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In need of electrical whiz!

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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 09:09 PM
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Michael Knight's Avatar
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In need of electrical whiz!

Hey guys! I just bought a new 7 and switched interior to black and now my headlights won't come on. Yes I switched all harness including the dash harness to the original and they still won't work. Everything else seems to function properly though. i.e. they pop up, turn signals, wipers, car starts and idles. I live near Redlands Ca. and am willing to pay someone to stop by and help or trade parts and some cash. For trade I have an excellent condition S5 shine auto front lip and T2 guage cluster with 5inch autometer Tach already calibrated for a 7. I also have already checked all fuses and couldn't find any blown. By the way my car is a mutant 5.0 Ford smallblock rx7. Dash is unbolted for super easy access to all wires. PM me with a phone number for the full story.
thanks,
Damon
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 09:14 PM
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Its as simple as 24 or 6 to 4. Pmd ya
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 09:44 PM
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cams pistons valves
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easy as 1 2 3 and A B C
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 09:53 PM
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Originally Posted by wackyracer
Its as simple as 24 or 6 to 4. Pmd ya
Thanks for the feedback whacky, although what you said makes very little sense to me. I haven't had the chance to learn anything about electrical stuff yet. Also, never got the pm. I'd love to hear what you have to say. I'm just stumped because they worked before I took out the dash and some cheezy gauges. For the guages I was able to trace down all the wires and eliminate all of them except 1 wire, my guess is it's tapped into the fuel pump for an ignition source. Anyway some one please help!
Thanks,
Damon
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 10:11 PM
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From: Socal
Fsm
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 12:30 AM
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"By the way my car is a mutant 5.0 Ford smallblock rx7"

Sounds like another example of God punishing all owners of mutant boingers.

Seriously, if you put the original dash harness back in, there is still something not plugged in. Otherwise, my guess is either the other harness shorted out the hi/low beam relay (located in the bank of relays mounted in front of the stock air intake snorkle) or the headlight switch module itself since everything else is working. OR you blew the headlight filiments themselves.

Try a different headlight. Also, I might have another hi/low beam relay or headlight module in my pile of "stuff" if that doesn't work.
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 12:51 AM
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I was waiting for that comment Johnny! lol, you might be right but I still don't regret the descision. I've tried 2 different headlight switches already and both had the same result. As for the relays there are none up front. I would try to put one on but since it worked before I started messing with things I doubt that is the problem. A short somewhere or bad ground is definatly a good theory. I also found a classified post on torquecentral.com for the car from a seller who sold it to the guy I bought it from. In the post it says it was "custom wired" for the headlights to come on when the parking lights were turned on. I guess to make it look more JDM, just kidding. I think when I pulled out the 20inch dash tach and other lame quality guages I might have disconnected a wire that linked the 2 lights. I have no idea though.
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 01:09 AM
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I guess after a closer look behind the bumper it does have a couple of resistors. I didn't spot them right off because they aren't in there rubber housings.
Thanks,
Damon
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 01:16 AM
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You have no second thoughts on incurring God's wrath for driving an Oxymoronmobile? Watch out for dark clouds gathering.

"custom wired" for the headlights to come on when the parking lights were turned on"

Do the parking lights come on? From that description sounds like they are on a common circuit, so your guess on the disconnected wire has merit. Shouldn't be any resistors involved in this situation.

Also, try at least one different headlight. Not one but both high beams on the FireVert didn't work, so it has to be a bad circuit since both low beams worked fine, right? Especially since high beams are rarely used so they never go out before the low beams. Right?

Wrong. High beams on both headlights were bad. Strangest thing I ever saw, and reason to try that cure for your issue as well.

Last edited by HOZZMANRX7; Aug 15, 2007 at 01:27 AM.
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 01:31 AM
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24 or 6 to 4............ABC easy as 123........ gotta love da 70s
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 10:46 AM
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The parking lights/ turn signal lights do work. I guess I could try a new lamp, just seems weird. Thanks John
Damon
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 10:54 AM
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I would start by checking all the fuses with a test light and make sure you dont have a blown fuse. then i would test to see if you have power running to the headlamp switch. I am not to familiar with FC's but my guess is when you flip the switch it sends power to a relay under the hood. If thats the case find out where the relay is and make sure power is going to it. You can also check and be sure the relay is good. If everything is good to that point then i would check the lines from the relay to the lamps themself.

When it comes to electrical. I have found the best thing to do is start from one point and trace it back. You obviously have a break in the circut. Its just a matter of locating it.

Edit: I just read you checked the fuses.
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 04:02 PM
  #13  
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+1 on everything backyardsog. Still could use some help from a pro if they can stop by and sign off on everything.
Thanks guys!
Damon
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 05:41 PM
  #14  
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From: eL lAY
You live to far from me. I would suggest investing in one of these

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KPQ7DO/...O&linkCode=asn

The greatest thing ever for automotive electrical problems such as these. All i can say at this point is either get sombody who knows what they are doing or just figure out why there is no current going to the lights by tracing the wires from headlap to switch.
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 09:42 PM
  #15  
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From: Houston ,TX
allright guys a friend is going to stop by and help soon. Ironicly he's about to do a boinger swap too. Thanks for all the great input and limited bashing. It's the support system you guys just demonstrated that make me really enjoy and proud of being a 7 owner.
Thanks,
Damon
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 11:17 PM
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hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
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