My wife and I just spent a few days searching the internet and checking wiring in an 89 RS we just picked up. The problem was the headlights would for no reason just shut off while driving. After a few minutes of the car sitting and off it would start up and the lights would be fine again. We found a few posts here after endless searches and deduced the problem to the headlight switch. After replacing the switch (yes you have to practically remove all the dash to get to it in an 89 RS) the problem seems to be resolved. I just thought Id post this to help make it easier on anyone else with this problem. I know searching this problem wasnt a one click solution away. Hopefully this will help. On a funny note,while reinstalling the dash, my wife opened the glove box and found the 89 RS manual in mint condition. She started scanning through it just for a look and stumbled across an interesting thing that would have saved us alot of time. In the circuit breaker section it notes *The headlight wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in the light switch. An electrical overload will cause the lights to go on and off, or in some cases to remain off. If this happens have your headlight wiring checked right away.*

Everything else seems fine so it may have been a faulty switch. So if anyone has this problem check that switch. Its worth the $20 but also make sure theres not a stripped wire,bad ground or anything else wrong with the wiring that might cause the switch to react. Hope this helps someone. Long live the 3rd Gen!

 

Thanks for posting your results. I recently have been working on the headlights of my '85 T/A and wondered why I couldn't find a fuse in the main fuse block for headlights. Your information answers my confusion. I wish I could find my owners manual in the car, but I think I'm going to have to send off for one.

 

Leave it to a woman lol..... I just wish I knew that manual was there in the first place..... It would have been where I started. Its proved to be some interesting reading. BTW Crasher honey.....I did all the searching lmao....but Ill give you credit for the 5 minutes you did. Lights been working fine ever since....hope it solved your problem too Gearhead

 

Just came across this post again during another search....For one, I find it funny how sitting behind a computer is seen to be easy compared to laying on your back, tweaking and cutting your arms up, and pulling every muscle in your body to get to those hard to reach spots! lol . Main thing being... Results were posted! Im so sick of thread after thread of (insert problem here) and then nothing! Posts dating back from 2000 even! If we solve a problem, be assured, we'll let you know. Live long third gens!

 

Digging up bones.

 

Yeah man....I know.... but man its a shame to see all these posts where 100s of people have the same problems and nobody cares to let anyone know what resolved the problem! You could spend hours going through searches. Find 30-40 posts relating to your issues.... and bam! Its dead....no more updates or anything! If all those posts on here werent resolved, you wouldnt see a 3rd gen on the road bro! lol

 

I always- good point there crasher, I always try and incurage people to up date.