Headunit wiring diag, plastic surround, elect window switch

[4sfed5]

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE SAND PAPER TO CLEAN THE SWITCH CONTACTS

The electric window contacts have a special coating which prevents them from melting together when an arc is formed when switching.......
When you use sandpaper or other abraisive methods it ruins this coating and means that crap will build up on the contacts in no time at all meaning that youll have to clean them all the friggen time.(they will fail again in less than 6 months.)

Go to Jaycar or Dick smith and ask for a \"fibreglass pen\". It is a special pen with (you guessed it) fibreglass strands which will remove the carbon build up but not take off the coating on the switch contacts.

Also check that the little round contact pads are proud of the plastic.... sometimes they get hot and melt into the plastic. If you use a stanley/scalpul blade to trim the raised plastic from around the pad and then bend the contact arms slightly this will fix it too.

Use a tooth brush with some meths to further clean the contacts, BUT DONT GET METHS ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE PLASTIC OR IT WILL BE MARKED FOREVER LEAVING A NASTY STAIN ON THE PLASTIC.

Hope its not too late.
(P.S......Fibregalss pens are also good for cleaning sparkplugs, also for cleaning rust out of stonechips before painting.)

[sabretooth]

I need the wiring diagram for the MX5 stock headunit, so I can cut the cables and reconnect them to the CD player.

Pleeeeasssse don't do this. Buy an adaptor harness. My writeup is here at the MX-5 workshop: here.

Also, I have broken the plastic cover that goes around the headunit. I think previous owner cracked it already, plus the age of the plastic, it just fell in to pieces in my hands.
I had a look at the mx5mania web page for a new one, $85. Is there anywhere else I can get it cheaper? even second hand is OK.

This time their price on that isn't so bad. I bought mine from Mazda many moons ago for $75.

Finally, driver side electric window switch has stopped working few days ago. I remember this is a regular problem with MX5s. I think it requires the metal connector to be sanded. However, I cant seem to be able to access to the actual connector. I have pulled the whole plastic cover but cant get the buttons to separate from the back bit. Is there a DIY on this?

I'll write one for you on Saturday. I have to take my switch apart and do the contacts again as my windows are going slowly also. I'll document and photograph and add it to my site.

[OMY005]

More harness info here with part numbers.

As sabretooth said please don't do the chop.

[Astroboysoup]

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE SAND PAPER TO CLEAN THE SWITCH CONTACTS

The electric window contacts have a special coating which prevents them from melting together when an arc is formed when switching.......
When you use sandpaper or other abraisive methods it ruins this coating and means that crap will build up on the contacts in no time at all meaning that youll have to clean them all the friggen time.(they will fail again in less than 6 months.)

Go to Jaycar or Dick smith and ask for a "fibreglass pen". It is a special pen with (you guessed it) fibreglass strands which will remove the carbon build up but not take off the coating on the switch contacts.

Also check that the little round contact pads are proud of the plastic.... sometimes they get hot and melt into the plastic. If you use a stanley/scalpul blade to trim the raised plastic from around the pad and then bend the contact arms slightly this will fix it too.

Use a tooth brush with some meths to further clean the contacts, BUT DONT GET METHS ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE PLASTIC OR IT WILL BE MARKED FOREVER LEAVING A NASTY STAIN ON THE PLASTIC.

Hope its not too late.
(P.S......Fibregalss pens are also good for cleaning sparkplugs, also for cleaning rust out of stonechips before painting.)

smart man here.. for a kiwi

[4sfed5]

well you know what they say.....
For every KIWI that moves to Australia, the IQ of each country increases!!!!

[sabretooth]

I did it in under 10 with no soldering in the car without doing the chop. And when you go to sell the car and want to keep the headunit, you're going to have to undo all of your damage again!

Soldering in any car, let alone an MX-5 is a pain in the ass. Why bother when for $10 you can get something that'll let you revert to your stock headunit as easily as swapping a plug without spending ages hunched over your centre console:?:

[Adam_NAclubman]

I soldered mine in the car in 5 minutes, its only 12 (I think) wires. All heat shrunk and neat.

Mine had previously had an aftermarket head unit fitted so the loom was already cut

[OMY005]

More harness info here with part numbers.

As sabretooth said please don't do the chop.

May i ask why not to do the chop? What is the fuss?

Just me being pedantic, I like to keep my as original as possible. And easier for the next owner to work on.

[sabretooth]

OK, some pics. Just a brief overview for now, as I'll do the writeup on my site at a later date. I also managed to get the switches controlling relays instead, and the windows were faster! Writeups for both of those are coming at a later date.


The centre console.


The 5 screws to remove. The two that aren't in the picture are clearly visible on either side where each person's innermost knee is.


Centre console wiring. Detach at the white plug to make things a little easier.


Remove the 3 screws holding the switch assembly to the centre console.


Now remove the centre screw to allow you to pop the white part out of the assembly. Warning - when you do this, the little switch contacts are liable to be flung everywhere.


The contacts. Wash these in WD40/RP7/CRC and rub them with a rag.


Do the same for this thingy also.

And well, installation is the reverse of removal. I'll have a more detailed writeup on my site in the next week or so.

[4sfed5]

ooopppss... what can I do if I've already abraised the now very shiny contacts with sandpaper? Can something be sprayed/applied back on?

Great site for MX5 owners. Thanks.

Rick.

Nope, your stuffed im afraid. You are now bound to a life of cleaning contacts for ever and a day!!!!