Miata Mailing List: January 1995, Message #59
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   From: mott@poly1.nist.gov (Peter Mott)
Subject: Re: Ignition Illuminator Module
   Date: Tue, 3 Jan 1995 15:30:13 -0500

Calvin wrote:

> Well, now, I just received a Ignition Illuminator Module for my car
> for Christmas, and I'm planning on sending it back. When I went to
> install it, the instructions say first "pop" out the interior light
> cover. "It is designed to come out easily." Well, mine came out easily
> in two pieces. The skinny part of the plastic below the lenses broke
> off. I was a little flustered but knew it could be replaced so I
> continued. Next, your supposed to attach two wires to two of the fuses
> in the fuse box using fuse clips. The instructions warn you that it
> will take some force to put the fuses back in. I tried very forcibly
> but did not succeed. I know I could have used a flat head screwdriver
> and made the opening in the fuse box wider, but I just decided it
> wasn't worth it. Has anyone else succeeded in installing this.

It happens that I just installed my "Ignition Illuminator Module"
from Brainstorm yesterday.  Yes it was a serious pain in the butt to
get the clips into the fuse box; I'd say that I worked at it about
1.5-2.0 hours.  No, widening the fuse slot with a flathead screwdriver
didn't work becuase the contacts are spring loaded and supported by
thick plastic.  The damn fusebox is located so that you have to kneel
outside the car and twist yourself like a pretzel so you can see what
you are doing, train a flashlight, maneuver the clip/fuse, and apply
some appreciable pressure.  I bent the goddam clip a couple of times;
I finally found that taking the clip off the wire worked best.  I also
found that if you work "hot", so that the light and radio comes on
when you make the contact, is helpful to let you know when to push it
home.  Knowing _when_ to drive it home is the key to the problem; when
I finally got that, it took less force to push it in than what I was
applying before when I bent the damn thing.  And as a result of
bending the clips, I discovered that pinching the forward edge of the
clip with a needle-nose pliars so to make it as thin as possible helped a
little.

I should say that now I got the thing installed, I am very happy with
the way it functions.

Peter Mott
92B mariner Blue