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- Joined
- Jan 22, 2010
- Messages
- 64
- Reaction score
- 0
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- Age
- 37
- Location
- Western Maine
- Vehicle Year
- 1997
- Make / Model
- Mazda
- Engine Size
- 2.3L
- Transmission
- Manual
Here's a link to the more general electrical problem my truck has (the thread that spawned this one):
http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158672
Before I replace the headlight switch for the second time, I'd like to know how to determine exactly what keeps frying/melting them. The excessive heat seems to be limited to the larger two of the eight prongs on the switch itself, along with the terminals they slide into in the electrical connector. The heat damage is easier to see in the pics of the wires/connector than it is in the pics of the switch, but it's apparent on both parts.
I have a multimeter and a Chilton's manual, but the wiring diagrams in that book are quite limited to say the least. Can anyone tell me what each wire in this connector is for and what kind of continuity, resistance, voltage, etc it should have under certain conditions/functions? A wiring diagram related to these components could help me out a lot.
The truck is a 1997 Mazda B2300 SE cab+ 2wd 5spd manual with A/C, power steering, and manual everything else. Other electrical problems it has are: fluctuating voltage (needle bounces up and down, especially after switching accessories on/off), door ajar light is frequently on despite doors being securely closed (regular cleaning/lubrication of the latch mechanisms have had no effect on this problem), cigar lighters blow fuses every time I've tried to connect them, a blown PCM diode in the power distribution box, the absence of two ABS related maxi fuses along with their receptacles in the power distribution box, A/C doesn't work/heat stays on low setting even when turn off (possibly unrelated to electrical problems).
I know that's a lot of random information, but I'm not sure where to start as I don't know what may have caused what. Thank you in advance.
http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158672
Before I replace the headlight switch for the second time, I'd like to know how to determine exactly what keeps frying/melting them. The excessive heat seems to be limited to the larger two of the eight prongs on the switch itself, along with the terminals they slide into in the electrical connector. The heat damage is easier to see in the pics of the wires/connector than it is in the pics of the switch, but it's apparent on both parts.
I have a multimeter and a Chilton's manual, but the wiring diagrams in that book are quite limited to say the least. Can anyone tell me what each wire in this connector is for and what kind of continuity, resistance, voltage, etc it should have under certain conditions/functions? A wiring diagram related to these components could help me out a lot.
The truck is a 1997 Mazda B2300 SE cab+ 2wd 5spd manual with A/C, power steering, and manual everything else. Other electrical problems it has are: fluctuating voltage (needle bounces up and down, especially after switching accessories on/off), door ajar light is frequently on despite doors being securely closed (regular cleaning/lubrication of the latch mechanisms have had no effect on this problem), cigar lighters blow fuses every time I've tried to connect them, a blown PCM diode in the power distribution box, the absence of two ABS related maxi fuses along with their receptacles in the power distribution box, A/C doesn't work/heat stays on low setting even when turn off (possibly unrelated to electrical problems).
I know that's a lot of random information, but I'm not sure where to start as I don't know what may have caused what. Thank you in advance.
