Rheostat Issues!
 

Does anyone know if you can by-pass the rheostat on the B2200s?

The dash lights on my truck come on and mostly off, and buying a new rheostat is waaaay to expensive from Mazda!

Any ideas and how to do it?

Cheers,

Geoff

86 B2000 Engine to 89 B2200?
 

Does anyone know if you can take a 86 B2000 engine and put it into a 89 B2200?

Will the 86's engine fit the 89's transmission?

Cheers,

Geoff

RE: 86 B2000 Engine to 89 B2200?
 

Just jumper-wire over the dimmer switch, and the dash lights will come on whenever the parking or headlights are on. You just lose the capability to dim them. I did this on my old VW. Or you could find a used dimmer switch, or mount one for a different vehicle under the dash. Just curious: what did the dealer want for one???

RE: 86 B2000 Engine to 89 B2200?
 

Mazda wants $110 Can. for the rheostat! I bought the truck for $300... so a touch over priced i'd say.

As for using a jumper wire over the dimmer switch, there is a three prong connector the the rheostat plugs into... any ideas on what/how to install a jumper wire...

I tried taking a wire with a male spade connector on each end and completing a circuit by coming out of one of the female ends of the connector and into another but to no avail...

someone who does not like wiring...

RE: 86 B2000 Engine to 89 B2200?
 

Use a voltmeter or test light. Turn on the lights. See which connector has 12 volts positive when the lights are switched on. If jumpering to either of those other wires is not lighting up your lights, maybe your rheostat isn't bad after all, and it's a wiring issue. You should also be able to rough test the rheostat itself when disconnected using the multimeter ohms scale.

RE: 86 B2000 Engine to 89 B2200?
 

Thanks Cusser, the jumper wire worked. there are three wires from the connector... it was red to red and the circuit was complete.

An easy fix for anyone who might come across this problem as the rheostats are known for crapping out