all kinds of light problems...diagrams, common problems, solutions?

[91rtstealth]

ok..i just got a hold of a 1993 pathfinder with a few problems...here is what I am working with...

 

The only lights that work on the front of the car are the passenger side low beam, and both the drivers and passenger side markers....

so..lights that do not work: driver's low and high beam, passenger high beam, both turn signals and both fog lamps...

 

so far this is what I have concluded...

 

TURN SIGNALS: I believe the turn signals do not work because the assemblies are completely rusted, therefor I don't think the light bulbs are making contact with the terminals...I am getting a ground and pulsing 12v at each lights...i have an old nissan pickup with the same lights...i'm going to pop one of them in there to see if it works...now....the only turn signals are the ones in the bumper, right? Or are the side markets supposed to blink as well?

 

HEAD LAMPS: The Driver's side lamp is getting a ground, and 12v for high, and 12v for low...however, I can only get 12v on a volt meter...with a test light, the light bulb in the test light BARELY lights up which leads me to believe it is a current issue, not voltage...i don't think there is enough current to light up the actual head lamp...

 

now for the passenger side...the low beam works...i'm getting a ground, 12v for lowbeam, and 8v for high...has anyone had any problems like this? It seems to me like wire corrosion or something...also, could it be a relay? I can't seem to hear any relays clicking for the low or high beams...and I have NO clue where any of them would be since I can't hear them...any ideas? where are the relays? are there any common wire corrosion areas in these trucks?

 

FOG LAMPS: I have no idea what's up with them..and i'm not real concerned about them..unless they are the culprit to this problem...

 

 

any clue as to what the heck is goin on here? hah..

[Kittamaru]

The lights don't use relays AFAIK. That's a common upgrade people like to do to make them more effective/efficient, as the power goes to the switch on your wheel then to the lights, dropping volts and current along the way.

[88pathoffroad]

Check the headlight switch first. Very common problem.

[91rtstealth]

The lights don't use relays AFAIK. That's a common upgrade people like to do to make them more effective/efficient, as the power goes to the switch on your wheel then to the lights, dropping volts and current along the way.

 

yeah..i did some research after I posted my topic and realized this...this makes sense why I wasn't hearing any relays..haha...that's a really dumb design...it's no wonder that a common problem with these vehicles is corroded wires and light switch prongs.....so....what you're saying is that I could simply go to the light switch in the steering column...and find 4 separate wires (low beam driver side, high beam driver side, low beam passenger, high beam passenger) and simply run new wires....also, would they be the same color as the wires at the light harnesses? that would be much easier if they were..hah..

[91rtstealth]

Check the headlight switch first. Very common problem.

 

yeah...i will do that first...is it likely that the light switch could also be causing the fogs to not work right as well?

[88pathoffroad]

No, the fogs should be separate. Hey, fill out your profile so we know what you drive, etc.

 

Fogs should have their own relay either on the fenderwell under the hood on the pass. side or at the firewall, same side. Single black Bosch relay with brightly-colored wiring. Purple, yellow, green, black. Check the relay and see if it works first. Check grounds for the fogs next. Check bulbs after that.

 

To upgrade headlights with a relay you don't have to replace a buttload of wiring, just use the low beam wire on one headlight to turn on a relay which should then send power from the battery directly to the headlights. Take a bit of splicing but it's worth it. If you're unsure on how to wire things in or use relays, check here: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/relays/relays.html

[91rtstealth]

No, the fogs should be separate. Hey, fill out your profile so we know what you drive, etc.

 

Fogs should have their own relay either on the fenderwell under the hood on the pass. side or at the firewall, same side. Single black Bosch relay with brightly-colored wiring. Purple, yellow, green, black. Check the relay and see if it works first. Check grounds for the fogs next. Check bulbs after that.

 

To upgrade headlights with a relay you don't have to replace a buttload of wiring, just use the low beam wire on one headlight to turn on a relay which should then send power from the battery directly to the headlights. Take a bit of splicing but it's worth it. If you're unsure on how to wire things in or use relays, check here: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/relays/relays.html

 

yeah..i checked the fog relay..it clicks..i'm going to replace it anyways since it's only a bosch relay...i have tons of them laying around..

 

it's funny that many people on here use the relay to re-wire the headlights..i was thinking of doing the exact same thing, but I didn't know if it would work since wires at the headlights barely have enough current to light up a test light...however, it doesn't take much current to trigger a relay, so i'll probably end up trying that first...seems easy enough since the battery is right there...i'll just use one relay for high and one relay for low beam....but first i'm gonna check that switch out..the leads are probably full of crap...

 

question though..will i find the same wire colors at the switch as the ones at the light bulb harnesses? if it's that easy, i my as well run new wires straight to the lights from the switch...

[5523Pathfinder]

Heres a factory wiring diagram if it helps...

 

[87pathy]

change the switch..

 

that is EXACTLY what mine did

[91rtstealth]

change the switch..

 

that is EXACTLY what mine did

 

 

really...the fog lights didn't work as well?

[91rtstealth]

bada-bing...it was the light switch...i took it apart, pressed on the terminals and the lights would come on then...

 

i just tapped a trigger for low and high beam from the passenger side head light harness and put 2 relays in....the harness gets 12 v, but hardly gets current...but it's enough to trigger the relay....

 

gonna get a few switches from the junk yard to fix it right...cuz who knows how long til the switch craps out completely...

 

thanks everyone...

 

now just gotta get the fogs and turn signals working...

[jpawela]

Congrats on the figuring out the headlights. My fogs don't work either. My relay clicks and the switch lights up...but nothing.

I also have issues with the license plate lights. Replaced the bulbs and that didn't fix it. Fuses look good. Any ideas?

[edicer2]

have you tried testing for power where the fog lights connect? thats the first thing i would try maybe the connection where the 2 ends meet is corroded. As far as the blinkers go pop them open and see if they are all rusty. Mine didnt work on my old pathfinder either and i ended up soaking them with wd40 becasue the bulbs were so rusted in there i couldnt get them out and it ended up working after that. I sitll have mine if you want them. Also if you need the switch i have one ill sell you! im parting out my 93 pathfinder so i have alot of stuff left if you need anything else

Edited December 14, 2008 by edicer2

[91rtstealth]

have you tried testing for power where the fog lights connect? thats the first thing i would try maybe the connection where the 2 ends meet is corroded. As far as the blinkers go pop them open and see if they are all rusty. Mine didnt work on my old pathfinder either and i ended up soaking them with wd40 becasue the bulbs were so rusted in there i couldnt get them out and it ended up working after that. I sitll have mine if you want them. Also if you need the switch i have one ill sell you! im parting out my 93 pathfinder so i have alot of stuff left if you need anything else

 

i didn't even think to look at the license plate lights...i don't know if they work really..

 

as far as the fogs go..i haven't even gotten there yet...the headlights were my first concern...next thing i'm gonna do is work on the turn signals..at least then I can get it inspected...i might not even fix the fogs..unless I get bored..hah..however, my fog light switch does not like up, but the relay does click...that's as far as I got...