Question of the Day

[sketchman]

ohms? Not amps?

[Team Lightning]

If you are measuring current, set the meter for amps and put the probes in the amp connectors on the meter. Put the probes in SERIES with the line you want to know the current of. Positive on the hot wire (wire from the fuse) and the negative on the radio wire. Then you should see the amp draw. It's gonna be a small amount probably a few milli amps. Make sure you are using the smallest value on the meter for amps so you get a larger value on the display. I.E. 1 amp setting instead of 10 amp. If you are checking for total draw from the battery use the largest value on the meter and connect between the positive battery terminal and the cable. (and please don't try to start the car with the meter in series with the battery!).

[sketchman]

^Did that. Tried all amp settings on both terminal(at the MM end) configs. It measures for a second like it's going to work then it's like it's too much and it just goes to 0.00. IDK.

[getnpsi]

Would it be easier to just ask all of the Festiva hoarders you have all those parts and they are not even in their cars? That way the results are not biased or skewed from bad wiring of whole circuit is the actual components

[crazyrog17]

ohms? Not amps?

Sorry. You 'could' calculate it with the resistance measurement, but I was wrong.

[bravekozak]

Thanks for trying to test the ECA. I tested a Festiva AM/FM radio (no cassette) tonight and got 1.6 milliamps on my old Simpson multimeter. Does that sound about right for a radio memory only? I just tested two other radios and measured only 0.2 milliamps each. Does that mean the first radio has a problem? Can anyone verify what the current draw is from a factory radio?

[bravekozak]

Today's question concerns the fuel pump relay.
Do both solenoids in the relay have to be energized before power can flow to the inertia switch?

[bravekozak]

Will a Mitsubishi oil filler cap fit a Mazda B3?

[getnpsi]

Filler cap

Not sure. Id love to add one that is vented and then use a carb valve cover to simplify. I have a stant oil cap somehow lets x reference

[bravekozak]

I don't know how much the ECA draws, but the clock radio draws 2.3 mA and the Viper remote draws 4.8 mA
So with the radio, my total draw will be 7.3 mA

[bravekozak]

I believe the older ones are made like this were you can't just lock it and shut the door..
So you don't lock your keys in ..
I believe they wear out with age and usage that's why your drivers doesn't do it any longer.
She's all worn out lol.

Answer of the day. I removed the old latch and after very close examination and testing, I found the reason why one locks and the other opens if you don't hold the handle. There is a curved metal tang, on the bottom, that pushes against the locking tang, causing it to open. When you pull up on the handle, it pushes the locking tang down and out of the way of the curved tang. The two minute fix is to put the striker tang in the vice, cut it off with a hacksaw and file it. Now I will finally be able to sleep again.

[bravekozak]

New question regarding the stock radio. If you turn the key one click to the ACCessory position, Does the radio turn on? Do the lights also come on behind the buttons? Does the screen light up and display the radio station? Please let me know, thanks.

[bravekozak]

I figured out the problem by myself. The wiring diagram in the 89 EVTM had the wire colors reversed. I simply released the terminals and reinserted them in the opposite slots. The question I have is what is the third prong on the back of the OEM radio for? It is directly above the blue/yellow and the red/green wires in the three terminal (one empty slot) connector.
Do you think it was for a signal to the power antenna?
(Probably not, considering how large the terminal is).
I would like a little more automation. My finger is tired from pushing the power antenna button up and down all the time.
If no one knows, I will power up a radio with a single fused power wire to the blue/yellow terminal (+ body ground) and test what happens at the mystery terminal when the radio is turned on/off.

[bravekozak]

O.K., I tested the mystery terminal. It becomes 12V as soon as the radio switch is turned on. What's it for? I don't know.

New question.
The fuel pump relay.
On an 89 EFI, the black/red wire comes from the neutral safety switch. That switch is only closed when pushing on the clutch pedal. Does that mean that two solenoids within the fuel pump relay must be energized to start the fuel pump, and that only one solenoid is required to prevent it from opening?
Is the part number for the 89 fuel pump relay different than the part number for the 90+ relays? The black/red wire for the 90+ relays comes from the ECA.

[william]

My question of the day how long should your water pump last?
Mine has 24 thousand on it and has LOTS Of shaft play in it and is now making noise.
Those of you at the Herman meet may have heard it i thought it was my belt vibrating from being to loose but tighting it just made the noise worse. So i graded the pump at the pully and it moves and rattles.
Its not leaking yet but I'm sure it will soon.
Any recommendations on a new pump.
I think i went with a bosh from rock auto last time it was cheap but didn't last.