MILD7

Ok... me tired of driving in "day light only" mode. Need to fix the following problem:

Headlights (reatractor/low beam/high beam) not working. Retractor button on dash doesn't work either. Parking lights/interior and dash lights/turn signals DO work.

Here's what I've tried:

Checked fuses to retractor and headlight... not blown, but replaced anyways. Replaced Retractor relay. Checked power going to fuses via lamp testor (check out ok). Cranked up retractors manually and tried headlights... (didn't work). One other thing... is that when i turn on the headlights... there's a small noise coming from the retractor relay.

I'm not exactly sure what to do next as far as looking for possible culprits to my problem. Anyone ever encounter such problems? Any insight is greatly appreciated! Muchos Gracias in advance. In the mean time... I'll be pulling stubble out of my head.

MILD7

^^^

Joker

water in the the fuse relays? drive around for awhile to dry the motor bay out

disconnect, reconnect the battery

MILD7

Hey Joker... thanks for the help! I doubt it's water since it's been about 2 months since they stopped working... but the funny thing is that the headlights failed right after i washed the car. Will disconnecting the fusebox really do anything though?

Joker

if the car's been sitting two months, and water's trapped in the fuse box relays, with no real way to evaporate...?

drive around and get the motor real warm. track it if you have to...

you might be surprised.

the battery is a quick check

MILD7

thanks joker... I've actually been driving it for the past two months... even went on a canyon run couple days ago... just not been driving at night for the past two months... but ya... I'll check the boxes... check for corrosion or something... thanks for the input!

FDjunkie

Have you checked/replaced the headlight relay? High resistance on its switched contacts or where it plugs in MIGHT not allow sufficent voltage to pass. It feeds ALL power to headlight switch, headlights, retractor relay, and TNS relay which then switches separate power to the parking and dash lights.

Does the high beam indicator bulb itself illuminate to full brightness when you (1) operate the flash-to-pass, or (2) with headlight switch turned on and switching between high/low beams? If yes it helps confirm wiring, headlight relay, and part of the headlight switch.

93 workshop manual page Z-56 & 57 shows two ground points up front, #1 for the drivers' side headlight and retractor motor, and #2 for the passenger side. If BOTH were bad/loose/missing/whatever then could see the conditions you describe. Does you car have new front bodywork installed or has it been repaired at some time?

MILD7

Hey... thanks for all the info FDJunkie! I tested the power going to the headlight relay.. no power is reaching it. Ground points I have yet to check... but bridged it at various points with a test probe (ie retractor connector, etc) without luck either. I did have body work done to the car about 6 months back... but headlights were working then. So at this point... i'm thinking a bad/broken positive wire somewhere between the fuse box (where there is power) and the relay. Thanks for all your help... and to my buddy Duchi too for helping me out too! I'll keep ya'll posted.