First some back story, skip this if you don't care.

So a while back, my 87 decided she wanted to, out of nowhere, die in an intersection. I suddenly lost power and the wheels locked up for a moment. I pushed the car out of the way, and tried everything to get it going (jump start, push start, etc.) no luck. I mean, starter wouldn't even try, just dead. got it towed, and since then i have checked all the fuses and main relays i could find, and they all checked out, so thinking ignition, i tried to hotwire it, still no luck. I tried some more things, but honestly don't remember at this point. In the process of trying to help, a friend accidentally busted my ignition apart. I grabbed a cheap generic replacement, and have been rewiring it since.

I have most everything hooked up, but I'm not sure about 4 wires. they all go to a small harness connector, 2 wires(the smallest two in the whole ignition switch assembly), red/blk and blk go to the ignition, but I have no idea if they go with the accessories, the starter or the ignition. The other two go to the metal cylinder surrounding the ignition switch (possibly to ground?)

The reason I care is that without them the car will operate normally ie. ac, radio, even starts, but it dies 1-2 seconds after it starts up. I'm pretty sure these wires have something to do with it. Problem is, whenever either of them get power to them, sparks fly and the wires start to melt. so, short circuit somewhere, but no idea where.

Any insight into where these wires go, or what caused the problem in the first place would be appreciated.

I'll grab a pic tomorrow in case my description isn't satisfactory.

 

A picture or two would be very helpful. Is this cheap generic replacement intended for an RX7? Does it have the correct plugs, or are you splicing wires here and there? I needed, I can provide a picture of an OEM ignition switch, but I won't be able to take that picture until tonight.

A direct-fit replacement from an auto parts store goes for about $100-120.

 

The ignition switch should plug into four plugs. One plug should have a single wire which is Back/Red and is for the starting circuit. A second plug should have a Black wire in addition to a Black/White wire. The Black wire has constant voltage on it and comes from the Main fuse in the engine fuse box. The Black/White wire is for the IG1 fuses in the interior fuse box and would receive voltage w/key to on. The third plug also has two wires and they are Blue and a Black/Red wire. The Blue wire is for accesories and the Black/Red wire in this two wire plug is for IG2 fuses in the interior fuse box which should receive voltage w/key to on. The fourth and final plug has four wires and is for the key reminder when you leave the key in the ignition.

Now if you have the solid Black wire connected to the ignition switch properly then turn the key to ACC and find which wire at the ignition switch has voltage on it. This wire will be the ACC wire and you connect this wire to the Blue wire. Then turn the key to "on" and there should be two other wires in the ignition switch that should have voltage on it (not including the wire connected to the Blue wire). Of these two wires connect one to the B/W wire and the other wire to the B/R wire found in the two wire plug that has the B/R wire and the Blue wire. Then w/key to start there should be a wire at the ignition switch that now has voltage on it when with key to ACC or "on" it did not have voltage to it. So take this wire and connect it to the B/R wire found in the single wire plug. You should then have the ignition switch connected to the proper ACC wire, the proper "on" wires (two of them) and the proper Start wire.

 

Well... F me. Thank you, I had one of the wires off. SHE LIVES!!!!!