Enter here if you are familiar with the 240Z lights harness

[Guest JAMIE T]

I just bought another Zcar. A '73 240Z. It has been setting for about 5 years outside. I was messing around with it, trying to see what worked and what didn't. The headlights come on if you tap on the switch(with the column covers removed). But, the tail lights don't come on with the headlights. I checked the bulbs and the sockets(they didn't look THAT bad, But, I'm still gonna clean them up). Also, the turn signals are hit and mis. They worked one time, then wouldn't work anymore. The Flashers seam to work OK. None of the marker lights work. This car has NOT been butchered. It has one of the best looking harnesses I have seen on these cars. I'm going to clean all of the connections, and disassemble the combination switch to clean it good. Any other suggestions are appreciated. What about the relays? Locations? Possible for them to go bad?

 

Much to my surprise the blower worked, all three settings. I tried to get it to start. It cranked for awhile but then it wouldn't turn the motor over. The battery didn't go dead either. I put it in my other Z right after it wouldn't start this one and it started the other one fine(Optima Red Top). Maybe it's the starter. The solenoid was kicking, but motor wouldn't turn over anymore. Maybe the motor locked up? I've got a couple of good L6's, so thats not a big deal.

[labrat]

I had the same problem when I let my 81 280ZX sit for about 6 months or so without driving it. It seems that corrosion builds up on the terminals inside the turn signal/headlight switch and on the contacts to the bulbs themselves. I actually had to replace an entire socket because of the corrosion. I still have to jiggle the stick to get my left hand turn signal to come on...

[pparaska]

Jamie, it sounds like the HL switch is hosed. There are no relays. Try opening the switch and cleaning it up.

[Mike C]

I had troubles with my tail lights in my '72. Turned out to be the Molex plug underneath the passengers side of the dash. This is where the rear harness attaches to the front. Unplug and then reconnect all of the plugs and this may improve things significantly. Also, headlight woes can sometimes be traced to the plug in front of the rad support where the headlight harness plugs into the main harness. Turn on the headlights and put your fingers on the fuse box circuits for them. If they get hot, they are the source of resistance in the circuit. This can be improved significantly by removing the fuse box, pushing the fuse holders from the plastic box, cleaning them with contact cleaner then using flux to solder the fuse holder to the spade terminal where it is just riveted now.

You can even rotate the fuse holder on the rivet to mechanically "clean" the connection before soldering depending on how loose the rivet is. IME, this is the most important mod you can do if sticking with the OEM 240 wiring setup.