Paging Mr. Tanner - Miata question inbound.

I've got a project miata I'm slowly collecting parts sitting out back, and remembered a thread you did on a miata you were driving and updating/backdating to make it more enjoyable for you. You mentioned the turn signal/high beam switch from a Canadian Miata being a different type of switch. Since the theme for this car is pretty much going to be retro, I would love the clunk of an actual switch to help "complete" the transformation.

I've searched for the thread, but can't find it. Can you point it out? or post the part number?

Thanks!

is this it?

Nah, it was the thread he was talking about his modding a Miata. Things like removing the radio, installing a motorcycle amp, and a jack for his Ipod, etc.

I believe the only difference for the Canadian cars is that since DRL is required the turn signals go from on-off-on-off vs off-on-off-on.

Edit: Clearly wrong.

I found a thread where he mentions the turn signal module was different because Canada didn't require an airbag in 1990. Nothing about the feel of the switch.

eta: Here you go, the stalks are straight instead of curved which puts them further away from the wheel than the airbag equipped cars.

And here's a picture.

Maybe it was someone else talking about it. Or maybe I misread or my memory is going bad.

Thanks guys!

Nope, that's right. I've talked about it in the past.

The non-airbagged cars have much different combo switches. Smaller, more delicate stalks and big burly contacts in the non-airbag stuff gives them a much different feel. Much more vintage, more more precise. Non-airbagged cars don't run a headlight relay, so the contacts have to be a lot beefier.

Unfortunately, it's not as simple as the combo switch. You'll need the upper section of the steering column, as it's a different diameter. You'll also need the plastic that surrounds the switch. You'll also need the windshield wiper motor (!) or have to do some wiring because the logic is different there. There are a surprising number of differences in the wiring between the cars. Getting your hands on a 1990-92 factory wiring diagram (not Alldata) should show them off.

I have all the parts to do one or two cars, but I haven't done it yet.

Phew!!! I wasn't losing my mind. Yay! So a Canadian non airbag column and a wiper motor. OHKAY! added to the list of parts to be on the lookout for..

Thanks man! Not worried about the airbag. My wife is so short she sits right up to the wheel when driving, so I disable them on most of our vehicles. (shhhhh don't tell on me. )

UGH... this is going to be harder than I hoped. I just jumped on ebay.ca and went looking. Everything listed is from the US.

They're hard to find. It took me three tries to get two columns, and that was pinging Miata people all over the country.

Keith Tanner wrote: They're hard to find. It took me three tries to get two columns, and that was pinging Miata people all over the country.

Was this the one I ended up sending you a few years back?

The Molvo is running the 1990 non-airbag column that I kept from the first rusty car that I used for proof of concept. I did not know about the wiper motor, good to know.

Any other tidbits that I should know about? Since the donor chassis was a 1996 and it also came with a full uncut harness. Sounds like I have the option of running either the 1990 harness or the 1996 stuff but the column will dictate the path.

Or I can just go with a hot-rod universal harness.

Sorry for threadjack!

Yup, that's one of them!

I only found out about the wiper motor recently. We converted a Swiss car to the airbagged combo switch because we needed the cruise control circuitry, and the wiper motor was a surprise. The non-airbagged switch will look a lot more appropriate in the Molvo. For your...creation... I think I'd probably wire from scratch because you're trying to merge three different systems.

NOHOME wrote: Sorry for threadjack!

It's an on subject threadjack. I don't think it counts.