Windscreen Wipers - A story

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Wed May 30, 2018 3:04 pm

OK, well I have taken the 'punt'.
Auto Electrician advised he has been unable to source a new Wiper Switch in Australia through any of his suppliers.
He said that he has not had a successful experience with O/S suppliers in the past so he is happy if I would like to have a try.
I have ordered the part on Amayama from Japan. About $100. incl shipping. Awaiting the advice on the final cost incl shipping.
Just occurs to me that I should probably have phoned Grand Prix Mazda in Brisbane and asked if they were aware whether there is a compatible part from another Mazda model. I might do that anyhow.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Wed May 30, 2018 3:33 pm

It is too much work for your sparky to order the part from a non-traditional supplier. He is used to making one phone call and next day the part is delivered to his door. Doing it your way involves getting online, a few emails and waiting, not something he wants to do.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Wed May 30, 2018 5:11 pm

Yes, that's dead right, Bruce, and I just wanted to give him the opportunity to see if he could source it through his traditional channels.
He thought he might have got it through Boettcher's Mazda.
I just had a chat to the Parts guy at Grand Prix Mazda and he was not aware of a compatible part.
This is where the experience of the Specialist Forum members comes to the fore as it is 'collective' experience spread over hundreds of members over many decades.
I still think it is pretty ridiculous that when Mazda don't have a part anymore they don't know who does. Crap customer service.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Wed May 30, 2018 5:30 pm

Tried Automotive Plus? http://www.automotiveplus.com.au/

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Wed May 30, 2018 6:53 pm

Mazda do not care about your 20yo low volume sales car. There is no money to be made in that. The sooner you learn to do things by yourself, then quicker and cheaper the jobs needing completion will be.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Wed May 30, 2018 9:16 pm

Nope, PRR, I will just sell it and buy something else when it all becomes too difficult.

charcoal · Postby **charcoal** » Thu May 31, 2018 12:17 pm

Re Automotive Plus...
Our NB8B is similar to yours in that it is really under used, so the wipers aren't required very often.
Automotive Plus look after it for us and we are very happy with their service so happy to recommend them.
When the wipers failed last year, most likely due to the same cause, the switch was replaced by them with a second hand one at a reasonable price.
There was no mention of the availability of a new one.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Thu May 31, 2018 3:19 pm

Thanks for relating that experience Charcoal (and JB).
This is why PRR says "learn to do it yourself" - up here in the sticks you are 'on your own'. In the city the auto tradies all have their contacts and suppliers - both new and used - that they deal with regularly. There wouldn't be a wreckers outside of Brisbane that would have an NB in the yard and so my last resort would be to start ringing Brisbane and southern wreckers to try to locate a switch - same as I did when I replaced the wiper motor 2 years ago. I would put money on there being a compatible switch on an earlier model Mazda 3 or similar - it's just luck whether you run across somebody that says "Yeah, mine failed too and I replaced it with one from a 2008 Mazda 3".
It's one of the downsides of keeping cars too long.
Anyhow, we will see how we go with Amayama.

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Thu May 31, 2018 10:38 pm

Rocky,if you are not using the car every day, remove the offending switch and investigate the possibilities of effecting a repair, my consideration is a Carbon build up on the switch gear.
Greg.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 2:28 pm

Greg, I think you are on the money in relation to a possible 'repair' of the switch.
I know nothing about electrics but given that the switch was used twice in 17 years, there would not be anything that was 'worn'.
It has been in the back of my mind that a 'fall-back' position, along with a 'second-hand' switch, was to ask the Auto Electrician to see whether the switch could be 'fixed'.
It had occurred to me to ask him to check it out right off the bat, but I didn't want to risk a situation where the steering column was dismantled, only to find that it couldn't be fixed, and then have to put it back together until a switch could be obtained and then repeat the process.
If it turns out that the Amayama part is incorrect or unavailable, those are two further options before I have a panic.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 6:50 pm

I reckon the answer lies with the auto elect. Trouble shooting should be able to narrow it down. The auto elect will need to read the Mazda workshop manual - just to get the combo switch out looks a bit tricky. Section is 09-18 09 -18- 9 etc. If the switch was working only recently its probably something pretty simple and maybe quite fixable. The manual is available as a PDF file and it's a must really for tricky things - written for Mazda mechanics . If it were me I would show the sparky the file and hope that he will read it and comment from there. Chances are that a 2nd unit is going to work so the unit will have to come out anyway.

Red_Bullet · Postby **Red_Bullet** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 7:06 pm

Being an electrician/technician myself that works daily fault finding complex control systems I have found it best to not speculate but to use a systematic approach of testing the circuits to locate what's not working. A schematic diagram and multi meter is invaluable in this process. I can look later to see if I have the diagram for your car Rocky.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:06 am

I would not bother with the old switch. I'd just get a new or second hand wiper stalk/column combo and start fresh.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 2:53 pm

Thanks MM, RB, PRR, I have the Mazda Workshop Manual in hardcopy and it always goes with the car when any work is to be done.
(There is nothing useful in the Workshop Manual, at least to my eyes, the switch was not shown or mentioned)
Thanks for your kind offer RB - if it is not too much trouble I'm sure my Auto Elect. would appreciate it.
I did give my Auto Electrician the parts diagram that appears on the "epdmazda"/"Amayama" sites plus the parts description and part numbers but he was unable to source a replacement and felt it might be easier for me to do, given the help from MX5 Forum Members.
(My MX5 is the only one he has ever had in his shop in 40 years.)

The Auto Electrician checked it out on my visit a FN ago and seemed confident that it was the switch. We seemingly missed this 2 years ago when we replaced the wiper motor as everything tested/worked just fine after the replacement of the motor. I assume it was/is an intermittent fault.
My preference is, as PRR says, for the installation of a new switch (the car is in such good condition that I don't want to mess with second-hand parts unless it is necessary) but I am always one to have a Plan B, and usually a Plan C as well.

A new switch has been ordered from Amayama, so we will see what eventually arrives and whether it is the correct bit. Fingers crossed.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 4:45 pm

The Mazda i.e. the official manual has full details of all sections including lighting and t/sig combo switch. 93 Clubman probably knows where it on the net for the NB.