Guest jjohart Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 I had a shop put on a fuel pressure gauge, and now my headlights only work on high. I took it back to the installer, but they claimed they didn't do any work on the headlamp stalk/column, only on the other side of the wheel. They claimed they unhooked what they'd put on and it made no difference, and then told me I needed a new headlight switch, which was another $400 on their watch w. labor. I said no thanks, am looking for used parts, but am wondering, couldn't it also be something else, like underhood, where I see there's a "headlamp sensor"...what is that? There are also low and high beam relays, but I tried reversing like ones to no effect. Is there anything else I can check before ordering a whole bunch of used electrical parts? If not, who's the cheapest supplier? This is a 83 280ZXT. Thanks John-Boston Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
331CI 280z Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 My multi-function high beam switch decided to let go, when I did the urethane steering coupler. The only fix is to replace it. Does the switch still click when you pull back on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jjohart Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Yes, it seems to click as before, as well as control the cruise control ok!?! Who's a cheap supplier? Thanks John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
331CI 280z Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Hmmmmm. My switch wouldn't click any more. You can try blackdragon.com or e-bay. If that doesn't work, do a search and there are quite a few Z graveyards that specialize in parting out cars for a used one. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
331CI 280z Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Sorry it's http://www.blackdragonauto.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Have you tryed swapping a headlight or at least plugging in a different headlight? Just by chance that the low beam filiment on both headlights were out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 If it's anything like my S30 just flip it between high & low beam about 50 times and it will start working again. Sometimes the contacts get corroded from lack of use in the multi-function switch and it just takes a degree of activity to get it cleaned off and working agian. Not to say that will cure your problem but it has worked for me a half-dozen times over the past 14 years. Along the same lines my Z32 left turnsignal would flash the same as the right one when the lheadlights were off but be twice as fast when they were on. I pretty much ignored it and kept using them and eventually it started working just like the passenger side signal. The car hadn't been used much for several years before I got it so I just wrote that one off to the same type condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz8 Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Looking at the relay box from the passenger side fender the head light hi-lo relay is the one all the way toward firewall and in the row toward the engine. Have someone do the hi lo beam in the car and see if it clicks, then go from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therustedgauge Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 I've actually got the same problem. I was doing body work to my car; which was in an accident to begin with; but my left lamp was the only one working afterward, leaving my right lamp only lit dim and orange rather than bright/white. I've also read up on a headlight sensor in the haynes manual. wtf is that? i've never heard of a headlight sensor before Also- i was stuck on HIGH BEAMS too after the accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheney119 Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 If you tear apart and operate by hand the teeter portion of the dimmer switch, the high beams work, but nothing from low beams. I disconnect the ground the high beams go out and reground on steering column and they come back on, nothing from low beams either way. Does anybody have any advice or suggestions? Is there only one ground for the switch? I have the service manual and that's what it looks like. The low beams went out with no warning and at the same time so I've ruled out the bulbs (perhaps too hastily). Honestly the switch is suprisingly easy to work on so if In doubt I say tear into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1noel Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 The switch grounds either the high or low beams. If there is a break somewhere between the headlamps and switch it can't. I had a problem in the connection on the firewall inside the car, passenger footwell near the trans hump. The old leaking heater core had corroded the connection and was not letting the low beams ground out through the combo switch. I would check a wiring diagram and follow it back from the lamps through the switch before going to the expense of a new switch. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Just rewire the headlight circuit and be done with it http://alteredz.com/Headlight_Relay_pg1.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheney119 Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Yaa I'm ruling out the switch because I tore it apart and teeter switched by hand between high/low beams and nothing happened on low. But like you say there's something stopping the low beams. Black Dragon makes a heavy duty harness for $30 and draws directly from the battery. That would be an upgrade and a simple solution and take pressure off of what is probably still good switch. Any opinions or suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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