Miata Mailing List: September 1997, Message #32
sponsored by



     



From: 	Welch <ljwelch@access.digex.net>

Subject: Hardtop: Part 3: Electrical

Date: 	Mon, 1 Sep 1997 11:25:28 +0000





OK, got the mechanical side understood.  Thanks to all.

Next some introductory questions about the electrical side.



Some of these questions might could be answered if I

looked AND I knew what I was looking for.  I'm enough

unsure that I don't trust my interpretation of my 

observations, so bear with me, kind souls.



1)Do the different editions ("R", "M", "STO", base, etc)

in a given year, come with the same wiring harnesses?

Do I have to worry tht my "R" won't have the wiring

infrastructure to support the defroster?  I realize

I have to add some gizmos (fuse box, switch, etc.)

but is the wiring there to connect the gizmos?



2)The later models have the defroster switch as

a 'stand alone' switch underneath the instrument

panel to the left side of the steering column.

The earlier models (pre-93?) had the switch as

part of the fan switch in the heater control

panel.  My hardtop is from the earlier vintage

and thus the instructions are relevant for the

fan-switch installation.  Is it a slam-dunk to use the 

later style switch  (i.e., just plug it in a

different place)?  Somewhat vague, I understand.

Enlightment anyone?



3)With the earlier style (i.e., the fan switch)

a timer was included.  What was being timed?

Is the way it worked as follows?  You turn on

the fan, which automatically started the defroster

- which then turned itself off after a predetermined

period (hence the need for the timer?)  It's

not clear to me in looking at the unit how one

_independently_ controled the fan and the defroster.



4) Is the timer necessary for the later style?

I would think not since one has independent

control of the fan and the defroster.



5)All of this makes me wonder what to do with the timer

in the later style switch if my suppositions above are

true.



TIA...



Lester Welch

'97R "LadyBug" Red, Md. Plate "YNG AGN" 

CRI Horns, Belizian Shift Knob, 

Visorless, Front-plateless

M Club, MCA, MSCW. 

Team "Eric Amador 'R' Decal"