240sx headlight question

The "headlights up" button (on the left of the dash cluster - icon looks like a cross section of a TV picture tube) latches. Check to see if it is not popped back out completely or electrically stuck.

That's what I've been using to raise the headlights. It isn't stuck, works fine...it's just that the lights won't go back down.

Check retract relays 3 and 4.

3 is single pole double throw, should be black, in the box near the air filter. Pins 1&2 coil, pin 3 common, pin 4 normally closed, pin 5 normally open. 4 is double pole single throw, one normally open and one normally closed contact. Should be grey it's in the box near the battery. Pins 1&2 coil, pins 6&7 normally closed, pins 3&5 normally open.

Retract relays 1 & 2 break the bulb's earth, they are switched on to switch the bulb off when it's moving to save the filaments from vibration damage.

Check for continuity between pins 1 & 2 on the retract switch when off. Also no continuity between pins 1 & 3. No continuity between

4,5 and 6. 4 2 3 5 6 1 89 . x x 8 and 9 are illumination, x - no connection. There is a diode plugged into one of two tapped together blocks in the center console. For areas with daytime or dim dip there are more diodes but in the other plug. Appears to be in the same part of the loom that has heater controls and radio but I have never looked for it so it could be well hidden up behind other stuff.

I don't think it's internal to the motors as I can't see that both would develop the same internal fault at the same time and still work to the open position. But here goes, disconnect ground at battery. check for continuity (or diode check)

2 x x no connection 4 3 [ [ key 5 1 check for continuity while rotating motor with knob. Open, pin and ohmmeter probe polarity. 1+ 5- Yes 2+ 5- No 1+ 3- No 3+ 1- Yes Closed, pin and ohmmeter probe polarity. 1+ 5- No 2+ 5- Yes 2+ 4- No 4+ 2- Yes

Could be a column lighting switch fault. After that the only thing left are the headlamp timer and any dim dip or daytime light controls. These are hidden in footwell kick panels.

-- Peter Hill Spamtrap reply domain as per NNTP-Posting-Host in header Can of worms - what every fisherman wants. Can of worms - what every PC owner gets!

Where might the headlight timer be located?

It's in the LHS side kick panel. Careful with the screws they tend to jump and then disappear down a hole into the sill. Bit small but it's the black box in the right hand photo in the middle row.

you have dim dip or daytime lights, the timer is the one with asingle plug block and may not be black (UK ones are grey) I don't recommend just plugging another one in as if a fault has caused it to fail that fault may still be present and will just blow the new one. It and the rest of the system needs testing. I've had reports that US 240SX wiring is "nothing like anything" in the UK manual for the S13 fastback. But you or an auto electrician may be able to sort it out from what is in the manual and some local manuals. The UK manual can be downloaded from click on the menu tab "links" and then select the S13 manual. Relevant pages are EL32 - EL46, relay specs are EL3 and 4, locations of bits EL-81-82.

-- Peter Hill Spamtrap reply domain as per NNTP-Posting-Host in header Can of worms - what every fisherman wants. Can of worms - what every PC owner gets!