A Stubborn Mule: Mule 2500, electrical and other questions

[John Mason]

HI!

Thanks for the forum.

I am currently installing a turn signal and horn kit on a Mule 2500 that was gifted to the local ranch owner. His health is not so great, and other than a car, he has no other way to get into town. The driveway is a mile long... 

Attached are some photos. The prior owner disconnected the parking brake light grounding/indicator cable. I fixed it and reconnected it (shown in photo). Following the wiring harness, there is a 6-pin block (see second photo) up front, nothing plugged into it. I have what I think, is a fairly accurate wiring diagram.

Problems:

I cannot find the VIN anywhere on the vehicle. I have no paperwork on it and neither does the owner. We know who owned it previously but he doesn't have paperwork on it either. I have looked NUMEROUS places, and googled it.

I do not know the year.

There does not seem to be any indicator light for the parking brake. I think the light was physically removed from the dash (see third photo).

What parts are missing? What are they named/part numbers if you have them?

What I have done so far:

Fixed the parking brake switch

Fixed the brake lights, the wiring in the back was pulled out, cut, a mess. (fixed)

Added a third center high brake light, tying it to the wiring harness. Positioned just below the air intake. (added)

Added bright red LED strip lights, at the inner side of the rear downtubes, to be used later for the turn signal indicators.

Ready to order a $15 steering column strap-on switch for hazards and turn signals.

Image descriptions:

Parking brake switch (fixed)

What are these? They were bundled up underneath the dash with a ziptie. The beige block has the red wire return from the parking brake.

Wiring diagram. These seem close to the existing vehicle.

Dash photo. So you can see what is missing and let me know.

[Travis]

I cannot find the VIN anywhere on the vehicle. I have no paperwork on it and neither does the owner. We know who owned it previously but he doesn't have paperwork on it either. I have looked NUMEROUS places, and googled it.

I do not know the year.

On that model, the VIN should be under the seat frame in raised letters/numbers.  more than likely since it's the 2500, it should be  between 1994 and 1999, I believe. You might can contact Kawasaki for more info. on the VIN.

 

It does look as though the light was removed. Not sure what went over there on the right of the dash.   I'll try to keep looking through pictures and see what i can find.

Welcome to the Forum

 

 

[John Mason]

My guess is the right side had a 4 or 2 wheel drive option. However this unit does not have 4 wheel drive, so originally it may have had a sticker over it.

[John Mason]

Also, if you know the light is missing, what is the part number? I would like to look at an image or sketch of it to determine if that was the part that hooked into the 6-pin block. In general, if I could find a parts blow-up, of that dash area, I could determine what is missing.

I did call Yamaha dealerships service departments. They weren't much help.

Edited January 4, 2018 by John Mason
update

[John Mason]

17 minutes ago, Travis said:

It does look as though the light was removed. Not sure what went over there on the right of the dash.   I'll try to keep looking through pictures and see what i can find.

 

That's the same mule. Not the same one I have here but you couldn't tell the difference except for the light switch. You can see he's removed the ignition key but otherwise it's the same setup on the dash, no indicator lights apart from the red one which means ??? and it's on. I assumed it's an overtemp indicator.

[Travis]

1 hour ago, John Mason said:

I did call Yamaha dealerships service departments. They weren't much help.

Yamaha?  

 

It could be you can get accessories for it like gauges etc for it, and they pre drilled the holes for mounting? Im sort of at loss.

 

@kenfain *might* know  

[Travis]

https://www.kawasakipartshouse.com/oemparts/l/kaw/500ae865f8700209983b719d/2007-prior-mule-2500-kaf620-c4-parts

Look through these diagrams. they should show the dash.

[kenfain]

Well, it doesn't look anything at all like mine, but I'll try to help, all I can. First off the dash looks like it's been stripped of possibly an hour meter, on the right side. If it's wired like mine, then it would plug into the two single pin, black wires, shown in the picture above, just to the right of the six pin connector. Of course that's just a guess. And possibly an oil pressure warning light. I would expect both of those items to be on the dash. The six pin block on mine is for adding accessories, like lights. I'll check my owners manual for vin location, since I don't remember. Edit; what I've found is this page from the owners manual, which shows where the frame number, and engine numbers are located. If the picture is unclear, it's indicating the frame, underneath the seat. What I've been unable to find, is the model number plate, which also shows the year. IIRC this plate is located underneath the vehicle, and towards the very front. But it's been about thirteen years since I've laid eyes on mine, so I could be wrong. As to the dash instrument issue, mine has a parking brake indicator, and water temp light combination, in the area that in your picture, clearly shows something has been removed. Edit; after more closely looking at your dash picture. My opinion would be that the empty spot on the right, would have been used for the 4wd lever in a 4wd vehicle. They would've likely used the same dash panel. I'm basing this guess on the shape of the slotted holes. It's very similar to the other side with the diff lock lever. 

[Travis]

Smart man ^

[kenfain]

Any luck finding information about that mule?

[John Mason]

I got a notice people are replying a few minutes ago.

No vin. Working on an electrical install. Will post update when I'm at a laptop. Typing from a phone.

[Travis]

That's odd the VIN isn't there. 

 

[Travis]

Did  you ever find the VIN?

hope all is well with you and your Mule!

[John Mason]

Yup.

It was hard to see because of the dirt and age. It's stamped on the frame, looking at the front radiator grill, it's either on the left or right, at about the midpoint, as I remember it. I will post a video of the finished product. Soon!