240z Electrical

[rif222]

I tried to change my first thread, but was unable to do so. Therefore a new thread. When my lights are on in my 72z, whether car is running or not, and I turn on the turn signals all my lights flicker with ever flash of the turn signals. I've replaced the voltage regulator,o/e, put an extra ground wire on the altenator and cleaned up other ground wires. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Bill.

[beandip]

Send a PM to escanlon . I think he can be of help here . Gary Since you are new here PM is a private message. By the way welcome to the club . Gary

[EScanlon]

Have you checked your battery?

Right off the top of my head, what you're referring to sounds more like not enough current to support both turn signals and headlights.

That could be as simple as a battery going dead, the cables going to the battery posts having corrosion build up between post and clamp, battery ground not making proper contact with body. Lastly a voltage regulator or fusible link that is beginning to fail.

Try the easy things first, and then post your results.

HTH

E

[mschwe@frontier]

Have you checked for a ground wire from the body/sub-frame to the engine?

Some of the Z's had a ground strap between the tail of the transmission and the rear transmission support. It may not have been replaced when the last owner replaced the clutch. The ground wire on the battery that goes to the engine block should also have a small 10 gauge wire (pigtail) that should be attached to the firewall.

[beandip]

I don't know if this will help in this situation , but I ran a 10gage wire from the valve cover back to the pig tail ground that attaches to the firewall . I used the valve cover bolt by #6 cylinder. Make sure the ground wires you have are making contact at both ends . Some times paint will not allow a good ground. Gary

[zman112233]

I don't know if it would help you but I was having some weird problems kinda like that... burns out someone put the wrong amp fuse in the fuse block. Put new fueses in and my problems went away.

[MikeW]

I don't know if it would help you but I was having some weird problems kinda like that... burns out someone put the wrong amp fuse in the fuse block. Put new fueses in and my problems went away.

I'm not sure I understand this. What size fuse was there and what should it have been? If it was too small it would blow under normal use and nothing would work. If it was too big it wouldn't be protecting you properly in the case of a high-resistance short.

[zman112233]

I think some of them were 30 Amp where there should have been 10 or 20's. (And I tested them, they weren't blown) Once I replaced the incorrect fuses everything started working properly. (lights flickering, lights dim, on headlight was dim, other strange occurances)

[rif222]

I have tried everthing suggested, and still have the problem. Thanks for your responses. Bill.

[geezer]

Bill - Have you checked the condition of all the light sockets and changed out the bulbs. A corroded socket or bad (not nessessarily burnt) bulb can cause this. If you have ruled that out, your going to have to isolate the system and start doing continuity checks. Hope you have a wiring diagram.

[onuthin]

I had a lot of electrical problems with my 70 model.I tried everything I could think of .The lights would go dim,Blinkers worked sometimes,brake lights on and off. Everything was intermitent.After changing out turn signal switch,fuse box,hazzard switch,plus hours and hours of checking I was about to give up and replace the harnesses.I didn,t. Almost a year later my dash cover started squeaking so I pushed it down and every thing worked a while.It did it again and when I pushed on the dash cap everything worked. I checked and where the hazzard switch hole was cut out it was holding the switch halfway sometimes.With most everything going thru the hazzard switch I fixed the dash cap and everything now works.

[SteveJ]

My suggestion is to modify the headlight circuit to use relays. That will take a load off the wiring and your alternator.