A while back I was driving my 1979 210 home from my parents house with my brother following me. He made me aware that my brake lights were not working, so I pulled over to diagnose the problem. It seemed that the brake switch was out. Unfortunately, I couldnt get the part right then so I drove home without them. The next day I got a brake switch and installed it. After doing so, not only did the brake lights not work but neither did the tail lights. The headlights and side markers worked so I was a bit confused. I checked the fuses and they were all good. I tried starting the car up and then it didnt start either. I had my girlfriends dad come over and help me with the problem and we still couldnt figure out the light situation. We then tested the starter to make sure it was functional. We took it to an autozone and it tested good. We then determined that it must be the ignition switch. However, if it is the ignition switch, how would that explain why the lights arent working? I havent purchased the ignition switch yet, because I wanted to check here first. While we were messing with the starter we accidentally pulled out part of a fusible link that was located near that battery, im not sure what it does but im sure we cant fix it. This was, of course, after the car already wasnt starting. If anyone can help me with this I would be very appreciative. Thanks, AgentWright007

This is difficult to troubleshoot. Bummer.

Headlights and brake lights are on different circuits, and do not even use the same fuse. So don't look for a connection between the two.

> we accidentally pulled out part of a fusible link that was located near that battery, im not sure what it does but im sure we cant fix it.

The fusible link is the 'main fuse'. It supplies ALL the power to everything inside the car including the ignition starter switch. So the first thing is to re-connect the fusible link.


I recommend that you don't just run out and buy a new switch. Instead, determine what is wrong first.


> I tried starting the car up and then it didnt start either.

So headlights work, but not these?
* brake lights
* tail lights
* starter

What else? Does the dash come on when you turn the key to IG?

If not, use a voltmeter on the Fuse Box. Does it show 12V anywhere?

If IG worsk, but START doesn't work, remove the switch (one or two small screws on the back of the Lock Cylinder) and you'll have it free.
It looks like this:


Test it with an ohmmeter, continuity setting -- or with an old fashioned "test light". A good multimeter is only $20 at Sears. The wiring is detailed at Tech: Ignition Switch

Basically, you'll test for continuity (0 ohms) between S and B terminals whenever you move the switch to the far clockwise position. Use a medium screwdriver to turn it.

DD,

Thanks for all the awesome info on this situation, I really appreciate it.

> So headlights work, but not these?
* brake lights
* tail lights
* starter

What else? Does the dash come on when you turn the key to IG?

Thats right, none of those came on. The dash lights also failed to come on. It acted almost like the battery was dead. I will definitely take your advice and go through all those steps before I buy a part. Carquest has it for about 32 bucks so im thinking I might go ahead and buy it anyway before it's deemed "obsolete".

My do I have a couple questions:
-Would the switch having gone bad (if that is the problem) have anything to do with the brake and tail lights?
-What if I change out the ignition switch and that isnt the problem?

Thanks Again,
AW007

I think its unlikely to go NLA soon. About 2/3 of all Datsuns use the same one as the B310, including all the Z cars. That photo is the one the B310 uses, and the later B110.

Sounds like a ground, or supply wire is bad. Maybe a loose connector.

The ignition switch is unrelated to the brake lights.


FIRST question: Does 12V appear anywhere in the fuse box?

NEXT question: Have you removed the battery cables and carefully cleaned them? This is the #1 cause of a problem like this, it even happened with my wife's 2-year old car. Even if you read 12V inside, cables that need cleaning won't deliver any current. Get the battery terminals and cable insides shiny clean.

Definitely sounds like an earth problem. The black wire that attaches to something metal. It completes the circuit for the rear lights.

I havent replied back to this post for a while but now I have an update. A while back I replaced the ignition switch (i figured i might need one someday anyway and it was like 35 bucks), it didnt seem to make any difference. I fixed my broken fusable link (i think) and still the only thing that comes on is my headlights. I have been told by a few people that my problem is a bad or negative ground. The problem is that I have no idea where to start. Im still only a novice, at best, at car repair and im definitely no electrician. If someone can give me a basic "how to" on these things that would be awesome. I dont really have a lot of money to spend on labor cost if I were to tow my car into a shop.

The thing that still confuses me is that the night my brake lights broke the car ran. The next day it was completely dead (except the headlights). so unless my car was sabotaged, it never moved. weird.

the brake lights in the rear is a semi common problem, there is a ground in the boot for the rear tail lights. this can become loose sometimes. I tighten it up about every 6 months.

check u have power at the fuse box,thay somtimes melt!!!!!

Ok, so I used a cheap test light and checked the fuse box and it doesnt seem that im getting power to it. Like i said the headlights and brights indicator in the dash come on but nothing else. I also looked for the ground in the trunk/boot and only found one on the passenger side of the metal partition separating the backseat from the trunk. Was that what I was looking for? If there is no power to the fusebox what do i do?

Thanks,
aw007

find out why no power to the fuse box. possibly broken or fired wire for the power into it