Miata Mailing List: January 1994, Message #80
sponsored by



     


   From: Al Jenab 
Subject: RE>Re: Back-Up Light Switch and Ticket Avoidance
   Date: Mon, 10 Jan 1994 18:09:15 -0500

Alan writes:

"How hard was it to install the switch? The backup lights on my '90 only work 
about 1 time out of 10 or so. I crawled under the car yesterday and I found 
the switch OK but I couldn't find the connector. I did find what looked like 2 
 crimp-on wire connectors about 2" from the switch but nothing that looks like 
the 2-prong connector pictured in the service manual. The wires disappeared 
somewhere up over the top of the transmission. Since it was getting cold (well,
 40 degrees, is not *that* cold, I guess :-) and I didn't have a replacement 
switch I stopped there."


If you don't mind Alan, I'll post this response to the list:

It doesn't tell you how to do this in the shop manual (of course).  There are 
two snap type connectors as you noticed on -top- of the transmission.  I 
disconnected, removed, and replaced the old switch in about two minutes, and 
then spent about an hour trying to reconnect those damn wires.  I had to 
wriggle around underneath the car to the point that I could get my right hand 
above the tranny (on the passenger side) holding the old male connector for 
one wire and my left hand's fingers holding the female connector and then 
somehow get the leverage to snap them together (they're not really crimp 
connecteors, they snap in).  Then repeat the above for the other wire.  The 
real problem is that the space above the tranny is less than the thickness of 
my hand, so I had to do it with my fingertips (couldn't hold either connector 
with a thumb and finger, there's just no room) at 20 deg F.  Getting the right 
leverage is the problem, plus you can't see anything.  Much profanity 
surprisingly did nothing to alleviate my difficulties (this USUALLY works).  
Plus I have only a floor jack and jackstands, so a snow & ice covered gravel 
driveway is not the best of environments.  I didn't want the car up too high 
under those circumstances.

I think the best solution would be to get the car up on ramps or something 
like a lift so that you could comfortably lie on your back directly under the 
tranny, with your body parallel to the car's driveline.  Put one hand on 
either side in the tranny well and disconnect the wires (don't yank them out 
from one side like I did.  No harm, but you never know.)  Remove the switch (
use a big crescent wrench, it's bigger than a 19 mm box wrench).

Then put in the new switch (don't strip the threads, it's an aluminum tranny 
case) and carefully connect the wires back while lying in the same position as 
when you disconnected them.  The hard part is it all has to be done by feel, 
there's not enough room to even get a little mirror up there.  When finished, 
reach over with your right hand while still under the car and grab open beer 
bottle.  Consume.

Anyway, in relativly balmy temperatures of 40 degrees ;^), this should take no 
more than 30 minutes or so. And no matter how hard it is, never give in to 
those $55/hour goons.

BTW, I have a '91 A package.  Don't think you should have to do any wire
splicing.
-Al