asweeney

Ok, I have posted in the past about my analog dash gauges not working anymore. Well I kept driving it because the help I got was just to technical for me...I figured I would just guess on the gas and only ran out once. That is besides the point...a couple weeks ago I started noticing when I would get to work that just one headlight was on, dim but it was on. So I would get in my car and flip them on and then back off. It would then go off. This started happening more often. Well one morning I went out to leave for work and it was totally dead. I figured it was the same issue that it was, if I did not drive it for about 4 days it would die, more so in the colder weather. So I took my Z32 and attempted to jump it. It actually killed the Z32. But before it killed it I tried starting my Z31 and the headlights popped up and the wipers started going to town. Mind you..I had not turned either of the switches on. So I hooked up my truck trying to jump my Z31 and it would not charge. I gave up and that one headlight stayed on until the battery just died and it has been sitting there ever since.
Some have said that it is the ECU. I have no clue but would like some suggestions on what to start looking at. Sorry it is so long!

Thanks
April

asweeney

Is this question to hard or what?

SpeciallySpiked

You should try to trace the wires with the headlight to see what is going on. It could be shorting or someone could have rewired everything to hell. It's not something common so you're going to have to go to town with a ohm meter.

SloppyGoat

It's most likely the headlight switch. Very common for them to go bad and cause everything you described. If electrical help is too technical for you, I don't know what you plan to do about it. You either need to fix it or replace it. The ECU should have nothing to do with it.

asweeney

so even with the wipers coming on like they did it could be the headlight switch? I will have to check it out...

Thanks

April

SloppyGoat

I missed the WW thing, actually. It could be two separate problems. I can't remember what the difference is with the controls on earlier models. I believe it has a different WW control than 87-89. Both are pretty notorious for having connection or shorting problems, due to the contacts just getting worn and/or broken. This might be helpful with the headlights...

http://www2.zhome.com:81/ZCMnL/84HowTo/84hlswitch.html