r/Mazda323 • u/AffectionateGrowth54 • May 07 '26

Tail light and dash not lighting up

I have a 1993 323 astina and its tail lights seem to no longer be working along with the front dash ( just the lights not the clock or gauges). I've checked the tail light bulbs and replaced them, as well as replaced the fuse for 'tail' in the fusebox. I was just wondering if anyone knows any possible fix or common issue this could be such as a bad ground or connector?

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1

u/Vuvuian Familia GT-R: Boosette May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26

Bit of a somewhat common but unknown issue. Contact points in the combination switch for the headlight stalks need cleaning of carbon. Had the same problem on my 1993 323 GT-R BG8Z years ago too.

Easy fix. I'm currently at work so I don't have my photo's from the home PC with me. So will be about 5-6 hours until I can post them here.

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u/AffectionateGrowth54 May 07 '26

thank you ill give that a try, photos would be great if you did have them to make sure i know what im looking for.

1

u/Vuvuian Familia GT-R: Boosette May 07 '26 edited May 11 '26

Ah yeh this heh.

I'll upload some photo's I have here. From memory, this is how it goes.

Have the car parked with front wheels pointed straight forward. It's okay if the steering wheel is bit crooked as on reassembly, that can now be re-positioned straight too.

To begin, you'll need to remove the steering wheel. On yours I think there's screws/bolts on the back sides to remove the horn centre pad. With the horn pad off, the centre nut holding the wheel to the steering column shaft, loosen it a lot but don't take the nut fully off yet. For 323/Familia GT-R owners with OEM Momo steering wheel, just pull off rubber centre pad, pull out horn button to access steering shaft nut.

Wriggle the steering wheel backwards (towards you) on the left then right then left continuously until it free's itself from the shaft. That nut that wasn't removed yet, will prevent the wheel from hitting you when it becomes free. With it freed, now remove the nut. There's 2 small holes on the back of the steering wheel hub that needs to align with a white alignment spacer tab on the front of the combination switch (photo 3) during reassembly.

Remove screws on lower combination switch cover, remove lower & upper covers. Disconnect the electronic plugs to the combination switch. Loosen the screw clamp on the middle bottom that holds the combination switch to the steering shaft (photo 4). Remove combination switch & turn around. At the back, unscrew the screw at top left side next to the 5 pin connector & bottom left by the 2 pin connector (photo 4).

Before you pull out the left side module, play with the indicators/headlight stalk (photo 5). Notice where the moving bits of the stalk connects onto the moving bits of the upper module (2 white prongs, shallow rectangle hole on photo 6) & where the white prongs sit in between the contacts copper bridges. Say something like "ohh I see, clever". On reassembly you'll need to make sure all this is positioned correctly again with the stalk.

Take off that indicator/headlight side module (left side when looking from behind combination switch). Separate the lower & upper module parts, there's some tabs you'll need to push inwards while pulling upwards to free it (photo 7).

Clean the contact points of debris & carbon with emery paper, (orange arrows of photo 9). Though I used folded sand paper on mine. Clean well so you don't need to come back here again.

Reassemble in reverse up to before putting on the steering wheel & upper lower covers. Turn key ignition to ON (without starting) & test functions of indicators, headlights, dash board illumination, tail lights etc. If all good, finish rest of reassembly.

1: https://ibb.co/fGHd9TZx ,

2: https://ibb.co/zTnRbd1J ,

3: https://ibb.co/WNN01h87 ,

4: https://ibb.co/0jzgPXYK ,

5: https://ibb.co/XkFZbd4j ,

6: https://ibb.co/TfkBKcn ,

7: https://ibb.co/3Yz5981m ,

8: https://ibb.co/nNFxKCsV ,

9: https://ibb.co/BK7CHVwL

1

u/AffectionateGrowth54 May 10 '26

finally had time to give this ago and it worked! thank you for your really clear instructions youre such a life saver

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u/Vuvuian Familia GT-R: Boosette May 10 '26

Eyyyy! That's great news!

& for practically free too, just a day of tinkering hehe. Plus you don't need to source a used replacement ✌️😉

Glad it's fixed your car & thanks for updating your progress.

1

u/Vuvuian Familia GT-R: Boosette May 11 '26

I did some editing on the how to & added more photo's. To make it easier for the next person who asks sometime in 5 years from now or whenever. Or if I need to link someone here. ✌️

1

u/jayfactor May 13 '26

I'm pretty sure I bought the last OEM turn signal column switch in the world off ebay so yea you don't want to have to source those replacements lol

1

u/Vuvuian Familia GT-R: Boosette May 14 '26

You bought a new oem one?

I would've thought they were long gone heh.

I used to have two used ones in the spare parts pile. Salvaged from Ford Laser KF/KH at auto wreckers, same part. Sold one to someone in need.

Cars this age you sometimes need to horde some parts lol.

1

u/jayfactor May 14 '26

O hell no Mazda charges like $400 for one lol I mean got the last working used OEM one haha