I am the owner of a 1984 nissan/datsun 300zx. When I first got it, it was mechanically sound. Then one night I woke up and looked out the window and the left side headlight was on, but the pop up remained down. I went out and shut it off. Roughly 1 hr later the same single headlight was on but the popup was down again, all this happening, obviously, when the car is turned off. It did this repeatedly till i said screw it and left it on and of course the next day the battery was shot and didnt start till I jumped it and took it to the mechanic. He "fixed it". It was sitting at his shop for 2 days and didnt turn on. I started it up drove home and it was fine. Went to bed that night and what do ya know. The SOB TURNED ON AGAIN! JUST THE ONE LEFT SIDE LIGHT! PLEASE HELP. I cant keep throwing money away when they didnt even fix the problem. If anyone knows whats going on, please help. Thanks.

Believe it or not, bizarre things such as these start happening when the headlight switch in the car starts to go bad. Sometimes lights won't come on...sometimes they won't go off...sometimes they come on independent of each other...sometimes one pops up and one doesn't...you get the idea. Check out your switch (the little turny knob on the end of your left stalk).

how much would it cost to replace such a thing?

No clue. Part of me says "not much cuz it's a small part" but part of me says "a bit cuz it seems like a lot of work". I really don't know all that's involved with it so I can't say for sure.

Sorry man.

djs87
Oh my god, I have the same problem with my 85 turbo 300ZX!!!!
I haven't had it looked at yet, but the way I "fixed" the problem is to switch on the high beams after I turn the car off. Swear to god, it worked for me, the headlight (the left one also!!!) has never popped back on since I started doing that. Try this and let me know how it works for you.
Wow, I guess this is a serious defect with this year (bodystyle) of the Z, glad to know I'm not the only one having this problem!
Good luck! :grinno:

Things of this nature are common with the Z31 from what I understand cuz the switches start going bad which makes the lights start acting possessed.

*is just scrolling down the page when a flicker of light catches his eye...



...there...in the sig...


...did the headlight...in the picture...just blink....?



OH GOD NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

ill give the bright thingy a shot and if itdoesnt work then ill replace some switches. thanks a ton guys, Ill let you know if anything works.

yeah, let me know it it works for you. I'm sure it will. And don't forget to turn off your brights before you go anywhere!!!!!!!!

Cool man. Hope I helped.

NICE! The little headlight trick worked. I will probably get the light switch changed when i get some spare cash. Thanks again guys. I appreciate your help.

cool, djs87, glad i could actually help someone!!!!!!

So I guess Karen is our genious? Good-looking out!

Im obviously not the "geneious". I cant even spell it right. =P but anyway, karens our genious.

thank you, thank you!!

BTW here is my beast-

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/190205zcar-med.JPG

Sorry she is so dirty, I haven't touched the car in several months! My poor Z.......... :(

its still looks awesome as do all old model z's.

Damn...I get no love... :grinno:....... :p