Hedlamp won't retract

I have a 1991 Nissan 240SX hatchback which recently developed a "tick" in which the driver's headlamp would not always retract. Both go up but only one goes down. It used to go down intermittently but now it won't go down at all, and I have to retract it manually. Obviously the motor works or it would not even go up, or so I thought. Any idea what I should look for. Bare in mind I have owned it since 1993, and NO aftermarket mods have been made.

humm , i actually have this problem with mine , tricky thing is , the wiring for the headlamp goes throught the radio and all lighting equipement , mine will just close when i shut off engine (shows how messed up it can get)

Bad grounds on either motor or switchs must be looked at , voltmeter and ohmmeter is a cheap and most usefull tool to get to check power and grounds to your motor/switch/grounds.

My best advice is , get to any school where they teach auto mechanics and ask to get your cars lighting wiring diagram, they'll gladly give it to you. i have it on paper , but unfortunatly i have no scanner .

best of luck bub

How can you make the lights go down when you just turnoff the headlights? lol I have to turn off the parking lights also to get them to go down. :-S Sorry for jacking the thread.

read your wiring schematics , you'll figure it out

(note , my park lights must be off too in order for my beams to go down)

That much I knew... symantics

humm , i actually have this problem with mine , tricky thing is , the wiring for the headlamp goes throught the radio and all lighting equipement , mine will just close when i shut off engine (shows how messed up it can get)

Bad grounds on either motor or switchs must be looked at , voltmeter and ohmmeter is a cheap and most usefull tool to get to check power and grounds to your motor/switch/grounds.

My best advice is , get to any school where they teach auto mechanics and ask to get your cars lighting wiring diagram, they'll gladly give it to you. i have it on paper , but unfortunatly i have no scanner .

best of luck bub

So did you figure yours out?

never had time to do it and sa long as they close when i turn off the engine im happy.
But i have the wiring diagram at home , if you want i'll try and find someone with a scanner so u can get it

hit me back on the subject

never had time to do it and sa long as they close when i turn off the engine im happy.
But i have the wiring diagram at home , if you want i'll try and find someone with a scanner so u can get it

hit me back on the subject


That would be grand. Can't hurt to know where all the grounds are and stuff at least. i was thinking it might be some kind of relay or such too. You can email to [email protected]

Thanks in advance.

could easily be , relay box for the headlight motor is right under the air filter box *if you still have one that is* like i said , if u have an ohmmeter , relays are real easy to check.

Usualy are 4 pins , and they go by pair , if 2 outta 2 pair's have continuity , its a good sign that the problem isnt from there (then again , it might be , but only in some rare case's)
anyhow , ill try and find those diagram's

you probably just need a new relay, its in the fuse box, its one of the bigger ones. it happened to me before.
-tim

you probably just need a new relay, its in the fuse box, its one of the bigger ones. it happened to me before.
-tim
That would be excellent, is it in the main fuse box or some auxiliary one?

Tim

when you look under your hood its to the left right next to your battery.

its one of the big ones in the right of the fuse box. let me know if you have any trouble.
tim