S13 Headlights Won't Go Down - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Apex Eight · 06-29-2015, 09:57 AM

Alright, so I know this topic has been brought up many times, and I've searched and found threads on them, but they all seem to end without reaching an absolute conclusion or one that doesn't seem to make sense in my situation.

I have a 1989 XE Coupe.

My situation:
- Headlights are always up

- Can manually retract headlights down
- Headlights go up if I press the headlight button on the left side of the dash
- Headlights do not go back down if I press the headlights button the left side of the dash again
- Headlights do not go up if I turn them on using the headlight stalk

- The actual lights of the headlights work perfectly fine, both high and low beams, as well as all sidemarkers and both turn signals

- I have three headlight relays in the driver-side fuse box in the engine bay shown here:

-But as you can see here in this second picture from what I've circled in red, the last two relay plugs do not have the 5th terminal like the first one does. I found this to be strange. Is this normal? If not, how do I go about getting a new terminal in there?

- I feel like this isn't normal because all three relays that I have are Nissan 5-blade relays, as shown here:

- I should also note that I was messing with the relays one day and pushed the first one down kinda hard and the headlights motors engaged for a split second, and the headlights went down like an inch. That is the first and only time I have seen my headlights go down on their own power.

- I've read that people switch out there headlight stalks for a new one and their similar issue is gone, but I've tried this fix: http://forums.nicoclub.com/how-to-fi...s-t280461.html and the it didn't do anything.

- If it's normal to only have four terminals on the last two relay plugs then I will go ahead and order a new headlight stalk.

Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Edit: I found a video that shows exactly the problem I'm having: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URj1g6YupM4

Ben10 · 06-29-2015, 03:21 PM

It should have all five prongs. Check a FSM and see what wires go into those slots. Most likely that's your issue, if not, swap out your headlight/turn signal switch. Mine went bad and didn't let the headlights fold down.

Apex Eight · 06-29-2015, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben10

It should have all five prongs. Check a FSM and see what wires go into those slots. Most likely that's your issue, if not, swap out your headlight/turn signal switch. Mine went bad and didn't let the headlights fold down.

So I found the wiring diagrams in the FSM but I honestly have no idea wtf I'm looking at lol. I feel like the relay connectors should have five terminals too... It's just weird that the last two connectors are missing terminals.

Also, I found a video that shows exactly the problem I'm having: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URj1g6YupM4

The guy never posted a solution, but I just messaged him so we'll see what he says.

In the mean time, can someone with an S13 check their headlight relay connectors and see if they have all five terminals? I'd really appreciate it

*anti tyler* · 06-29-2015, 05:41 PM

Look at it like a standard 5 prong lighting relay, the 5th prong is meant to power a second light (or other input)

Ex, if you use a 5 prong relay for fog lights, your 4th prong is for one light, the 5th is for the other.

So if you don't have the 5th prong you won't power the second light.

Issue is, mine is the same way, yet works just fine.

Apex Eight · 06-29-2015, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anti tyler

Look at it like a standard 5 prong lighting relay, the 5th prong is meant to power a second light (or other input)

Ex, if you use a 5 prong relay for fog lights, your 4th prong is for one light, the 5th is for the other.

So if you don't have the 5th prong you won't power the second light.

Issue is, mine is the same way, yet works just fine.

Wait a second, I'm kinda confused as to what you said.

Do your 2nd and 3rd relay connectors also only have 4 terminals?

If so, I'm about to order this headlight stalk through Amazon. Shouldn't be too much of a risk anyway since I believe it qualifies for a free return.

Edit: Ordered one right before the Amazon Prime two-day shipping was about to cut off. Should be here Wednesday. I'll be sure to report back with my results. God I hope this works. I just want my poppy uppy headlights. ;-;

simplytrung · 06-30-2015, 12:31 AM

Oh! There’s a small blue square relay looking box with a white cap behind your radio area.
Sorry I don’t have a picture of it, it has like five stars on the cap.
Find it, pop open the top cap and look at the circuits.

See if you have a break on the circuit broad, look carefully.
I'm sure it's repairable, you can resolder the broken connection.
Or
Just find someone with the same car and borrow his blue relay to test.

Happened to me years ago, my headlights would pop up, but just wouldn't come down.

As for the fuse box terminals and relays? No Clue, sorry.
Hope this helps, if not whatevers.

Apex Eight · 06-30-2015, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplytrung

Oh! There’s a small blue square relay looking box with a white cap behind your radio area.
Sorry I don’t have a picture of it, it has like five stars on the cap.
Find it, pop open the top cap and look at the circuits.

See if you have a break on the circuit broad, look carefully.
I'm sure it's repairable, you can resolder the broken connection.
Or
Just find someone with the same car and borrow his blue relay to test.

Happened to me years ago, my headlights would pop up, but just wouldn't come down.

As for the fuse box terminals and relays? No Clue, sorry.
Hope this helps, if not whatevers.

What the actual fuck?! This I've never heard of. Sigh, I guess I'll try this if the new headlight switch doesn't work.

simplytrung · 07-01-2015, 01:43 AM

Sounds crazy I know.
I mean the last place I would look for a headlight relay would be behind my radio.
Just try swapping the relays first, or at least pop the cap and inspect the circuit board.
Remove the radio, it's behind there somewhere.
Small slim blue relay box with a white cap, it's wrapped in tape I think.
There was a thread on NICO with pictures and everything, but that thread no longer exist.
Keep us updated dude!

Apex Eight · 07-01-2015, 01:36 PM

Sooooo, I got the headlight switch in today annnnnnnd... It fucking worked! Everything works perfectly and it's nice having a new switch that has a much better feel with turning the lights and using the turn signals. I guess my old switch was shot even after cleaning up the connections. So yeah, if anyone has the problems I was having, get a new switch! I got mine from Amazon for pretty cheap. Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00

I wouldn't bother getting a used once since most people charge like $40 for them anyway and you run the risk of having it go bad, so yeah.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in!

Apex Eight · 07-01-2015, 09:39 PM

Turns out there is another thing...

When pressing the headlight button on the left of the dash, the headlights will go up and down with no problem. It's perfect.

However, when turning the headlights on and off, they will go up just fine, but sometimes the driver side headlight will not go down. It'll eventually go down, but sometimes it'll take an extra second, sometimes five. The passenger side headlight never does this.

Did I get a defective headlight switch? It's a weird, intermittent issue. Maybe one of my relays is on its way out?

5280VertDET · 07-02-2015, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apex Eight

Turns out there is another thing...
However, when turning the headlights on and off, they will go up just fine, but sometimes the driver side headlight will not go down. It'll eventually go down, but sometimes it'll take an extra second, sometimes five. The passenger side headlight never does this.

Did I get a defective headlight switch? It's a weird, intermittent issue. Maybe one of my relays is on its way out?

I wonder if this may have helped the original problem?
http://forums.nicoclub.com/headlight...r-t547784.html

or

http://www.sr20-forum.com/interior-e...ue-answer.html

or

http://forums.nicoclub.com/how-to-fi...s-t280461.html

(all sorta the same fix)

Also, the switch just sends the signal to the relay, so you may have a bad motor on the drivers side.

or there is also this possibility:

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLOVEmyS13

Thanks, i found out that the motor is fine. i needed to reset the bar that's connected to the motor that pushes the light up. because the light goes up a little before it goes down.

Apex Eight · 07-07-2015, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5280VertDET

I wonder if this may have helped the original problem?
http://forums.nicoclub.com/headlight...r-t547784.html

or

http://www.sr20-forum.com/interior-e...ue-answer.html

or

http://forums.nicoclub.com/how-to-fi...s-t280461.html

(all sorta the same fix)

Also, the switch just sends the signal to the relay, so you may have a bad motor on the drivers side.

or there is also this possibility:

I think a rendition of that last quote is what worked for me.

To sum up all that I've been doing:

I sent the new switch back to Amazon and they sent me a replacement. Got it in today and was still having the same problem: the driver's side headlight would just not go down. After messing with the headlights for a solid hour, I think I came to a solution. With the headlight down, when I would twist the driver side motor clockwise (I think, or maybe it was counterclockwise) it would trigger the motor to cycle and the headlight would go down and then back up. The passenger side headlight would do the same. I then got the random idea to cycle them both at the same time, and ta-da, they both work now! I guess it has something to do with synchronizing them so the headlight timing unit or whatever was all set. I don't know if this is the final solution (240 godz pls), but it seems promising.

Thanks again to all that replied.

Apex Eight · 07-15-2015, 11:42 AM

Alright so just when I thought I had solved this issue, the driver side headlight is once again stuck in the up position. I tried "syncing" then again with the motor knobs but the issue still persists ;-;

blkvrtswp · 07-15-2015, 01:13 PM

Your motor is bad - the contacts or windings are not 100%. Mine acted exactly the same and replacing the motor (15 min job) finally fixed it.

I was tricked for years in thinking "well, it goes up and sometimes down so the motor can't be bad".

It was.

Apex Eight · 07-15-2015, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blkvrtswp

Your motor is bad - the contacts or windings are not 100%. Mine acted exactly the same and replacing the motor (15 min job) finally fixed it.

I was tricked for years in thinking "well, it goes up and sometimes down so the motor can't be bad".

It was.

Damn. Makes sense. Thanks man

rwtf · 07-29-2015, 04:19 PM

Clean the brushes on the motors.

blkvrtswp · 07-29-2015, 08:28 PM

Yeah, I didn't try that because I had a spare motor available. But that certainly might do the trick too.

Apex Eight · 07-29-2015, 08:37 PM

So just unscrew the top of the motor, take out the wound-up copper wire part and clean it?

towlie · 06-15-2019, 10:33 PM

(bumping an old thread i know i know

)

having the same issue, found some usefull info.

bad relay, oem p/n 25230-C9962

If youre cheap like me

, you can probably find the relay from a pick and pull from these other vehicles that share the same relay:

Nissan

200SX

1995-1999, 1984-1988

Base, GL, GLE, GXE, S, SE, SE-R, SGL, XE

4 Cyl 1.6L, 4 Cyl 1.8L, 4 Cyl 2.0L, 6 Cyl 3.0L

CA18ET, CA20E, GA16DE, SR20DE, VG30E

--------------

Nissan

240SX

1989-1994

4 Cyl 2.4L

KA24D, KA24E

--------------
Nissan

300ZX

1984-1996

GL, GLL, SF, SS

6 Cyl 3.0L

VD30DTT, VG30, VG30D, VG30DTT, VG30T

------------------

Altima

1993-2001

GLE, GXE, SE, XE

4 Cyl 2.4L

KA24DE

-----------------------

Axxess

1989-1993

SE, SGL

4 Cyl 2.4L

KA24E

--------------------

Hardbody Pickup (D21)

1986-1994

DX, GST, SST, ST, STD

4 Cyl 2.4L, 6 Cyl 3.0L

KA24E, VG30, VG30E, Z24

----------------------

Hardbody Pickup (D21U)

1995-1997

Long Body SE

6 Cyl 3.0L

VG30E

--------------

Maxima

1985-2003

DX, GLE, GXE, GXEL, SE, SEL, SES, SL/GL

6 Cyl 3.0L, 6 Cyl 3.5L

VE30DE, VG30E, VQ30DE, VQ35DE

------------------

Pathfinder

1987-2004

DX, LE, SE, ST, XE

4 Cyl 2.4L, 6 Cyl 3.0L, 6 Cyl 3.3L, 6 Cyl 3.5L

VG30E, VG30I, VG33E, VQ35DE, Z24I

------------------

Pulsar NX

1987-1990

SE, XE

4 Cyl 1.6L, 4 Cyl 1.8L

CA16D, CA18D, E16, GA16, GA16D

--------------------

Sentra

1987-2003

1.8S, Base, GLE, GXE, S, SE, SE-R, SR, STD, XE

4 Cyl 1.6L, 4 Cyl 1.8L, 4 Cyl 2.0L

E16I, E16S, GA16DE, GA16I, J/GA16DE, J/SR20DE, QG18DE, SR20DE, U/GA16DE, U/SR20DE

------------------

Stanza

1990-1997

GLE, GXE, SE, XE, XE/SE

4 Cyl 2.4L

KA24DE, KA24E

------------------

Van

1987-1990

Base, XE, XE/GXE

4 Cyl 2.4L

Z24I

06-29-2015, 09:57 AM	#1
Apex Eight Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: GA Age: 30 Posts: 265 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	S13 Headlights Won't Go Down Alright, so I know this topic has been brought up many times, and I've searched and found threads on them, but they all seem to end without reaching an absolute conclusion or one that doesn't seem to make sense in my situation. I have a 1989 XE Coupe. My situation: - Headlights are always up - Can manually retract headlights down - Headlights go up if I press the headlight button on the left side of the dash - Headlights do not go back down if I press the headlights button the left side of the dash again - Headlights do not go up if I turn them on using the headlight stalk - The actual lights of the headlights work perfectly fine, both high and low beams, as well as all sidemarkers and both turn signals - I have three headlight relays in the driver-side fuse box in the engine bay shown here: -But as you can see here in this second picture from what I've circled in red, the last two relay plugs do not have the 5th terminal like the first one does. I found this to be strange. Is this normal? If not, how do I go about getting a new terminal in there? - I feel like this isn't normal because all three relays that I have are Nissan 5-blade relays, as shown here: - I should also note that I was messing with the relays one day and pushed the first one down kinda hard and the headlights motors engaged for a split second, and the headlights went down like an inch. That is the first and only time I have seen my headlights go down on their own power. - I've read that people switch out there headlight stalks for a new one and their similar issue is gone, but I've tried this fix: http://forums.nicoclub.com/how-to-fi...s-t280461.html and the it didn't do anything. - If it's normal to only have four terminals on the last two relay plugs then I will go ahead and order a new headlight stalk. Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks! Edit: I found a video that shows exactly the problem I'm having: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URj1g6YupM4 Last edited by Apex Eight; 06-29-2015 at 08:17 PM..

06-30-2015, 12:31 AM	#6
simplytrung Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Lawndale, California 90260 Age: 34 Posts: 32 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Give This a Try Oh! There’s a small blue square relay looking box with a white cap behind your radio area. Sorry I don’t have a picture of it, it has like five stars on the cap. Find it, pop open the top cap and look at the circuits. See if you have a break on the circuit broad, look carefully. I'm sure it's repairable, you can resolder the broken connection. Or Just find someone with the same car and borrow his blue relay to test. Happened to me years ago, my headlights would pop up, but just wouldn't come down. As for the fuse box terminals and relays? No Clue, sorry. Hope this helps, if not whatevers.

07-29-2015, 04:19 PM	#16
rwtf Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Maryville, TN Age: 32 Posts: 830 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Clean the brushes on the motors. __________________

06-15-2019, 10:33 PM	#19
towlie Post Whore! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pacific NorthWest Posts: 2,500 Trader Rating: (11) Feedback Score: 11 reviews	(bumping an old thread i know i know) having the same issue, found some usefull info. bad relay, oem p/n 25230-C9962 If youre cheap like me, you can probably find the relay from a pick and pull from these other vehicles that share the same relay: Nissan 200SX 1995-1999, 1984-1988 Base, GL, GLE, GXE, S, SE, SE-R, SGL, XE 4 Cyl 1.6L, 4 Cyl 1.8L, 4 Cyl 2.0L, 6 Cyl 3.0L CA18ET, CA20E, GA16DE, SR20DE, VG30E -------------- Nissan 240SX 1989-1994 4 Cyl 2.4L KA24D, KA24E -------------- Nissan 300ZX 1984-1996 GL, GLL, SF, SS 6 Cyl 3.0L VD30DTT, VG30, VG30D, VG30DTT, VG30T ------------------ Altima 1993-2001 GLE, GXE, SE, XE 4 Cyl 2.4L KA24DE ----------------------- Axxess 1989-1993 SE, SGL 4 Cyl 2.4L KA24E -------------------- Hardbody Pickup (D21) 1986-1994 DX, GST, SST, ST, STD 4 Cyl 2.4L, 6 Cyl 3.0L KA24E, VG30, VG30E, Z24 ---------------------- Hardbody Pickup (D21U) 1995-1997 Long Body SE 6 Cyl 3.0L VG30E -------------- Maxima 1985-2003 DX, GLE, GXE, GXEL, SE, SEL, SES, SL/GL 6 Cyl 3.0L, 6 Cyl 3.5L VE30DE, VG30E, VQ30DE, VQ35DE ------------------ Pathfinder 1987-2004 DX, LE, SE, ST, XE 4 Cyl 2.4L, 6 Cyl 3.0L, 6 Cyl 3.3L, 6 Cyl 3.5L VG30E, VG30I, VG33E, VQ35DE, Z24I ------------------ Pulsar NX 1987-1990 SE, XE 4 Cyl 1.6L, 4 Cyl 1.8L CA16D, CA18D, E16, GA16, GA16D -------------------- Sentra 1987-2003 1.8S, Base, GLE, GXE, S, SE, SE-R, SR, STD, XE 4 Cyl 1.6L, 4 Cyl 1.8L, 4 Cyl 2.0L E16I, E16S, GA16DE, GA16I, J/GA16DE, J/SR20DE, QG18DE, SR20DE, U/GA16DE, U/SR20DE ------------------ Stanza 1990-1997 GLE, GXE, SE, XE, XE/SE 4 Cyl 2.4L KA24DE, KA24E ------------------ Van 1987-1990 Base, XE, XE/GXE 4 Cyl 2.4L Z24I

06-29-2015, 03:21 PM	#2
Ben10 Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2011 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 74 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	It should have all five prongs. Check a FSM and see what wires go into those slots. Most likely that's your issue, if not, swap out your headlight/turn signal switch. Mine went bad and didn't let the headlights fold down.

07-01-2015, 01:43 AM	#8
simplytrung Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Lawndale, California 90260 Age: 34 Posts: 32 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Sounds crazy I know. I mean the last place I would look for a headlight relay would be behind my radio. Just try swapping the relays first, or at least pop the cap and inspect the circuit board. Remove the radio, it's behind there somewhere. Small slim blue relay box with a white cap, it's wrapped in tape I think. There was a thread on NICO with pictures and everything, but that thread no longer exist. Keep us updated dude!

07-01-2015, 01:36 PM	#9
Apex Eight Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: GA Age: 30 Posts: 265 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Sooooo, I got the headlight switch in today annnnnnnd... It fucking worked! Everything works perfectly and it's nice having a new switch that has a much better feel with turning the lights and using the turn signals. I guess my old switch was shot even after cleaning up the connections. So yeah, if anyone has the problems I was having, get a new switch! I got mine from Amazon for pretty cheap. Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00 I wouldn't bother getting a used once since most people charge like $40 for them anyway and you run the risk of having it go bad, so yeah. Thanks to everyone who chimed in!

07-01-2015, 09:39 PM	#10
Apex Eight Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: GA Age: 30 Posts: 265 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Turns out there is another thing... When pressing the headlight button on the left of the dash, the headlights will go up and down with no problem. It's perfect. However, when turning the headlights on and off, they will go up just fine, but sometimes the driver side headlight will not go down. It'll eventually go down, but sometimes it'll take an extra second, sometimes five. The passenger side headlight never does this. Did I get a defective headlight switch? It's a weird, intermittent issue. Maybe one of my relays is on its way out?

07-15-2015, 11:42 AM	#13
Apex Eight Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: GA Age: 30 Posts: 265 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Alright so just when I thought I had solved this issue, the driver side headlight is once again stuck in the up position. I tried "syncing" then again with the motor knobs but the issue still persists ;-;

07-15-2015, 01:13 PM	#14
blkvrtswp Zilvia Addict Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NY Posts: 691 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Your motor is bad - the contacts or windings are not 100%. Mine acted exactly the same and replacing the motor (15 min job) finally fixed it. I was tricked for years in thinking "well, it goes up and sometimes down so the motor can't be bad". It was.

07-29-2015, 08:28 PM	#17
blkvrtswp Zilvia Addict Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NY Posts: 691 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Yeah, I didn't try that because I had a spare motor available. But that certainly might do the trick too.

07-29-2015, 08:37 PM	#18
Apex Eight Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: GA Age: 30 Posts: 265 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	So just unscrew the top of the motor, take out the wound-up copper wire part and clean it?