NB8B cluster to NB8A Compatibility

[KevGoat]

Hi...

Searched high & low for this & found nothing

Just purchased a 1998 NB8A. The previous owner replaced the NB8A instrument cluster with the white dialed NB8B cluster...very nice. However, this morning I noticed that none of the dash warning lights show up when the ignition is turned on. Not even the handbrake light. All the instruments work ok, seat belt light works, indicator lights and hazard lights work, but nothing else.

I would have thought they were compatible, but before I pull the cluster out to check all the bulbs, thought I'd ask if the cluster wiring was the same between the different NB models?

Cheers...

Kev.

[toymx5]

Hi Kevin,
I've actually done that swap myself and all my warning lights work ok, the only thing that's not compatible is the hi beam indicator light. There was an article on here about the subject, to get the hi beam light to work you have to run a jump wire on the back of the cluster? I haven't done it yet on mine though. You should be able to find the post by doing a search. I'll look for it and let you know if I find it.

[KevGoat]

Ok thanks...looks like blown bulbs then...simple fix. Glad to know should all work.

Cheers...

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2

[KevGoat]

Hi Kevin,
I've actually done that swap myself and all my warning lights work ok, the only thing that's not compatible is the hi beam indicator light. There was an article on here about the subject, to get the hi beam light to work you have to run a jump wire on the back of the cluster? I haven't done it yet on mine though. You should be able to find the post by doing a search. I'll look for it and let you know if I find it.

Did a search for the thread regarding high beam tonight ... Very easy fix to do when I pull the cluster to fix the bulbs

Link for anyone: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=50393

Haven't seen any other comments anywhere regarding any other issues apart from the odo. Can only assume that the original odo was changed to this cluster. So hopefully, everything else works, once I replace the bulbs & jump the high beam bulb.

Thanks again for the help

[KevGoat]

Just to catch up on this, the high beam mod works great! Couldn't be easier!!

The warning lights issue was caused by missing bulbs ... obviously the previous owner removed the bulbs to ignore an airbag warning code that keeps flashing and also the battery light that comes on about 10 seconds after start up and stays on

[hks_kansei]

The battery light could mean either the battery is low.

Or the alternator is about to die (on the NA it lights the brake warning and the battery warning together for this.... nb not sure)

[KevGoat]

The battery light could mean either the battery is low.

Or the alternator is about to die (on the NA it lights the brake warning and the battery warning together for this.... nb not sure)

Yeah not sure. There was a new battery fitted a couple of weeks prior to me purchasing the car. Have used the car a fair bit and so far no problems with starting or anything, even after running the stereo for a long time while working on the car, night driving with lights, aircon running etc.

Could be the alternator, but would have thought the battery would have shown signs? Checked belts etc. Tried to check all the connections and all seems OK. Also removed the negative battery terminal and put my foot on the brake for about 30 seconds to clear error codes but that didn't change anything (read to try that on another Forum).

Need to get it all checked out by an Auto electrician me thinks ...

Apparently the airbag code (6 flashes) means something to do with the clockspring on the steering wheel airbag (Miata.Net). Not worried about that one at the moment, have removed the bulb & ignoring it.

[KevGoat]

Apparently the airbag code (6 flashes) means something to do with the clockspring on the steering wheel airbag (Miata.Net). Not worried about that one at the moment, have removed the bulb & ignoring it.

Just on that ... rather frustrating, I gave away an NB clock-spring to another MX5 owner only a couple months ago because I never thought I'd need one

DOH!!

[KevGoat]

So ... the issues with my dash warning lights turned out to be a disconnected air-bag (plug had been cut off!) and an internally regulated alternator confusing the ECU.

Fitted a replacement clock-spring and rewired the alternator (viewtopic.php?f=55&t=57765) ...

All fixed