SuperPickle Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Heya, Although I've been reading these forums for months, this is my first post. My problem is that my driver's-side taillight doesn't turn off when the rest of the car does, and it's draining my battery. From the few posts I seen that seem relevant (gasp! A newbie searched!), It seems to be something involving a relay. What I need, basically, is someone to confirm my suspicions (or refute them), and to 'point' where there troublesome relay is and how to repair/replace it. For reference, it's a '77 280z 4-speed (stock, with an alarm and 30 years' worth of wear-and-tear) -Pickle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roninjiro Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 sounds like your car was rewired, check for repairs to you chassis harness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roninjiro Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 might be able to help you out i have family close to ft worth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperPickle Posted November 13, 2006 Author Share Posted November 13, 2006 The PO did add an alarm to it, but I've had the car for about 5 months now, and the problem just started last thursday. Help would be AWESOME. I live in the new apartments off the 820 (Las Vegas trail exit) I'll try to pm you my number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 Just one taillight? That's odd. Are you sure the other light isn't blown and it's the brake light switch? There's a little plastic plug in the brake pedal that pushes the brake light switch to turn off the lights. I just had to replace that on my ZX a couple weeks ago because it cracked and fell apart. It's a basic replacement item in the help section of most autoparts stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth-Z Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 From the problem you have described, I do not think you have a relay problem. The running light's are all tied into the same circuit. All four corners would be getting power then. Have you checked the brake pedal switch? Perhaps the filaments in the bulbs in the right side brake lights are burned out? That would give the appearance of only the left side being on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 From the problem you have described, I do not think you have a relay problem. The running light's are all tied into the same circuit. All four corners would be getting power then.Have you checked the brake pedal switch? Perhaps the filaments in the bulbs in the right side brake lights are burned out? That would give the appearance of only the left side being on. Hmmm, this statement only sounds slightly familiar.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth-Z Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 naviathan, I type to slow. We seem to have had the same thoughts at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperPickle Posted November 15, 2006 Author Share Posted November 15, 2006 I'll try it the first chance I get (I _AM_ already in my pajamas...). On an odd note, this morning it started doing it to both tallights, and now just the right one does. O_o All thelights work. Will post results tomorrow. -Pickle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperPickle Posted November 15, 2006 Author Share Posted November 15, 2006 Okay, due to an untimely attack of insomnia (trying to get a computer job...again...), I went out at 1am to check up on this 'brake switch' thingy. I found it (contortionism + candle + lighter + Z footwell = tricky), but it was stuck. After hanging upside down with my head in the footwell for five minutes and having that damnable candle blow out for the twelth time, I decided to just f*ck with it during lunch. Also, I've decided to install a manual kill-switch in the near future. -Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperPickle Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 OK. Basically, I'm an idiot. The "thingy" I believed to be the button was not. I did find it, and I 'fixed' it by putting a screw into the hole that the button was passing through. Here's a thought: Why the hell is that hole even there in the first place!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldestzguy Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Unless I did not understand this thread, the guys all agreed it was your brake light switch. It should be under the brake pedal swing arm or thereabouts so that when the brake pedal is depressed; the swing arm depresses an plunger into a hole in the switch itself and that connection powers up your brake light wires/lights and your brake light bulbs come on. It sounds, from your description that the plunger in your brake light switch is missing and you just need a new plastic switch which includes the plunger as part of it and it costs about $20 or so. This would explain the left and right brake light intermittent operation also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 That's not how the Z brake light switch works...Well ok hard to word this right. That is how it works however the plunger is part of the switch and doesn't come out unless you've broken the switch itself. What he had was a missing bump stop on the pedal arm. They get old and dry rot and fall apart then you have a hole in the pedal arm that the plunger slides through. I don't know why they did it that way, but I went to Advance and picked up a pack of various sized door bump stops and found one that fit. It's a little loose, but still works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinhZXT Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Guys, There is only one switch at the brake pedal and it controls both tail lights. If he has a problem with one, providing the other is working normally then the problem is somewhere else. FYI on a ZX there is a tail/stop lamp sensor box under the passenger side seat. From the descriptions of your problem I think you need to replace this box. It's the black plastic box under the passenger seat. Just pull the seat up and unplug this module and both of your tail lights should go out. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spotfitz Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Where in Ft.Worth are you SuperPickle? If your close I can swing by and help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperPickle Posted December 14, 2006 Author Share Posted December 14, 2006 Everything's peachy-keen right now, I'm all set! Thanks everyone for the help! Much as I would like to meet you, I'm no longer in Fort Worth... My roommate decided not to get a job, and his parents were tired of paying his half of the rent, so I'm sh*t out of luck. I'm on my way to Boston (where I grew up) to regroup and start my life from scratch for the third time....yayyyy.... re-enlisting is starting to look good, which scares me.... Now, on to that exhaust leak... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spotfitz Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 My step son sounds like your room mate, except I'm the one tired of paying his way while living with me. Sure you don't want to take him with you?(my step son, not your room mate) Best of luck to you. 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.