
.
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,189
Likes: 26
From: -
Originally posted by JONSKI
The switch itself is blurry, yet the printing is sharp and clear... I'm thinking photoshop.
You think he faked his own picture to ask us what it was?

Originally posted by DMRH
I have enhanced the symbol on the centre console button for easier identification.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 10:06 PM
  #11  
Beny's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: BC, Canada
maybe is for the combo lights.

back-up sensor could also be it, i seen some land yauts with the same switch
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 10:43 PM
  #12  
spoolin93r1's Avatar
Rotary Freak
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 0
From: Salem, IN
wouldn't be for a rear beam would it? i know some skylines and other jdm vehicles that are imported into australia and europe are equipped with a red fog light in back that is referred to as the rear beam
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 11:04 PM
  #13  
zmarko's Avatar
shoo shoo retarded flu!
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Originally posted by spoolin93r1
wouldn't be for a rear beam would it? i know some skylines and other jdm vehicles that are imported into australia and europe are equipped with a red fog light in back that is referred to as the rear beam
I think we have a winner. Some European countries require a rear "headlight" (more of a small spotlight) so when there is foggy weather, people can see you easier. It's not very bright, and there's a switch to turn it on/off. That's my guess what it is as well. My rental car in the UK few weeks ago had one.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 11:38 PM
  #14  
tookwik's Avatar
VIP - Very Irish Person
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 0
From: NC State
yeah i was thinking either the rear for light type thing or a backup alarm. Either way, good find... I've never seen it before.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 11:50 PM
  #15  
PVerdieck's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,742
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Yeah, I was thinking from the image that that was the back of the car not the front.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2004 | 11:59 PM
  #16  
DMRH's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 587
Likes: 2
From: Sydney, Australia
Originally posted by zmarko
I think we have a winner. Some European countries require a rear "headlight" (more of a small spotlight) so when there is foggy weather, people can see you easier. It's not very bright, and there's a switch to turn it on/off. That's my guess what it is as well. My rental car in the UK few weeks ago had one.
Your thinking the way I am thinking.

Although this was in a box full of JDM FD RX-7 parts I am suspucious about its origin as I think it may be a high wattage rear globe for rear view in fog. These are common on European models.

I didn't want to suggest this in case I was wrong but am glad you are thinking in the same direction.

Speaking of direction. I think by virtue of its orientation. that its indicating to the rear too
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2004 | 12:21 AM
  #17  
Pg-Unlimited's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: N/a
You're right, looking at it in the sense of having a rear light would make the hood pretty short on that picture...Neat!
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2004 | 03:25 AM
  #18  
AREITU's Avatar
cool story bro
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Berkeley
It's a backup sensor. My japanese friend handed me a bag of brochures from japan when he got back a few days ago and backup sensors are a dealer-installed accessory.

If it were a rear facing foglight, it would have the foglight emblem or a light emblem on it, or the rear foglight would automatically turn on with the fronts. The half-circle with three straight lines one.
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2004 | 09:41 AM
  #19  
areXseven's Avatar
il Cosa Nostra e vivo!!
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 1
From: Dove le cose sono fatte il vecchio moda il senso
It's a "silent mode" back-cat switch. It lowers your Dbs to create a quiter cruise when police officers are near.

Maybe it's a switch originally equipped in a Miata, then installed in the subject FD to substitute a broken OEM foglight switch??
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2004 | 09:59 AM
  #20  
DMRH's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 587
Likes: 2
From: Sydney, Australia
Originally posted by AREITU
It's a backup sensor. My japanese friend handed me a bag of brochures from japan when he got back a few days ago and backup sensors are a dealer-installed accessory.

If it were a rear facing foglight, it would have the foglight emblem or a light emblem on it, or the rear foglight would automatically turn on with the fronts. The half-circle with three straight lines one.
Back up sensor hey!!

Do you mean the type that beeps as you get closer to the wall.........???

Agree with you on the fog light issue now that you seem some what sure of this.

Any more info on the back up sensor. perhaps a scanned pic of the parts
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2004 | 10:01 AM
  #21  
Brede's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Norway, Europe
It sure isn't the rear foglights..
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2004 | 10:08 AM
  #22  
wiblergt's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 486
Likes: 18
From: Scottsdale, AZ
come on... everyone knows that is the the TRACTOR BEAM switch!

you have to turn that on for the FLUX CAPACITOR to work properly!

it is on page Z-69 of the shop manual!!!!
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2004 | 10:25 AM
  #23  
felix_is_alive's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 2
From: planet earth
its an alarm system, the newer version
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2004 | 06:12 PM
  #24  
WaLieN's Avatar
Call me gramps!
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
I didn't know Mazda equipped FD's with a FMDR (front mount death ray).
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2004 | 06:14 PM
  #25  
LAMEtHIng's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Maine
It engages/disengages the flux capacitor, quite obviously.



Personally I would go along with the whoops-there-is-a-6-year-old's-bike-behind-you switch. That is just judging by the drawing on the switch though.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:00 PM.