Lenz

I looked everywhere first to see if someone else had had a similar problem to this, but for the life of my I could not find anything.

So while I was driving my car one day (nothing unusual happened before this) the hazard lights came on. However, they're not steady. It seemed almost like something had shorted out and was providing a fluctuating connection of power to the lights, since the lights sort of fizzled, not burning brightly or nothing.

Took it to a mechanic who said that the problem was the hazard light button itself, and that sometimes they went bad. However, apparently only Mazda can get me another one, and they're quoting $175 for an entire front console piece since they say they don't think that you can order the button separately or nothing.

So my question is two part:
1) Does anyone know how if it is possible to order the hazard light button alone?

2) Does anyone happen to know I would even go about getting that switch out?

Again, I looked all around for the steps to doing it, and maybe I'm just stupid, but I didn't see anything that could help me. Thanks for any help or info you guys can provide!

Mazurfer

This might actually help..........looks to be about $32.00, but not sure how you have to get at it, but looks like one screw once you get to it!

http://www.jimellismazdaparts.com/sh...=0&modelYear=0

You didn't say what year and probably doesn't matter.....use selector on the left and choose model year.

Lenz

Thanks! Yeah, my bad on the year and all, I'll remember next time!

I managed to get it out, but you definitely just saved me a nice chunk of change with that site.

Mazurfer

Well....here's another site I use.

http://onlinemazdaparts.com/


I actually have never bought anything from that first site, but they have great online diagrams and I use them to get the part numbers. Their prices are competitive however.

Start bookmarking all these sites you run across on this club that people post up.........you will be glad you did!

Lenz

Yeah I got the part out finally, diagram really saved my tail before I ended up pulling the wrong thing (would have to solder the card again... way more than I want to do haha).

Just have to take it with me to work tomorrow to see if it really is the problem, left my multimeter there.

Mazurfer

Let me know what you find....as this is the first I've heard of this issue.
Assuming connector looked okay and was seated properly??

Lenz

Well to tell you the truth I'm still learning about cars, I don't know that much myself but I'm an electrician in the Navy so I figure I can probably troubleshoot this. Turns out the button itself is actually good, but I am going to try following the wire to see if maybe that shorted somewhere.

Before I go overthinking and overlooking something though, how do I check the connector and know if it is seated properly?

Mazurfer

Just look at both ends(the pins), make sure they are straight and not loose or anything.
With the way it was acting on you, it does seem like a losse connection perhaps. Actually, I have the electrical wring diagram, so I will go and see where the hell the thing goes. For the heck of it........have you check all other bulbs/lights in the car? None are burned out?

Mazurfer

Well, I looked and I should've known it before I even looked, but one side of the hazard switch is grounded.....somewhere........that could be a dirty connection.
The other side goes to the "Flasher Control Module" which could be bad or have a bad connection.........that's about it.

Flasher unit appears to be about $57.00 http://www.jimellismazdaparts.com/sh...=0&modelYear=0

But...............this will also show you where it is, so you can see if that connector looks okay.

ASH8

Dave, your first post or link to Jim Ellis is incorrect..

The Hazard DASH Switch (F189) is for a Series II RX-8, and are not the same as Series 1

The Flasher (can) unit is the same (F151-66-830) for both series.

Sorry mate..

Ash

ASH8

Hi M8 and welcome to the club

Can you please fill out the "User CP", top left...and you can add a signature, this helps us to identify what series RX-8 you actually own, year, Manual or Auto, and the country you reside.

On your flashers/hazard..

As Dave has shown you there is the Dash Hazard Switch and then the normal Indicator Stalk.

I would firstly check Bulbs/Globes, make sure all are working and correct 12V Watts.
If OK, I would then check Flasher Unit or can, they are all the same for RX-8's F151-66-830, it is a black plastic rectangle unit witch makes the flasher clicking noises and controls current flow/direction, left or right side, or all on for Hazard Lights.

The Hazard Switch is NOT available separately without all the Dash Audio Panel face for Series 1's 2004 MY to 2008 MY...and about $415.00!

The Hazard Switch is available for Series 2's, but is is not the same Switch.

Also make sure you don't have any LED's, as these can give problems.

Mazurfer

Well....I tried.............thanks for keeping me straight!
I don't think he ever told us what year he was, so when I did that search, I didn't choose a year????? (bad idea)

Think in that first post, I was just trying to show what it looked like and how he might get it out, but didn't realize I was looking at an s2.

I'm such a failure, I shall retreat back into my cave.

ASH8

No problem Tarzan!..

Yeah, on-line interpretation's for car parts are always problematic as in so many cases they don't ask for enough information.

Lenz

All right guys, thanks for all the tips and advice, figured I owed y'all an update. First off, thankfully after testing the Hazard switch itself, it is good!

Updated my profile to show where I'm at and threw what I know about the car (AKA very little) into my signature for future reference.

As for the fixing the car stuff, me and my buddy have read a lot about similar problems concerning the Flasher Unit, so I'm currently looking to replace that and see what happens. I'm not sure if I can test it beforehand to make sure that is the problem, but if there is, I'd appreciate anyone with the know-how explaining it!

Going to hit up the local Auto parts store to buy a manual to locate the right relay since I saw quite a few little boxes in there and no clue how to remove them in that tight space heh. Hopefully that ends up being the solution though, and I promise to keep this updated until I finally have this car back to the point where it can pass the safety inspection.