jbird745

Ok so just to catch you guys all up....I have a 97 mx5 1.8. I just got an aftermarket steering wheel and here comes the airbag light. tried resistors and what not with no luck. So next option rip the entire dash out and unplug the airbag computer. Done. So i thought.....

Today i had no parking lights, no tach, no third brake light, and no blinkers i tried turning on the headlights and the radio shut off. then i was at the gas station and my car wouldnt start. It had a dead battery... pop started it and drove it back to my cousins to put it on a charger. Then i found there was a 20a fuse in the 15a taillight fuse that was completely melted so i put a new 15a in it.

I thought there could have been a short in some of the wiring near my radio so i ripped that out and fixed some connections and heat shrank and wrapped everything (nice and clean lookin ). I also pulled the gauge cluster out to check if a had forgotten to reconnect one of the harnesses, but everything was in order.

I also removed the non functioning alarm system while i was down there....could i have cut something that i shouldnt have while doing that? Is there a different fuse i should check? Could it be a ground problem? I'm really at a loss at this point and ive been looking through forum pages for hours, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

jbird745

ok so update....

Last night i also found my meter and room fuse were also blow.
I replaced them and headed home from my cousins house.
On my way i saw a flash and then my running lights and fogs went out, but i made it home.
This morning i got in and headed of to work....On the way my tach dropped and that was that once again....awesome.
Well i just got ff work and my battery almost died again on the way over. I have it on a charger now and im about to start getting into the wiring for the fog lights to hopefullly find something wrong with it. Still lookin for any input. I could really use some help on this one guys I cant be chargin my battery everyday and drive with no guages or lights in the dark.

jbird745

Anything....? could it be related to the alarm system that i pulled? i cant keep driving at night with no tail lights or blinkers i catch enough bs from the police

miata2fast

iTrader: (2)

You have a dead short somewhere. You said you pulled an alarm off, I would go looking there.

It is not likely that a short just occured out of nowhere. The Miata harness is very reliable. If you were mucking with the harness then......

jbird745

Ok looks like I'll be gettin into it tonight. Anyone have any good images or diagrams of the wiring on and around the column so I can properly remove what's left of the alarm harness?

jbird745

Well I removed the rest of the alarm harness including the inline fuses and the relay. I also found out why my illumination was being overloaded. Now I'm still blowing my meter fuse so no blinkers or tach still. Also I believe my alternator is gone. I'll be goin at that with a voltmeter tonight to confirm. But, I'm still stuck on this meter fuse blowing I looked all around , but I'm still comin up with nothing. Is there a ground I coul have broken? Is there an easy way if rewiring it somehow? I'm completely dumbfounded at this point.

RyanRaduechel

iTrader: (10)

Buy a replacement harness

jbird745

Well after countless hours under my steering column i came across a thread relating to this problem. They told me to check my 2nd O2 sensor. I jacked her up and sure enough... the a$$holes who welded my exhaust on put the bung in a bad position and the wires were rubbing on my driveshaft. So ill be getting a new sensor tomorrow but as for now my fuse is holding strong.

miata2fast

iTrader: (2)

Glad you are making progress.

I have had similar issues with dead shorts. They are usually not that hard to find.

jbird745

Well everything has been fine up until right now.....

Last night i did some work on my car including the new o2 sensor. I took her out for a ride to see if my engine light would go away, and IT DID . I also got the cold side intake hooked up(temporary moch up) so thats two projects out of the way. Today i was driving around for a good 2 hours, and i took a turn and all of a sudden i lost alot of acceleration and my car was acting very bogged down. I popped the hood and I guess i didnt tighten my intake coupler down all the way so it popped off. Quick easy fix put it back started right up and drove home.

Well i went to head out just now and the car wasnt starting????? I checked to see if the coupler had come loose again but she was good n tight. I tried turnin it over a few times with no luck. Then on the last crank my tach dropped (meter fuse blew....again) and the car started up???????? So ive been experimenting with it and it will only run with no fuse in it or until the fuse blows. I cant see any damage to the new connections ive made im at a loss once again......I should just run carbs ughhhhh. Can you guys porivide a little insight here for me. I'd appreciate it.

jbird745

ok i just ripped up the carpet behind the driver seat and disconnected the 02 sensor. I put a new fuse in the meter slot and she fired right up. This damn o2 sensor is gonna be the death of me....... Well at least i know what the problem was, and it looks like i have a new project for next monday. Gotta love workin 6 days a week ugh.