Miata Mailing List: March 1994, Message #177
sponsored by



     


   From: a.mccombs3@genie.geis.com
Subject: Trick Miata Eyes
   Date: Mon, 14 Mar 1994 06:50:29 -0500

This weekend I installed the diode in the headlight circuit, to operate the
headlight raise/retract motors when the high beam flasher is selected
(pulling the switch back momentarily).  Really works slick!  Many thanks to
Eric Fancher (original poster) and David Keesu Kim (who reposted it and from
whose post we got our printout).  Be very careful when installing the diode -
one can merely plug it into the back of the connector, but make sure the
diode leads are inserted into the proper holes.  If one misses the proper
hole and hits a certain adjacent one, one finds that the headlights raise
all by themselves and the diode gets VERY WARM quite rapidly!  This was a
clue to us electronically challenged that things were not as they should be.
Once I learned to follow the instructions, it works slick as can be.  Only
problem is that we went on a drive today, and didn't see any other Miatas
coming the other way, at whom to flash our lights.  (Saw a couple after we
parked the car and were out walking - naturally).
 
Also installed one of the K-mart Lite-Minder gadgets adjacent the fuse box.
I had installed a different unit (from J. C. Whitney, as I recall) shortly
after purchasing the car.  It was rather intermittent, and upon opening it
up (just before trashing it), I found that it had a set of mechanical points
in it for the buzzer.  A slightly different tug on the wires would cause it
to cut out, or operate, as the case may be.  Of course, I couldn't get the
wire tug correct to get it to work while installed.  The K-mart Lite Minder
seems to do the job.  And no, you won't set off your Lite-Minder when you
flash your lights with the trick diode described above - you'll already be
running (ignition on) anyway.
 
On another note, I'm interested in how people like the lighted mirrors I've
seen in Miata Magazine, per other posts read tonight.  Any problem for the
driver when the pax. turns it on to read a map at night?  Insofar as having
to open the door for it to operate, I would think that one could wire it up
to the hot side of the under-dash light, so it would come on (or stay off)
according to the under-dash light switch position selected.  However, it
strikes me that this is a bit more than a "plug-in" installation; at the
very least, wiring would have to be run along the windshield header and down
the side post to the under-dash units.  I don't know how difficult this is
in a Miata, but I've done it in an early Datsun Z car, and while it can be
done, figure on taking the afternoon in order to make it look right.
Looking forward to replies from those with experience on this.
 
RE: Hard Dog roll bar:  Looks like I'll be ordering one of these in the very
near future (like tomorrow).  The info brochure could use some work - the
photos of the Hard Dog bar (the basic model, no diagonal brace) show it in
the interior of a GUTTED Miata.  My first thought was that if that's what
one has to do in order to install the thing, forget it.  Craig Phelps of
Hard Dog was kind enough to send me the installation instructions when I
called and asked him about this, and they appear to be sufficiently detailed
that the mechanically disadvantaged can handle it, given proper tools (which
aren't too extensive).  The photo of the gutted interior Miata was because
that car is his SSC racer, and he was installing a roll cage in it - just
stopped the action for a bit to show how the other bars install.  I'll
probably install it the first Sat. with good weather after receiving the
thing.  More at that time.
 
                                        --Jack & Anne M. ("Kansei")