I have an electrical problem that is KILLING me...for years literally I've been chasing this problem...now I'm seeking the near devine help that is available on this web site...here we go...

The headlights and the right turn signal indicator (dash) are getting power as soon as the car starts.....they are only getting partial power though....so each of the four headlights will be on at different intensities....usually fairly dim. When I turn on the lights only one of the four come on at normal intensity.....I have done some testing with a volt meter and found that the lights are getting power through the black (ground?) wire....are all the lights connected to the same ground? The problem will go away and then return....lately it has come to stay and I can't stand driving down the road with freaking goofy azz headlights. Could it be the turn signal relay? Anyone else have this problem.....I'll take ANY and all the help you guys wanna give.

350Z

 

Just to be sure of the grounding situation, connect a temporary jumper wire from the headlamp grounds directly to the battery negative or definite ground on the engine. Your problems (or at least part of them) seem typical of a floating ground at the lamps.

 

Yep, weak ground would be my first suggestion.

 

You can use your voltmeter to troublshoot. Connect the black lead to the Alt case, you need to "grind" the lead connection into the aluminum case to make sure you have a good conection. Then use the red meter lead to probe all the ground connectons when the lights are turned On. If the voltmeter reads any voltage higher then about 0.5 volts, you have a bad ground on that circut.

 

Power through the black wire?? Sounds like either somebody rigged the lights to work and got some wires backwards, or as has been previously stated, a bad ground. Never power on a black wire. BTW, how much voltage is on that wire?

 

Thanks for all the replys!! Eats5.0....it's been a few months since I put the volt meter on it but I'm pretty sure the black wires were only getting around 1 volt...this is when the light swith is turned off....thanks again...oh yeah what do you all mean "typical floating ground at the lamps?"...do these cars have a chronic headlight grounding problem??

350Z

 

It isn't just ThirdGens. Any vehicle living its life in the Salr Belt will eventually be a candidate for wiring problems, usually starting with chassis and body grounds that fail. A lot of strange things can happen as a result.

 

350Z, I've worked with electronics for the Navy for 18 years, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that whenever something very weird is going on, and something comes and goes, it's at least a 90% chance there is a grounding issue.

I'm not trying to come off as a know it all smartbutt, just letting you know from my experiences.

 

Eats5.0....cool man I'll be looking for a bad ground this weekend...btw are you still in the Navy....I'm at NAS Lemoore....just got here.....my manuals are still packed up

350Z

 

Still in, finally retire in March of 07. Or sooner, if I can swing it. Stationed here on the East Coast, Little Creek Amphibious Base.