Dannyweaver95 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I have a 79 280zx and it has the dash, reverse, and tail lights out. I've been trying to figure out the problem for some time now. anyone have some suggestions? I looked at AL the fuses and none of them appear blown. Also checked the bulbs and the bulbs appear fine as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh280z Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Get a multimeter, continuity tester, the FSM and some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austenp405 Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Agree with the above. In my experience, those are all usually on the same circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyweaver95 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 Thank you guys. And I do have the service manual. I am just not any good at reading it. The electrical part is the part I struggle with the most for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Check the headlight switch. Fast check is to replace the switch with one you know works. Or you can learn to check the switch wire by wire with a meter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyweaver95 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 Even though the headlights do work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Even though the headlights do work? Look at a schematic, other circuits run through the headlight switch as well. Note from the schematic that the headlight switch also switches on other circuits such as the tail lights, dash lights, running lights, parking lights etc. The contacts for those circuits can be dirty or distorted such that no contact is made. Those contacts can be repaired. Over the years I learned that whenever the lights mentioned in this thread were out I found the headlight switch to be bad. So I keep a set of working turn signal and headlight switches around to use when diagnosing light problems. It takes but a few minutes to swap in a known working headlight switch. If it works you are done. If it doesn't work then you have just eliminated a variable in diagnosing the light problem and can move on to the next step. Or you can use a schematic and volt meter to check each contact on the switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyweaver95 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 Thank you Miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc_S130 Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 I have a somewhat similar problem on my '81. When I turn on the headlights, the dash and rear lights will take a few seconds to come on. Maybe 5-10 seconds, but they still come on. I know there is an issue, just haven't had time to look into it. Can you explain what you mean by headlight switch? Are you talking about the turning knob on the stalk itself or is it something else? Should I try and get a stalk from another car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
award280 Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 (edited) I've had this happen several times. All the power for the head lights goes through the combination switch (headlight switch). As soon as you start getting any resistance in the switch, it starts to heat up. I had one actually get pretty crispy. I'm surprised I never smelled the thing starting to melt. Replace the switch, keep it nice and corrosion free, and look into using relays for your headlights. Edited April 27, 2015 by award280 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.