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Old 10-14-2005, 12:17 PM   #1
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Headlight problem

Hey guys looking for some advice.
For about a month now one of my head lights has not been working. The day lights work fine as well as the brights. I replaced the bulbs today thinking that this may be the cause but nope same problem. I’ve tried the fuses and get the same problem.
Any ideas? I’ve already been pulled over for driving in the city with the brights on so what I’ve done for now is tilt them as far down as they will possibly go. This is a pain though because I drive down dark gravel roads on the weekends
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Old 10-14-2005, 12:30 PM   #2
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You need to replace your headlight/turnsignal combo switch....
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Old 10-14-2005, 12:39 PM   #3
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I am not bright enough, need some daylight definitions... Maybe my helmet tilt is too big? I barely learned at school -highbeam- and -lowbeam-, now got info overflow, fuse blown.
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Old 10-14-2005, 12:44 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiking
I am not bright enough, need some daylight definitions... Maybe my helmet tilt is too big? I barely learned at school -highbeam- and -lowbeam-, now got info overflow, fuse blown.
Well I guess instead of just moving fuses around I'll just get some new ones and try that. Then I'll try the signal switch. (I'll have to figure that one out) Thanks guys.
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Old 10-14-2005, 02:02 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MyGreenMax94
You need to replace your headlight/turnsignal combo switch....
and don't you have one for sale?
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Old 10-14-2005, 02:14 PM   #6
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and don't you have one for sale?

It's on hold right now for a fellow org. member.....
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Old 10-15-2005, 04:38 AM   #7
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First thing you should do is on the working headlight find which wire is the hot and check if you have potential on the terminal of the socket, and then check at the wire. If you are getting voltage at the wire and not the socket, you know there is a slight open where it should connect. If you get no voltage either way and want to be ghettofabulous about it until you get a new switch, just run a wire from the working headlight to the on that's inopt and that should solve it (put a fuse on the run wire to be safe) because they are probably on the same circuit anyway.
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Old 10-15-2005, 02:47 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maxgtr2000
First thing you should do is on the working headlight find which wire is the hot and check if you have potential on the terminal of the socket, and then check at the wire. If you are getting voltage at the wire and not the socket, you know there is a slight open where it should connect. If you get no voltage either way and want to be ghettofabulous about it until you get a new switch, just run a wire from the working headlight to the on that's inopt and that should solve it (put a fuse on the run wire to be safe) because they are probably on the same circuit anyway.
Well I'm going to have to try this. The only place around here that has the fuses and relays are @ stealership and I can't get there during reg business hours till next saturday.
I'll let you guys know If I start a fire.
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Old 10-15-2005, 03:24 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Hemphire
Well I'm going to have to try this. The only place around here that has the fuses and relays are @ stealership and I can't get there during reg business hours till next saturday.
I'll let you guys know If I start a fire.

I urge you not to jump a wire over to the headlight you are going to cause more problems by doing this......

Usually the problem lies in the contacts of the headlight switch....You need to take the switch out and clean the contacts with sand paper......


Fold the sandpaper over to make it double sided so you can scrape the crap off both sides of the contacts...Be careful not to bend the copper contact up when you put the sandpaper under them....
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Old 10-15-2005, 03:41 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MyGreenMax94
I urge you not to jump a wire over to the headlight you are going to cause more problems by doing this......

Usually the problem lies in the contacts of the headlight switch....You need to take the switch out and clean the contacts with sand paper......


Fold the sandpaper over to make it double sided so you can scrape the crap off both sides of the contacts...Be careful not to bend the copper contact up when you put the sandpaper under them....
Where is this located?
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Old 10-15-2005, 03:45 PM   #11
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It is located on the steering column.....Take the plastic cover off the steering column and then remove the two screws,wiring harness....Take off the plastic cover,viola!
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Old 10-15-2005, 05:07 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MyGreenMax94
It is located on the steering column.....Take the plastic cover off the steering column and then remove the two screws,wiring harness....Take off the plastic cover,viola!
sweet i'll do that. I'm sure this must be right because sometimes the brights wont go on unless i turn them on and off a few times.
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Old 10-15-2005, 05:12 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemphire
sweet i'll do that. I'm sure this must be right because sometimes the brights wont go on unless i turn them on and off a few times.


Yup....That is a classic sign that the contacts are dirty........
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Old 10-16-2005, 04:44 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MyGreenMax94
Yup....That is a classic sign that the contacts are dirty........
Sandpaper should be very fine claypaper: 600 -or-1000. Whatever u do, it will burn out in quadruple speed - compared to previous period...

After the depicted cleanup, add relays, get 'everlasting sw', bright lights.
See http://www.cardomain.com/ride/748507/11


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Old 10-16-2005, 12:34 PM   #15
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One other thing ... you are in Manitoba, Canada. That means that your car has the daytime running light system. I don't think that this was part of the American package until much later.

There is a unit UNDER the steering column that controls the DRL. It has 2 relays, and after 15 years or so they burn out. My car had the exact same problem that your car has. Replace the box ($120CDN from Nissan), and you're on your way...
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Old 10-17-2005, 10:52 AM   #16
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I think RyderMax is onto something. I recently had to replace the DRL unit under the dash (to the left of the steering column, but right of the fuse box) and it solved my headlight issues.
However...., only my driver's side headlight when out with the headlights on. With the DRL's on, both headlights would work for about 2 minutes, then go off for 1 minute, then repeat that cycle. I noticed this pattern after sitting behind a van at a traffic light for several minutes.
The DRL module is simple to locate and replace, and if you can get one from a wrecker it should cost under $20.
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Old 10-17-2005, 04:34 PM   #17
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Well MyGreenMax94 had it right. I cleaned all the contact and voila we have lights
I accedently bent one of the contacts. That was a B17ch to bend back into place. I did this all @ my inlaws place. When I was leaving there I noticed I screwedup. My dash lights where no longer working. No problem I thought I'll just use my map light when I get to the city I thought. Well no problem. But when I was on my way to work this morning I was pulled over by the WPS for not having any tail lights
All fixed now though.
Thanks for all the input guys I can probley say you may all of saved the life of myself my wife and my little boy.
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Old 10-17-2005, 04:40 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemphire
Well MyGreenMax94 had it right. I cleaned all the contact and voila we have lights
I accedently bent one of the contacts. That was a B17ch to bend back into place. I did this all @ my inlaws place. When I was leaving there I noticed I screwedup. My dash lights where no longer working. No problem I thought I'll just use my map light when I get to the city I thought. Well no problem. But when I was on my way to work this morning I was pulled over by the WPS for not having any tail lights
All fixed now though.
Thanks for all the input guys I can probley say you may all of saved the life of myself my wife and my little boy.
My car had the same problem except it was the brights that would not work....
I'm glad i could help.......
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Old 10-17-2005, 07:28 PM   #19
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I have a funny feeling this may of happend to the last owner of the car as well. My combo switch did not have a plastic cover on it to protect it from crap.
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Old 10-18-2005, 02:06 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemphire
I have a funny feeling this may of happend ...
I told u so. Wont last, cleanin is only bandaid, 'surgery succesful, patient died'.

Only way not to return tHere, is new sw -or- add relays to handle the load & arching - as already explained.

Dash lights off is an indicator: smtg amiss (=rear lights out)
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Old 10-18-2005, 05:46 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiking
I told u so. Wont last, cleanin is only bandaid, 'surgery succesful, patient died'.

Only way not to return tHere, is new sw -or- add relays to handle the load & arching - as already explained.

Dash lights off is an indicator: smtg amiss (=rear lights out)
Yea I know. This weekend I'm going to fab a plastic airtight cover for it to keep the dirt out. Not sure how to do the relay on the part though.
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Old 10-18-2005, 05:52 AM   #22
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Yea I know. This weekend I'm going to fab a plastic airtight cover for it to keep the dirt out. Not sure how to do the relay on the part though.

I don't think the problem is dirt intrusion....All contacts made like them get crusties crap on them.....Bad design.....
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Old 10-18-2005, 06:57 AM   #23
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I don't think the problem is dirt intrusion....All contacts made like them get crusties crap on them.....Bad design.....
True. I think its mostly production price question, and buyer cannot see any difference. Every bit that lasts over 5 yrs, is bad design (=too expensive) from manufacturers point of view. (Production: Ford fights in courts against one 50$ roof bracket which would save 2-8000ppl yearly in US, how many globally??? and - pays hundreds of millions for widows - but will not add that 50$ per vehicle. Idiots or savings Geniuses?)

Relay makers 'live' nearer the contact bits: their bread depends how relays last, how much current it can control. Thereby relay contacts 'never' burn like the cheap switches (yes they do, but).

I use relays rated for 40A - one lamp draws about 8A. (100W = 12V x 8A) I suppose heres some margin for lifetime...
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Old 10-26-2005, 01:38 PM   #24
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I need to figure out where this is, can someone post (or email me a picture of this) daylight lamp module and where exactly it is/looks like?
thanks.
-andrew
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Old 10-26-2005, 02:37 PM   #25
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I need to figure out where this is, can someone post (or email me a picture of this) daylight lamp module and where exactly it is/looks like?
thanks.
-andrew

The daytime light control unit is to the left of the steering wheel...

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Old 10-26-2005, 03:08 PM   #26
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if you need that combo switch i have one i wouldnt charge you just pay shipping
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Old 10-28-2005, 05:39 AM   #27
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Well even after cleaning the switch a week later the same headlight is blinking. I'm picking up a combo switch at Teamauto in Winnipeg tommorow. They just got in 2 GXE's and 3 SE's this week. I just hope there not totaly striped by the time I get there
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Old 10-28-2005, 05:50 AM   #28
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Well even after cleaning the switch a week later the same headlight is blinking. I'm picking up a combo switch at Teamauto in Winnipeg tommorow. They just got in 2 GXE's and 3 SE's this week. I just hope there not totaly striped by the time I get there

Mine has been working fine for over a year now......My cleaning skills>yours... j/k

When you go to the yard try to get the one with the lowest miles on it....
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Old 10-30-2005, 12:04 AM   #29
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.. i think it's cheaper to just set up the headlights behind a relay and switch both lights with the current from the working headlight output wire. then u won't have to rip open anything and upgrade with fatter wires at the same time
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Old 10-30-2005, 12:04 AM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Harvs94max
if you need that combo switch i have one i wouldnt charge you just pay shipping
That would be great. Where are you located? email me at A_S_Kman@hotmail.com
thanks a lot!
-andrew
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Old 11-03-2005, 10:03 PM   #31
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Headlight combo switch like $75 at Nissan Dealership, just go buy a new one and quit wasting your time on it.
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Old 11-26-2005, 02:05 PM   #32
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Can anybody help me out with this? I cleaned the contacts on the headlight turn signal switch and the low beam on passanger side still doesn't work. There is no voltage to that light. Is there anything else I can check? Is the switch bad?
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Old 11-26-2005, 03:15 PM   #33
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Can anybody help me out with this? I cleaned the contacts on the headlight turn signal switch and the low beam on passanger side still doesn't work. There is no voltage to that light. Is there anything else I can check? Is the switch bad?

If the cleaning fix did not help it then yes i would replace the switch...
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Old 12-01-2005, 10:56 AM   #34
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I can't find a turnsignal switch anywhere. Does anyone know of a site where I could buy one?
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Old 12-01-2005, 12:20 PM   #35
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Had to buy that one from a dealer. It wasn't cheap, but fixed all of my problems.
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Old 12-01-2005, 03:56 PM   #36
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Quote:
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I can't find a turnsignal switch anywhere. Does anyone know of a site where I could buy one?
I can get you one, but I need to know what year your car is
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Old 12-06-2005, 10:29 PM   #37
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Its a 1992 maxima SE. Would a turn signal switch from a 1990 work in my car?
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Old 12-07-2005, 05:17 AM   #38
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Pretty sure not.
if they're both outtry comparing #s
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92 maroon VE A/T gone | 92 white VE M/T gone
92 grey VE A/T gone | 6/84 L24E last of the RWD Maxima gone
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Old 04-30-2006, 03:51 PM   #39
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How can I take off the plastic cover under the stering wheel? I saw there are 4 screws. I take them out. But my plastic cover is still not coming out. Are there anything else that I need to do? My head light is also acting funny. It does not work if I put it on high beam.
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Old 04-30-2006, 04:02 PM   #40
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How can I take off the plastic cover under the stering wheel? I saw there are 4 screws. I take them out. But my plastic cover is still not coming out. Are there anything else that I need to do? My head light is also acting funny. It does not work if I put it on high beam.

There are 5 screws..
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