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71 240z taillight fix

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Old 03-12-2014, 03:01 PM
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71 240z taillight fix

having some electrical trouble and removal issues of parts..

I have no brake light or blinker on my right rear..
and im trying to pull out the left rear light because it is busted up.

im stuck about halfway in this project.

how does one remove and safely replace the metal rear panel holding the lights from coming out?

I got everything unbolted, left rear light is ready to come out after that metal panel is gone.

asides that.. Im still scratching my head as to y my lights don't work right on the right rear.

the running lights r all fine. bulbs all checked out good, no power for brake or blinker on the right.. didn't check if blinkers in front were both working.
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Old 03-13-2014, 03:57 AM
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Hazard Switch – Brake Light – Turn Signal Circuit Analysis | Fiddling With Z Cars

Do your hazard lights work? Do you know how to use a multimeter? Are the rivets under the hatch still holding the panel on?
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Old 03-14-2014, 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve260Z74
Hazard Switch – Brake Light – Turn Signal Circuit Analysis | Fiddling With Z Cars

Do your hazard lights work? Do you know how to use a multimeter? Are the rivets under the hatch still holding the panel on?
hazard lights do work.. got a multimeter but not very knowledgable about them, yes rivets still holding the panels on. I poked the centers out and tried to carefully lift up but It started to bend and I didn't want to kink or damage anything. soo Im basically still stuck :/
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Old 03-14-2014, 02:07 PM
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Okay, so if the hazards work, but the brake light & blinker don't work, the problem is probably at the turn signal switch.
Turn Signal Repair | Fiddling With Z Cars
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Old 03-14-2014, 03:03 PM
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Make sure the rivets are completely drilled out and the licsense plate and light bar are removed.
The signals won't flash if you have low voltage going to the flasher. It is just under the steering column. Check voltage to it. Mine was 10.5 volts even with a full charge. The signals work if the engine is running however. Test the brake switch on the brake pedal. Set your multimeter to the position that makes a beep when you touch the leads together. This is continuity. Touch the leads to each terminal on it when disconnected. It should beep when you push on the brake.
It is important that you noobs get back to us with your results so others can learn and not have an open post. Good luck.
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Old 03-16-2014, 11:09 AM
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The tailight panels have plastic pop rivets unless they have been removed before. The bottom portion of the panel is held in by these clips, see pic. The inner panel is held by plastic rivets that you just push the centers out and pull the head out. You can get replacements from motorsportauto.com
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Old 03-17-2014, 06:39 PM
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today I popped out the rivets holding the metal tail light panel on, removed license plate bar, and replaced the taillight.. used the best of the two rubber light gaskets that I had. Then I replaced the panel and plate.. looks good now. thankyou for the steps on how to do this.

I still need to see why my blinkers don't work right.. il dig into that hopefully tomorrow.. today I replaced my clutch master instead of playing with electrical.
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Old 04-07-2014, 03:54 PM
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...many days and hours later.. found out why my lights dont work accordingly... not only was my stock wiring tampered with by previous owner(s) , but i ended up discovering that my turn signal switch is bad. thought i had a broken wire somewhere, but it all checked out ok all the way up to the steering column.. while i was in there i got new flasher relays as the old original ones were sluggish,.. much happier now with the wiring. also modified the accessory power outlet to only be powered once igintion is in on position, and put a inline fuse to keep it safe. also got my heater panel to light up again.. things r lookin up
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Old 04-07-2014, 04:21 PM
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Cheers

Nice work, I was hanging on the edge of my seat waiting for a solution, wouldn't you know it is the switch, multi-switches on these cars can be a bit iffy. Glad to see you figured it out

Cheers
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