That darn turnsignal stalk problem with the 300zx, here is the easy cheap fix!

[MIBPreacher]

I have had the problem ever since I bought my 300zx a couple of months ago where the running lights turn on by themselves. It has been driving me nuts. You can find new ones for about 100.00 or more, and I bought one out of the junk yard for $9.99. It turns out my "new to me" turnsignal stalk was also bad but it allowed me to look at how it works without taking my steering columm apart. This is probably the easiest fix I have encountered on a car ever.

 

Follow what ever instructions you have for removing the steering wheel and the panels around it on the dash.

 

After unloosening the screen that holds the assembly together tight, pulle the assembly out some and then remove the 2 screws that hold the turn signal switch in. Unplug the switch and the head light motor wires and take a look at the switch.

 

You should see a clearish white snap on panel covering copper connectors (they look like miniature popcicle sticks.) take this off but dont lose it.

 

The big one in the middle, is the running lights. Take a look at the middle one and you will see that when you turn the switch, it should go up and down as you turn the lights on and off. It probably just sits there. now look at it from a tilted angle and you can see that it is constantly making contact with a small round copper contact, which keeps the lights on. If you use a very small flat head screw driver, you can pry up the copper contact and see a small square piece of rubber underneath it. while holding up the contact, you can see if you turn the switch, the black piece comes up, but not enough. Here is how I fixed mine.

 

I placed a small flat head screw driver underneath the contact between the round contact underneath the copper paddle, and the rubber lifter and I put a slight bend upwards in it, about 5 degrees. I then went just a little closer to the round contact and while lifting up on it slightly, I used another flat head and put a slight downward angled bend in it. Like a stretched out <--Z-->This allows the paddle to ride the rubber lifter and still make contact like it is supposed to...

 

This definitley fixed my problem.

 

I know this problem plagues many 300ZX owners, I thought it could be made a sticky.