Jump to content
SAU Community

(A31) Faulty Headlight Circuits

promaori

By promaori,
in Four Door Family & Wagoneers

 Share

Recommended Posts

promaori Rookie

promaori

Posted
Posted

My 1988 Nissan Cefiro has recently failed a WOF on the park, tail and license plate lamps not illuminating with the headlights. Hasn't been working for a few weeks but haven't gotten around to looking into it. Figured it could be the headlight switch on the steering column but testing it seems to show that's not the problem. I've looked at and replaced the blown fuses on the interior fuse block and that's not the problem. I've looked at and tested the tail light relay in the engine bay and thats' not the problem. I have looked into the auto light relay unit in behind the right headlight, and have found slight corrosion on one of the relay power pins, however I don't know if thats the right issue. I'm pretty stumped, and it's probably going to come down to a shorted wire somewhere in the circuit... What do you guys reckon?

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/435800-a31-faulty-headlight-circuits/
Share on other sites
Nic_A31 Grand Master

Nic_A31

Posted
Posted

I've had this problem more than once and it was the switch, to test it, unplug the stalk and bridge the two wires together responsible for the running light circuit, I can't remember off the top of my head which wires but I will check tomorrow.

It's probably a smarter idea to bridge them via a fuse and see what happens, but if there is a short circuit and you bridge it with a little piece of wire you'll know about it pretty quickly (it will get HOT), but then again your fuse should have popped if that's the case already.

It could be an incomplete ground anywhere on the circuit, which was my problem the first time (front left parker globe holder), so check your parkers first, it's very unlikely to be a ground in the interior.

The headlight circuit will run fine without that brown box plugged in, so don't worry about that.

I'm using an S13 switch at the moment while I source a working A31 switch, the running lights only come on when the headlights are on (second click), they don't come on with the first click, not sure if that's because if a different design to the A31 stalk or what, but an S13 stalk should get you out of trouble in the meantime.

promaori Rookie

promaori

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

I've had this problem more than once and it was the switch, to test it, unplug the stalk and bridge the two wires together responsible for the running light circuit, I can't remember off the top of my head which wires but I will check tomorrow.

Sounds like a plan. While I had the stalk out, I used a screwdriver to bridge the center contact with the contacts on either side of it and the system worked fine, so my assumption was the switch worked fine but there was something further along in the circuit that wasn't bridging it properly.

EDIT* Although now that you mention things popping... I had my left hand headlight die around, if not at the same time, as my running lights failing... but my headlight fuses are perfectly fine. Possibly a bad earth around the headlights?

Edited by promaori
Nic_A31 Grand Master

Nic_A31

Posted
Posted

my left headlight globe went a few months before I had some drama's as well, so yeah something sketchy in the design in that front left corner I think...although headlights are on a completely different circuit so they should be unaffected

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • joshuaho96
      Baron's R34 GT-R build thread - car in Japan for 5 years -_-

      By joshuaho96 · Posted

      I know mentally you're set on the ATS clutch but honestly I'm a big fan of the Nismo Super Coppermix Twin. It's much cheaper and in some ways I think it's a better design for a street/circuit car.
    • soviet_merlin
      Baron's R34 GT-R build thread - car in Japan for 5 years -_-

      By soviet_merlin · Posted

      Just checked in first post and you should be able to bring it home November this year, right? I'm amazed you made it through four years of this. As hard as it feels now the rest will go by in a breeze in hindsight, I'm sure.
    • BaronOBeefdip
      Baron's R34 GT-R build thread - car in Japan for 5 years -_-

      By BaronOBeefdip · Posted

      Realized I haven't been back here in a while. Still here, still alive, still waiting for the car.  I went back again the only time last year from Oct-Nov for R's Meeting and drove it around some more, including a few laps on Fuji Speedway(in the wet, sadly). The car still feels good, but have a couple small things to address. I've been getting more parts but have slowed down still, and most of the bigger purchases are now out of the way. I find myself getting impatient more and more when it comes to getting started on this project; it's quite hard for me not being able to really dive in and start making this car my own because it's halfway across the world. At times it doesn't even really feel like I own one of these. Haven't really been motivated or had the desire to document the last trip on here or social media for, well, reasons... but here's some pics...it's also still alive and well as you can see: I've narrowed down to the last large part purchases(anything over $2k) before the engine build to be: 1) Ohlins Road & Tracks 2) ATS Twin Carbon clutch 3) Endless BBK with some custom options and 4) Kansai Service carbon driveshaft I don't think the budget exists for all of these this year, but I'll try for one or two items I think. Though, every time I look at my spreadsheet I sigh, shake my head, and get depressed just that little bit more.  'til later.
    • Shoota_77
      R32 GTS-t RB30 sedan

      By Shoota_77 · Posted

      It's a stunning location!  I've been to NZ twice but haven't made it to the North Island yet.  Definitely on the cards but the South Island is hard to tear yourself away from too... Looking forward to see what you can wring out of it once you can get it to hold together!  Be awesome to get a low 11 or even sneaking into the high 10's pass out of it.  That's a bloody quick car that most people will never experience in their life.  Enjoy!
    • joshuaho96
      HKS stroker kit step 0/1 or HKS GTIII 2530

      By joshuaho96 · Posted

      Nominally yes but I’m not really at that stage yet. Outsourcing to Japan is also a relatively good deal at the moment because their currency has devalued much more against the USD.  You would assume this but a lot has changed from the pandemic. Mechanics are in short supply and demand for fixing old cars has gone up from the cost of new cars. 250-300 USD/hr is not an unusual shop labor rate in California and you’re paying that regardless of whether the guy is competent or not. Coworkers have been quoted 3000 USD for a water pump and thermostat at a dealer on an N54. Oil changes went from ~75 USD to 150 on fairly normal cars like Civics. The cost of the oil and filter hasn’t even kept up with inflation.
×
×
  • Create New...