Miata Mailing List: August 1998, Message #274

On 8/3/98 11:08, Eric Rowland Eric_Rowland@BayNetworks.COM wrote:

>Bingo!  Ran home at lunch to check it out.  The wire (blu/ylw) was pinched
>by the console support bracket.  Loosen the console screw, light goes off.
>Tighten the screw, light goes on.  Seems the wire was just nicked, and only
>with the pressure of the screw did the wire hit the bracket and ground it 
>out.
>Problem solved!  Thanks!

This could be a common cause of diverse and bizarre electrical problems. 
If you recall, I discovered that the damned ASHTRAY LIGHT WIRE (!!) had 
been pinched, and was the reason my taillight fuse was blowing with 
puzzling and increasing frequency. That was a real nightmare, believe 
me--I discoverd the cause only when I bit the bullet and began to 
dismantle the dashboard (not for the faint of heart).

Anyone who's ever had the console off for replacing shift boots or shift 
turret lube should check RIGHT NOW that all wires are safely routed down 
the middle, not pinched between the console and its brackets. Who knows, 
it could also be a common factory blooper. It costs nothing to check.

---
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C

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