Broken Combination Switch? - AZ-1/Cara (PG6SA/PG6SS)

If you have a broken/damaged combination switch on your AZ-1 or Cara it’s not the end of the world. The NOS parts have recently become unavailable from Mazda but there are still new ones floating around for sale once in a while for an exorbitant price. If you’re ok with a used example those frequently pop up for sale too at a much cheaper price due to their age and or sun bleached appearance.
According to Nissha’s Garage Minkara Blog, it seems like we can use a combo switch from an Autozam Carol or a Suzuki Alto. Below we can go over how to replace it with the combo switch from a Suzuki Alto (CR22S) (Translated to English and photos from Nissha’s Garage’s Minkara blog.
You will also gain the hazard button function at the top of the steering shaft cover. On the AZ-1 you have a blanked out hole meant for that hazard button
- The pros for doing this swap:

  • The wiper and signal stalks are much thicker, theoretically making it more difficult to break vs the thin ones we have on our AZ-1/Cara.

  • The wiper lever moves differently possibly allowing for more choices in replacing the steering wheel.

  • The material is different and possibly less prone to getting sun bleached white.

Preparing the turn signal reset part on the combination switch: (Unit pictured is the CR22S one)

This may be used in other vehicles. (Ray: I looked up the part number on Megazip 37400-70F13-000 superseded by 37400-60F14-000 and both list Cappuccino as a possible match)

The CR22S’s turn signal reset configuration is different than the AZ-1/Cara. You have to remove this rotating cylindrical part in the red circle along with the spring. Do not throw it away. You will need to use this later.

This will still not attach due to interference.
Please remove the part where the tube was attached as shown in the photo.

This indicator return will not work by itself. Due to the position of the return pin on the steering boss is too far inside for AZ-1.

You can drill a hole and move the pin out, but in this case, in order to make it easier to return, we will use the tube that was removed earlier.

In the photo, a groove is dug in the red semicircle. Insert the tube into the pin of the boss along the groove. However, the length of the tube is too long and may interfere with the boss when it is inserted into the steering shaft. This situation will vary depending on the steering boss used, so if there is interference, cut off the protruding part of the tube as needed.

Modifying the circuitry:

If the indicator unit is installed as is, the intermittent function of the wiper will not work. For this reason, we will modify a part of the circuit board:

  • Remove the cover on the back of the unit and cut the circuit in the red x as shown in the photo.

  • Then, add wiring to connect the red oval part.

The added wires are connected to the wiring coupler. The location is the red circle in the photo.

(The coupler for this unit is not wired to this part.)

Speaking of which, there are some places where the colors on the wiring diagram are different from the actual wiring colors.

Be careful when modifying the wiring.

On a side note, the hazard button on this blinker unit only works when the key is in the ON position.

If you want it to work when the key is OFF, you can branch the wiring of the original hazard button on the AZ-1 and connect it to the blue circle on the coupler. (I have not tried this yet, so it is not confirmed.)

Regarding the column cover, it does not seem to be available for AZ-1. If the lever is not allowed to move, it can be attached (laugh). You can enlarge the movable part of the lever for AZ-1, but there is something that can be used from other models.

As you can see in the picture, the one for CAPPUCCINO can be attached. (Please use the same bolts for Cappuccino).

You will have to remove the meter hood once when you install it, though.

Also, the lower steering shaft cover portion is short like this. This is an area that is not so visible, so you can leave it alone, but if you are concerned about it, you can put an acrylic plate or a carbon plate on the red square area.