Assistance fixing my S13 headlights please: Won't go DOWN automatically.

[Moon Ill]

Credit to: vancouverbc (http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=244906)on NICO



Ok.

Here's the issue:

If the lights are down and I push the retractor button on, the headlights come up.

When I push the button again to put it in it's [I]off position the headlights stay up.

Checking the Relay and connector:

I pulled the switch off and what RET 3 off (its' the one that's RET/DOWN on the relay cover).

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/5889/relaybox2na1.jpg


On the switch.

If I jump Pin #5 and #3 on the connector part of the relay the lights will go down.

Pin #5 is hot (using a test light), none of the other ones are.

This thread: 1991-1994 Headlight repair tutorial: 240SX Technical Forum: Nissan Forums / Infiniti Forums - NICOclub (http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=244906)

States that pin #1 should always be hot, it is not. Pin #1 goes to the relay RET 4. I removed that relay and Pin #5 on RET 3 stopped receiving power

Checking the Retractor Switch:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9125/img0003wt7.jpg

On the switch the RED wire shows power and the BROWN wire shows power with the headlights off.

The PURPLE wire shows power with the headlights on.

If I jump the RED or BROWN wire with the PURPLE wire the headlights will come up.

If I jump the RED wire with the LIGHT GREEN wire (which is off position) the headlights do not retract.

The RED wire appears to receive power from the headlight timer, and since it has power I don't think there is anything wrong with the headlight timer.

Maybe I'm missing something? Someone point me in the right direction.

I'm going to go try a few more things. I'll check back here in 10mins.

[Moon Ill]

Ok. I was wrong bout the RED wire going to the retractor switch receiving power from the headlight timer. I just checked all the pins at the timer and none have power.

[Moon Ill]

Alright. So the headlight timer receives its power (from the RED wire) when the retractor switch is pushed in. The test light glowed when I pushed in the switch and tested the pin corresponding to the RED wire at the timer.

[Moon Ill]

K. Jumping the SKYBLUE(L) with the LIGHT GREEN(LG?) wire at the switch connector powers the LIGHT GREEN wire at the timer connector.

[g6civcx]

Before you start jumping wires, first understand the state transition of the circuit.

I personally would check all wire connections for shorts and other problems. I would personally test each relay. Then the headlight switch.

The headlight timer is hard to test so I would just replace with a known good.

[toointoxicated62]

i would first test relays, then i would replace the button in the dash, because i know for a fact that the lights will flip without it pluged in but will not go down without it found out when i got lazy and wanted to turn the lights without putting the interior back in lol

[Moon Ill]

Before you start jumping wires, first understand the state transition of the circuit.

I personally would check all wire connections for shorts and other problems. I would personally test each relay. Then the headlight switch.

The headlight timer is hard to test so I would just replace with a known good.

That's a good point. Jumping wires like I'm doing can lead to damaging electrical components and blowing fuses at least. Caution should be taken when doing this type of thing, and proper equipment should be used.

I'm using a paper clip to jump pins. Don't do this. It does work, but DON'T DO IT!

I shuffled around RET Relays 1, 2, and 3. No luck doing that either. And their connectors all showed power where the were supposed to, with the exception of Pin #1 at RET Relay 3.

i would first test relays, then i would replace the button in the dash, because i know for a fact that the lights will flip without it pluged in but will not go down without it found out when i got lazy and wanted to turn the lights without putting the interior back in lol

You may be right. Although it worked exactly opposite on a friends coupe (Go down, but not up)

---------------------------------------
As as side, I think may have found the/a problem a few post up.

I said jumping the SKY BLUE(L) and LIGHT GREEN(LG) wire at the switch connector caused the LIGHT GREEN (LG) wire at the headlight timer to power. This is simulating the off position of the retractor switch.

However,

With the switch plugged in and in its off position there was no power at the LIGHT GREEN (LG) wire at the headlight timer connector. Likely fault, bad switch. The LIGHT GREEN (LG) wire at the headlight timer switch should show power as it did when I simulated the off position of the switch.
----------------------------------------

Still, that's just one issue.

If the headlight timer is connected and I jump the two pins the headlights still do not retract.

[Moon Ill]

The biggest thing is this.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7245/img0001jr0.jpg

Look at the right side at #3, this is RET Relay 3.

If I jump the LIGHT BLUE (L) to the PURPLE/WHITE (PU/W) the headlights go down.

The PURPLE/WHITE (PU/W) [aka PIN #3] is the only wire going from Relay 3 to the headlight motor, and if that gets power from LIGHT BLUE (L) [aka PIN #5] the headlights go down.

Which leads me to believe power is not getting to the LIGHT BLUE (L) wire of the connector (if my logic is correct). A bad relay could cause this, but I've tried different relays and none changed the situation.

I'm stumped.

[Moon Ill]

Anybody have any ideas?

[whereda40at]

silvia s13 front end. no more pop up problems

[gotspins13]

haha yaa your making this really complicated on yourself and plus they look better up lol s13 silvia front end is your best look and best fix=]

[mrmephistopheles]

silvia s13 front end. no more pop up problems

haha yaa your making this really complicated on yourself and plus they look better up lol s13 silvia front end is your best look and best fix=]

If you guys aren't going to be helpful, STFU.

I have a car that's experiencing the same problem now, so I've got a vested interest in seeing a resolution to this problem.

[g6civcx]

I have a car that's experiencing the same problem now, so I've got a vested interest in seeing a resolution to this problem.

Dammit now I can't be lazy. Stay tuned.

[cole d]

Yeah I have the same issues with my car somebody should make a harness to bypass the stock crap it would make life so much easier.

[cole d]

Alright. So the headlight timer receives its power (from the RED wire) when the retractor switch is pushed in. The test light glowed when I pushed in the switch and tested the pin corresponding to the RED wire at the timer.

Have you checked power to your diode pack yet? Its located under your radio in the center console.

[94_240sx]

I searched and searched, but couldn't find answer. Where is this Headlight Timer unit is located at? I removed driver's side kick panel and there's a white box which is TCU, but it has a lot more wires coming out. Please help.

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9125/img0003wt7.jpg

[94_240sx]

Never mind. I found it. It was a black box right behind TCU.

[g6civcx]

I have a known good. $5 for postage and I can send it to you.

[mojos13]

Very interested, I have to crank my shit down manually if i wanna look slik..lol

[Frank_Jaeger]

Inb4 general necrobump ragging

[Shwumbers]

Hey bro i have a 89 240sx hatch by any chance do you know if it would be a relay if my headlights don't retract down automatically only manually and when i turn on my lights only one turns on? Ive been having this problem for a while and no one quite seems to really know. I replaced the whole headlight with the motor an harness and still doesnt turn on. And i tried putting back on my stock headlights but it still didnt work
Just thought you might have an idea? Thankyou

[projectx]

I hate to revive a super old dead thread but I was wondering if this issue was ever found or fixed by someone else.