First problem
I bought a 1981 RX-7 as a project car and obtained a couple of problems associated with the wiring. The right turn signal indicator flashes at the "normal" rate of about 1 per second. But, the left run signal flashes at 2 to 3 times per second on both the front turn signal and the rear turn signal. The flasher unit was replaced with another unit. But, the malfunction continues.

In trouble shooting the problem of the turn signals, the headlights opened and turned on. But now the headlights will not retract. All the fuses appear good.

Any ideas would be welcome!!

 

If you don't already have it, download the factory diagram and other valuable items. See my signature panel for the link.

 

Often times the contacts in the combination switch are in poor shape and can cause issues with the headlights. It may be time to remove it and disassemble it and clean the contacts and regrease it. Also a voltage check at the headlight motor connector may be in order.

Have you checked the rapidly flashing bulb to ensure that it is the correct bulb? Are both the front and rear bulbs correct and working properly when the turn signal is applied?

 

Grounds, make sure all the grounds are good. The only reason the lights would flash faster is if you had bulb out or a bad ground on that side. There is a ground at the driver side shock tower, about 1/2 way down in the engine bay and of course down at the starter. There is a ground up under the dash behind the cluster (a pain to see unless upside down looking straight up. Theres one in the back that attaches to the rear most exhaust hanger down to the muffler. Also make sure all your battery cables are good and clean the connectors. Do/check these things and get back to us.

 

I would suggest starting at the battery and clean every contact along the way. Reterminate as needed. as mentioned service the head light switch. DeOxit is a good brand of contact cleaner. Grounding is key. Get a tap and clean out the mounting hole for the grounds. replace ground bolts with stainless and use dielectric grease at connections to prevent future corrosion. On a side, LED bulbs may cause your flasher to act absurd. I put LED in my build but had no flasher issues in my application. YMMV . cleaning out the bulb sockets is also a fine idea. I used a Dremel cup shaped wire brush.

The thing to consider is that there has been a lot of time for corrosion to build and resictance to follow.

 

Replace both turn signal bulbs that are flashing fast and clean the dirty sockets as step one.

Make sure the manual headlight motor switch in the center console is plugged in/working and set in the down position. If that switch is non functional headlights will go up but not come down.

 

The solution was not in the rear turn signals as I first guessed and new bulbs all around. It turns out that there was rust inside the contacts of the left front turn signal which when removed cured the fast flashing.

The headlamp motors being stuck open and not closing is still not fixed by checking the fusible link on the driver's side strut tower and cleaning contact. I don't have a workable spare switch on the steering column. Today's work is to find a way around the steering column switch.

 

the headlight turn signal switch is serviceable. why hack your car up when you can address the real issues?