Help! Headlamp motors

[pulsar]

ok, I was trying to align my headlight covers to the hood & fender, and I was using the retractor switch make them go up and down. Anywase, as I was hitting the switch, they stopped working. They were stuck in the up position, I can manually move the lights down if the button is in the off position, and when I hit it to come up or turn my lights on they work and come up but won't go down!!! :help:

I checked all fuses in dash and tryed switching a few relays but I have no clue.

[Blood]

i know the cure .. plz read PM from me

[pulsar]

I did everything you told me to do Silvexa, but still no go...
Everything seems to be fine??? I'm thinking (from looking at wiring diagrams from different nissan cars with similar headlights)
that my problem lies in the headlight timer, but I have no clue where that would be located.
Does anyone know where the headlight timer is??

[turbo18exa]

check te relays near the battery as they all have something to do with the lights is suggest you have someone turn lights on and feel which relay clicks when they do then swap the relays around

[Howie]

It's been a while since I did this. But first off.. if the headlamp motor isn't turning on at all it could be a circuit breaker (i'll have to consult the manual to know exactly where it was) that is connected to the headlamp motor itself. If that's the case it could be a matter of short-circuiting it to keep the system running.

[pulsar]

turbo18exa: My first instinct was a bad relay too, and I tried switching them around (ret 3 and ret 4 are the important headlight motor relays) but I switched 1 and 2 aswell, and still no go!

Howie: I can manually move the lights down, and then bring them up by hitting the switch, or by turning on my headlights, but when I try to get them to go down, no go! :( So the motors are working and they are getting power.
If I try and manually move the lights down when the switch is in the up position, it will hit a certain spot, and then the motors will move the lights down, but then instantly bring them back up again! grrr

I have no clue at this point, and I don't want to move them down manually everytime.
Thanks for the replys tho guys, your a big help!!! :D :D

[TTriX]

pulsar...
if the lights pop up all the time i would be safe to say that the switch for the headlights up(unlit) is prolly stuffed.
there is a screw(X-head) under neath the switch panel...remove it, then pull out the unit...spray some contact cleaner in there and fiddle around with that...
if the headlights go up and then you can make them go down, then they spring back up with out hittin any switches i would say that the one switch is stuck in the on position.
try that...easy "could be" fix.
T

[TRB.O8U]

TTriX is corect in his diagnosis..
The contacts in the dash switch get burnt and a layer of carbon can form on them stoping the contacts from making proper contact thus not letting the voltage through ..
Sometimes the contacts can even weld themselves together so when you flick the switch the other way the contacts are still stuck in the previous position.
Try switching to the down or off position and wack the side of the switch assy so see if you can unstick the contacts , BUT DON'T DO IT TOO HARD AND BRAKE THE PLASTIC !!!!!

[pulsar]

You guys are awesome for taking your time to reply :D

Everything you guys suggested makes perfect sense, but I don't think you guys are correct, heres why:

1. I already took the switch apart and gave it a cleaning (a quick little one) and put it back together

2. I can manually move the lights down when the switch is in the down/off position no problem, but if the switch is in the up/on position and I try to manually move them down, it hits a spot then the motor moves it down and comes right back up. That also tells me my motors are fine... wtf can it be?

3. When I moved the lights down manually, and I hit my headlight switch, they come up, and then when I turn off my lights off they don't go down (without touching the retractor switch)

I'm gonna take the switch apart again tomorrow and give it one hell of a cleaning, but I really dont think thats my problem

From looking at a few wiring diagrams, I think the problem lies in a bad headlight timer (I'm not even 100% sure if pulsars/exas have this tho) and I have no idea where it's located either...

Thanks for your help guys, very much appreciated!!

[Miss Exa]

my lights do the same thing... they get stuck up when it rains and have been doing this for about 6 months

i have tried EVERYTHING but still wouldnt have a clue what is wrong so i just have to live with it.

[TTriX]

dont drive in the rain-hehe
now seriously...if it only does it when it rains i would check the harnesses and wires for breaks
and corrosion...odds are when it rains, moisture is crossing two wires and thus bypassing the retractor switch...kind of a pain to look for but hey...not much on these cars is easy-hehe
T

pulsar...do you know any one else near you with a pulsar that you could try their switch???

[Exaterrestrial]

my lights did the exact same thing tonight!!! i can get them to come up but when i turn them off they wont go down??? if i manually wind them down they go down all the way but then if i turn them on again they come up like usual and wont go back down??? had any luck with it yet?? i need help to fix my lights!!!!
ET :bounce:

[Lengo]

I have an 86 pulsar coupe. The headlamp retractors are stuck in the up postition. My car's manual says nothing about switch, relay, or fuse that activates these. Where is the freaking switch?

The lamps work -- they go on and off. The rettractors don't go up or down.

What is the problem and where do I fix it? If it's the switch, where is the switch? If it's a fuse, where is the fuse?

I have a solution, but I can't get dynamite! :funnylarf