Keyhole light mod - desperately need "ign" wire

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:52 pm

Hi all

I've set to & tried this project - http://www.miata.net/garage/ignition_keyhole_light.html

I've fabricated the circuit & it all tests OK. My problem is that I need to locate the "ign" wire referred to in the description on miata.net. None of the black / red wires I can see seem to work .....the idea is that when the ignition is turned on the LED goes out.

The description says "The ignition wire is located going into a large white connector between the Mazda fuse panel and the steering column (the connector looks like it’s 2" x 2" with about 30 wires). You should be able to find the wire it is color coded Red with a Black stripe (R/B). You will need to use your large "blue" splice connector here"

All the connector blocks I can see near the steering column have got very fine wire - not "blue connector" size. The two red / black wires I can find don't work either.

There is a big fat black / red wire going to the ignition switch, but that didn't do the trick either. Plus it goes via a connector with only 6 wires.

Has anybody else tried this ? Any inspiration ? Getting frustrated & desperate .....

Regards,

Ben.Nakagawa · Post by **Ben.Nakagawa** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:26 am

Hi,
I was looking that other day but not yet started.

According to the diagram I found at http://www.madracki.com/miata/images/wiring/90sys.pdf,
the wire you can find above the clutch pedal (BLK/RED)?
Or may be a BLK/BLU goes to the IGN switch?

I can not guarantee this but worth check the diagram yourself?

Please let us know when you find the correct wire..

Post by **simple** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:06 am

The connector for the ignition switch on your car (1990) is on
the opposite side of the steering column from where you poke the key in.
The ignition switch is, roughly speaking, a horizontal cylinder with one
circular face on the right where the key goes in, and the opposite end
on the left with the switch contacts. Hopefully you can track the wires
from there, to somewhere convenient to connect to. It will be a nice
chunky wire you need - anything skinny is the wrong wire.

While you're at it, you could take the switch apart and clean the
contacts. My auxiliary circuit stopped working a few years ago
(windscreen wipers stopped working, for one thing). Cleaning the switch
contacts made everything happy again.

The switch is well designed for disassembly - one screw to remove it
from the car and something else easy to open it up (I can't remember
what - it has been a few years). Use brasso or some other metal cleaner
to clean the contacts (nice big copper things), and put it all back
together. There are some springs in there, but they're not pre-loaded
in such a way as to go flying across the room when you disassemble
things - nothing to be scared of.

Karl.

[Posted via External Email]

KSCRIM · Post by **KSCRIM** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:20 pm

There is an easy "cheat " for this problem. You don't have to use the Ignition 12v. The radio has 2 12v power sources, the permanent 12v for the memory, and the switched 12v to turn the radio on. This switched 12v is from the accessories switch on the ignition switch. Use this 12v feed as it is easier to find. Also the cigar lighter power is switched on with the accessories, another source of switched 12v power.
To sort out which wire is the switched one on the Ignition switch I made up a probe light, a small 12v bulb with one side wired to a crocodile clip and the other wired to a sharp needle. This makes it fairly easy to probe throught the insulation to measure the voltage on a wire without having to reinsulate the wire afterwards.
I'll bring it along to the tech day at the garage, along with all of my electrical mods circuits.

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:47 pm

Many thanks, Ben, Karl & Kevin

Man do I like the lateral ideas ! Kevin, I followed your suggestion & cheated.

The cigar lighter power supply is only active when accessories are on. I tapped into the supply (top or blue/black wire) & chocks away - the keyhole light operates exactly as it should.

No smell of burning plastic or electronics either, which is nice !

More than happy to send photos of the install at various stages if it would help anyone.

Regards & thanks again

R LTD · Post by **R LTD** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:04 am

Greg
How about sending fotos and "how to fit light" to the editor of Topdown magazine.
[Posted via External Email]

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:31 pm

Yup - will do. I've just finished writing up my oxygen sensor adventures & will get onto this one as soon as poss. Nigel also has a cold air induction article from me tucked away for a rainy day ...

Anyone wanting a preview or more extensive pictures - just drop me a private message.

Regards,