34 replies to this topic

[101101]

This is a continuation of the thread originally started on SpecMiata.com here: link

I finally got around to doing this today and ran into an issue. Drago said

The alternator excite wire runs right there below access panel ( white with red tracer)

When I took off the panel I found these two wire bundles:


The upper one (plug inline) has two white w/ red tracer wires. One looks to be a thicker gauge than the other. Additionally to further confuse things another wire in that bundle is red with a white tracer. I didn't see a while/red wire in the other bundle. So... which one of these is the right one to splice into?

[Dave Metz]

The correct wire is actually the gray with red tracer that comes up from the bottom on the right side, goes into white connector, then runs across in front of fuel tank. I read the same thread, tried it and it wouldn't kill it with the master switch. Called Drago and spoke with his guy that does the wiring. He told me it wasn't the white/red, but gray/red. After making the change, it worked correctly on the four post switch.

[101101]

Thanks! Hopefully I can try that tomorrow after work.

[RobSpec]

I just wired in the cutoff switch this weekend. The grey/red was the correct one. Thanks for making this easy. It made the run of wire much shorter.
Rob

[Maniac motorsports12]

This thread is only half the info I am looking for, can anyone direct me to a complete wiring diagram or description for wiring a kill switch for a 99.
thanks

[FTodaro]

It depends on if your wiring a two post or a 4 post switch. I believe the above instructions are discussing a 4 post switch. I just wired up the two post switch from Advanced Auto sport. Dave's instructions are pretty simple to follow. I can cite it from memory. The two post switch is wired between the positive battery cable, to break the connection. The kit provides the cable to go from switch to positive side of battery.

On the alternator, you take the white wire coming off the alternator and attach it to the positive battery terminal on the starter. You create a new wire running from the main post of the alternator (previously the white wire on the alternator) to the battery side of the kill switch. It works.

[Johnny D]

It depends on if your wiring a two post or a 4 post switch. I believe the above instructions are discussing a 4 post switch. I just wired up the two post switch from Advanced Auto sport. Dave's instructions are pretty simple to follow. I can cite it from memory. The two post switch is wired between the positive battery cable, to break the connection. The kit provides the cable to go from switch to positive side of battery.

On the alternator, you take the white wire coming off the alternator and attach it to the positive battery terminal on the starter. You create a new wire running from the main post of the alternator (previously the white wire on the alternator) to the battery side of the kill switch. It works.

Check this one out, diagram from DaveW 9 posts down.
http://forum.specmia...=1;t=002603;p=0
J~

[Jim Drago]

I'm biased.. but i think the way we do it is the best and also requires the least amount of wiring to be run.

You take the positive cable off the batter, cut the end and use it and attach to large terminal on 4 pole switch. Run a 3 ft batter cable from the other side of the kill switch to the positive side of battery.

On the small terminals.. as noted above.. You run a small wire from either side of the kill switch, cut the grey wire with red stripe. You add about 16 inches of the smaller wire and a 3 ft batter y cable.

This is clean and simple

If you need help, you can call me
901 647 1700

Jim

[jschwarz]

Can anyone tell me the color of the excite wire on a '96? I see a larger than most all gray wire but it does not have a red stripe as mentioned above?

[ChrisA]

It depends on if your wiring a two post or a 4 post switch. I believe the above instructions are discussing a 4 post switch. I just wired up the two post switch from Advanced Auto sport. Dave's instructions are pretty simple to follow. I can cite it from memory. The two post switch is wired between the positive battery cable, to break the connection. The kit provides the cable to go from switch to positive side of battery.

On the alternator, you take the white wire coming off the alternator and attach it to the positive battery terminal on the starter. You create a new wire running from the main post of the alternator (previously the white wire on the alternator) to the battery side of the kill switch. It works.

With this method wouldn't be wise to install a fuse in the line from the alternator to the battery? And, what size fuse would be recommended?

[Muda]

I'm biased.. but i think the way we do it is the best and also requires the least amount of wiring to be run.

You take the positive cable off the batter, cut the end and use it and attach to large terminal on 4 pole switch. Run a 3 ft batter cable from the other side of the kill switch to the positive side of battery.

On the small terminals.. as noted above.. You run a small wire from either side of the kill switch, cut the grey wire with red stripe. You add about 16 inches of the smaller wire and a 3 ft batter y cable.

This is clean and simple

If you need help, you can call me
901 647 1700

Jim

Thanks Jim, works like a charm!

[ChrisA]

I'm biased.. but i think the way we do it is the best and also requires the least amount of wiring to be run.

You take the positive cable off the batter, cut the end and use it and attach to large terminal on 4 pole switch. Run a 3 ft batter cable from the other side of the kill switch to the positive side of battery.

On the small terminals.. as noted above.. You run a small wire from either side of the kill switch, cut the grey wire with red stripe. You add about 16 inches of the smaller wire and a 3 ft batter y cable.

This is clean and simple

If you need help, you can call me
901 647 1700

Jim

Jim, you mentioned that the G/R wire is the alternator excite wire. I was trying to find it on the wiring diagram for the charging system and it doesn't show it going to the rear of the car. However, there is G/R wire associated with the "common connector"  X-17 which is in the rear. I'm assuming the charging diagram is incomplete and left this connector out. But, it still leaves me wondering why Mazda would route that wire back there when the ECU manages the alternator? What am I missing here?

[john mueller]

I'm biased.. but i think the way we do it is the best and also requires the least amount of wiring to be run.

You take the positive cable off the batter, cut the end and use it and attach to large terminal on 4 pole switch. Run a 3 ft batter cable from the other side of the kill switch to the positive side of battery.

On the small terminals.. as noted above.. You run a small wire from either side of the kill switch, cut the grey wire with red stripe. You add about 16 inches of the smaller wire and a 3 ft batter y cable.

This is clean and simple

If you need help, you can call me
901 647 1700

Jim

 

Jim, Would this be different on a 99 with a 6-pole Kill Switch with a 3ohm resistor?

[Rob Burgoon]

Jim, Would this be different on a 99 with a 6-pole Kill Switch with a 3ohm resistor?

 

You take the "car" side of the battery cable and connect it to a pole of the switch that closes in the "off" position.  You have the other pole of that switch go through a 3ohm resistor on its way to ground.  

 

That way when you switch off the kill switch, the extra energy being generated by the alternator goes through the big wire to the kill switch, over to the other pole, and through the resistor and to ground.  This doesn't happen when the kill switch is "on".

[ner88]

We mount the switch inside/passenger side.
remove the negative cable from the battery.
run a new cable from the neg. battery post to the switch (about 40" cable).
run a short cable from the other switch post to the body.
cut the ground wire from the main relay and run a single(lightweight) wire to the kill switch.

No hot wires to worry about!

[john mueller]

What about installing two master switches?  Anything different?

[john mueller]

Okay, I'm asking this again...  I suck at wiring.

 

I'd like to know if I should do anything special when wiring TWO master kill switches?

Can I assume everything will be cool if I follow Wheeler's or Drago's instructions running the switches parallel with each other?

With this work to kill the car & alt?

[Tom Hampton]

I'd need to look at the wiring diagram again to be sure. But, parallel will not work... You want them in series.

[Tom Hampton]

Ok. I just went and looked. The starter wire needs to be switched by both switches in series. The alternator wire (b terminal) only wires to the switch closest to the battery. If that doesn't make sense I can draw a schematic later.

[john mueller]

Ok. I just went and looked. The starter wire needs to be switched by both switches in series. The alternator wire (b terminal) only wires to the switch closest to the battery. If that doesn't make sense I can draw a schematic later.

 

Thanks Tom.  A schematic would be AWESOME !