tail lights won't go on ... replaced bulbs & fuses
 

tail lights won't go on ... replaced bulbs, checked fuse (good) replaced anyway ... turn signals work, brake lights work, hazards work ... but tail lights (running lights) and the 300zx turbo light if there is one doesn't work ... I was looking at the service manual and it shows that for the 1986 gll model there is a special tail light sensor could that be it? or could it be one of the fusable links?

You replaced w/1157 (2-prong) bulbs?
If you're using the right bulbs .. you might want to check for corrosion in the sockets.
Or lose wire .. either at the socket or the taillight sensor.

Pic below shows the different taillight sensor(s)


And .. 300ZX turbo reflector ... doesn't light up.


http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...sensensors.jpg

Have you used a 12v test light to probe and determine if you have fire in your wires? Get one from Harbor Freight, or any el-cheap-o tool retailer, for less than $5. Owning and using one is a must for tracking down the electrical gremlins.

I used 1157 bulbs ... I have never seen the "300zx turbo" panel light up ... i see there is a some wires and a rubber gromet that goes into it thats diff. then the other turn bulb connectors ... I have a volt meter with probes ... what's the best way or where do i test? with or without car/battery on or connected? .... i have the purple guy in the picture i see it in the hatch area ... do i just replace it or test for contunity?

get copy of 86 fsm .. it should have a write up on testing the taillightsensor

got one ... i didn't see it in there ... I'll look again

whats the 86 fsm????

Sounds like I could use one.....

Factory Service Manual

You were kidding, right?

A Haynes manual is a little less expensive, and easier to obtain. It works quite well for the home (and many shop) mechanics.

i got the haynes manual at half price books for $8 and I downloaded the 86 and 84 FSM in pdf form from car fiche.com site for free and i print out the pages i need for whatever job i'm doing to take to my car when I'm working on it. ... beats paying $18 bucks for haynes at autobone and $50-$70 or so for FSM in print

In the 84FSM .. the taillight sensor is in EL .. just before the bulb specifications. Maybe the 86FSM is organized in similar fashion?

the turbo z thingy just holds the license plate lights which is why it has wires going to it.

so it never lights up?? ... that would be cool if it did maybe i'll fabricate the back of it and add a light that whould be cool

Someone mod'd the reflector to just allow the 300ZX TURBO to light up. They had to do some minor modification to the backside of the reflector to get that to work.

http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/djkemp/Panel1.jpg

I"ll have to see if I can find the url where the information is ..

http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/djkemp/mods22.htm

Something I haven't "yet" tried out myself ..

i like that a lot--looks cool. i always wondered why that did not do that--after all----lites are better than reflectors.