I am new to the forum,and I have a 87 turbo 300zx auto. For some reason my tail lights and dash lights won't turn off, when i take the key out. I am forced to having to disconnect the neg.terminal everytime i park it for a long period of time so my battery doesn't die. Also my fuel guage is not working,but the low fuel light does work. Please help its very annoying.

 

For the lights staying on: Remove the combo switch and check to see if the contact for the tail/dash lights is stuck in the closed position. Those lights can be operated even with the car off so if the switch is stuck closed they wont turn off til you find an alternative means of removing power (disconnecting battery).

 

Im new to the 300zx,wheres the combo switch and how do i get it off.

 

The combo switch is just another word for the headlight/wiper switch on your steering column. Once it's off you'll want to have a look at the backside where there's a cover over the contacts. Taking the switch off shouldn't be too difficult. I cant tell you specifics as I'm not super familiar with the interior of the Z31.

 

had the same problem with my 85 300zx A justlst year, There is a rubber piece thats the size of a quarter, it is between the break pedal and the brake light switch. Go to your local Nissan Dealer and order the part, it shouldn't be more than 10 bucks in which I payed. also I certainly hope yer thin enough to fit under the dash to look LOL, I had to get my tight *** buddy down there cause my fat *** wouldn't fit ! When mine went I noticed a blue rubber piece split in 1/2. Thats it. it is between the top part of the break pedal and the tail light switch .

 

Hi all I live in Sydney Australia and have a 1984 Z31 300ZX with a VG20ET on it.

Everything has been working fine until one night after I went for a short drive the above problem occured.

My parkers (tail lights) and dash lights are continuously staying on even when car is fully shut off. I have checked all fuses and they are all fine. I have also fully disconnected all wires coming from the combination switch.

So the only way I can turn the lights off is just by unplugging the battery. Obviously quite a hassal.

I would really appreciate it if anyone knows what the problem is or can make some recommendations as I need to fix this asap.

Taking suggestions off other users I have checked the fuses, combo switch, brake switch under pedal and am now stuck.

 

Can any of you help MrX? I know all about the problems with the tail lights staying on, but not a combination of the tail and dash lights at the same time. I know it has to be an electrical problem (possibly a relay), but I'm out of ideas at this point, and he's already tried to remedy the previous potential problems mentioned. Does anyone have another possible solution to his problem?

 

there is this sticky in the z31 section. this may be your issue.

 

Ohh, I'm starting to see the difference in relation here - tail lights (running lights) vs. brake lights. That would explain the dash and parking lights staying on. Thanks for the link, Entropy. Please let us know whether that solves your problem, MrX. Feedback helps everyone with this same issue, so it's always greatly appreciated - positive or negative.

 

Wow that was a quick reply. Based on that sticky looks like it is talking about combo switch/turn signal.

I completly disconnected all the wires going to the switch so it should have been fully off? Then I reconnected battery to find that it did not solve my problem.

I was really hoping someone here could help me.

 

Sorry that it didn't help you, MrX. Let us harp on it for another day, since it appears to be a very odd problem. Hopefully one of us can come up with a possible solution.

 

in the back on the pass tail light there is a little white or purple box that controls the lights also . I have had a few of these cause the same problems

 

This is the link you want ...

http://z31.com/repairs/brakepedal/

 

the fact that his cluster lights stay on as well would lead me to believe that your link is not his (only) problem.

 

I know its not the brake pedal as when i put brakes on it activates the brake lights.

 

If the rubber stoppers are not there .. the lights will stay on ...

 

Fuel gage not working could be unrelated to the lights on problem. If the sender is bad (and they do often) you get erroneous or no reading but it seems the low fuel light always works. I went thru two senders out of junkers on my 85T and finally bought a new one from Performance Nissan. Only like $70. Now my gage actually tells me how much fuel is in the tank.