headlight switch wiring

[kenmataya]

OK, here's a tricky one, i have a 70 240Z, i may or may not have the correct headlight switch ( see attached ) but i have not headlights now, but if i connect the white/red to the green/yellow next to it the head lights work. my question is, what should the white/red wire connect to? (my schematic doesn't show a white/red wire to the headlight switch )

[5thhorsemann]

I would start (as I did) by opening up the switch and inspecting the springs, spring caps and the switch tabs and terminals. Worry about the wiring after you have a known good switch.

[EScanlon]

What schematic are you working with? The one I have shows a W/R wire to each the Turn Signal AND the Headlight circuits.

In fact, the W/R wire is the direct connection to the Alternator and Fuse Box.

Check the connections at the combination switch as it seems one is crossed.

FWIW

E

[EScanlon]

I'll differ on opening up the switch first. Lots more to go wrong with that approach. Check the wiring first before you start disassembly, oftentimes that's where the problem will be found.

E

[EScanlon]

Looking at your pic again, you might want to investigate that lone Black wire right below the W/R wire with no end. That may be the ground for the whole Comb Sw. Assy. which is required for the Headlight Circuit.

E

[5thhorsemann]

Good eye E. The reason I would have opened the switch for an inspectios was the corrosion on the metal parts in the pick.

Edited September 22, 2012 by 5thhorsemann

[SteveJ]

OK, here's a tricky one, i have a 70 240Z, i may or may not have the correct headlight switch ( see attached ) but i have not headlights now, but if i connect the white/red to the green/yellow next to it the head lights work. my question is, what should the white/red wire connect to? (my schematic doesn't show a white/red wire to the headlight switch )

What schematic are you using? IIRC the supplement for the 71 has the white/red identified. It's about as close as you'll find for a 70 FSM online. You can download it from http://www.xenons30.com/reference.

[EScanlon]

I agree they do show some age, but in my experience, it takes a LOT before the interior of the switch gets bad enough to stop the juice from flowing.

You usually get intermittent and dim long before total outage.

E

[kenmataya]

thanks for all the input! switch does work, there's just no juice in the white/red wire. it looks like the switch is from a later model car, ( mine is VIN 5535 ), so i found the correct schematic - and yes it should wire to the ammeter and fuse box! no idea what that black wire is, but its connected directly to the white/red, so its not a ground!

[EScanlon]

The black wire is CONNECTED to the W/R ??? That must be a PO re-wire of some sort.

Datsun used Black exclusively for the ground circuit. That is, you see a black wire and you know it connects to ground.

I'd double check that.

E

[kenmataya]

the wiring looks to be a bit of a kluge... picked up some 16GA wire, and i'll hook it to the fuse box.

[SteveJ]

Don't add one bad kludge to another. The fuses are downstream from the switch. That is to say that the switch is between the battery and the fuse box. Please download the reference I mentioned before. Look at the circuits going to the steering column and ask questions. Several of us have studied the wiring diagrams in detail and are willing to help.