Here is my problem
80 n/a 5 speed

1. 4 ways do not work. the have never worked in the 5 months I've had the car.

2. blinkers work 95% of the time without issues.

3. when I have issues with the blinkers, they come on, but do not "blink" just a steady light. if I turn off the blink, and try again, about 75% of the time they work like normal.

If the right blinker does not work, the left will some times and vice vesa. there does not seem to be a reason for this strange behavior.

I believe that the blinkers and 4 way work off the same relay. If the relay is bad, would it allow the blinkers to work?
Fuse is fine.
All bulbs are fine.


Any ideas where else to look before I spend money?

 

I've never had a problem with blinker fluid in my '83. Although I WAS running out of headlight fluid... But once I topped it off, they were fine again. Might have put a bit too much, though, because now when I turn my brights on, my dash lights turn off.

These cars (from firsthand experience) have a lot of electrical gremlins. If you don't want to start throwing money at it, get ready to spend time with your wiring diagram testing every one.

 

Replace the Hazzard light switch "Very commen problem". I can't recall what wires I twisted together in the switch but It did work for a temporary fix. "Turn signals worked with no key" . Should cost 10 bucks at either a salvage yard or ebay. . . Buy a few! 3 cars 2 of mine had the exact issue. Problem solved!

 

Get yourself some of this stuff at your local auto parts store. Should run you about $12 but it'll solve your problem!



In all seriousness though check out your hazard switch and take a look at all of the wiring for the lights in the FSM if you haven't already. Then trace the problem down as best you can. Got a multimeter?

 

Take apart your blinker, headlight assembly. Usually there are burnt spots from 20 + years or more. There is a writeup on here. Might even be a sticky,that Nismopick created. That should help you out. Good luck man.

 

https://www.zdriver.com/forums/240z-...noh-moh-22117/
This may help you, may not. I know it focuses more on headlight dimming problems. But maybe it could help you get on the right path.

 

Did you check the hazard light switch yet?

 

Not yet. Its on the schedule for Saturday. No time, and everything is working fine now.

Its such a intermittent issue its a pain

 

Well that should be the first thing you do check out for sure. It's the most likely cause!

 

Change the flasher unit. It's under 5 bux and can cause all the same symptoms. Get 2 cause the signals and hazards have seperate ones.

 

Next time it doesn't work turn your hazard light switch of and on - two second test.

 

Also make sure your hazard switch is all the way off. I don't just mean off to the point the hazards aren't blinking, I mean push that lever all the way back.

I had that issue and it worked for me. However, I will be replacing the switch soon.

 

This weekend I replaced the blinker relay, but the hazard relay is a special order part.

I also removed the housing around the steering wheel, and cleaned as much of the 32 years of dirt and dust that i could.

as of today, the blinkers are working fine, but still no flashers.


also, I found a small light that is above the ignition switch. replaced that burned out bulb, but I have no idea what powers that light, or how to turn it on. any ideas on that one?

 

That light just comes on so you can find where to put your key in the dark. I believe it just comes on when the rest of your dash lights are on IIRC. It's been a while though, that doesn't work in my current Z, the last time I saw one of those in action was on my red one back in the summer of 09. Pretty positive there's no way to turn that on by itself

 

Yeah, it is a light so you can see your ignition, where you put the key. Mine is a custom purple color, to match the rest of my interior lighting. And it turns on with the dash lights. Mine works perfectly.

As for your flashers. Maybe your flasher relay itself is burned out. Try connecting your turn signal one in place of the hazards. And see if they work. If so, you found your problem. If not, another thing eliminated.