'86 Mk 1 - No Lights - help!

Mister Two 2 · 10-31-2009, 12:45 PM

I have recently acquired an '86 Mk 1 which has been standing unused for 4 years. Whilst checking it through I find that the lights don't work. Or rather, the stop, flashing indicators, hazard and headlight flash (only) & interior dome lights do, but nothing else.

All the fuses are OK. Any ideas where to look next? Is it likely to be the dashboard switch?

All help greatfully received - thank you!

traintech86 · 10-31-2009, 01:44 PM

wait so what lights don't work? O_o

IDon'tKnow · 10-31-2009, 02:19 PM

What do you mean by "Headlight flash (only)"?

Mister Two 2 · 10-31-2009, 04:07 PM

none of the lights work except:
Stop lights
Hazards (4-way flashers)
Flashing indicators
Interior dome light
Headlight flash ie when you pull the stalk lever on the rhs of the steering wheel and the headlights rise, flash and retract momentarily.

So, what don't work are: the headlights in normal driving low/high beam mode, nor do the tail lights, front side (parking) lights, licence plate lights or dashboard instrument lights.

Any ideas ????? Thank you!

traintech86 · 10-31-2009, 04:25 PM

you might have a dirty switch like i had:

light switch

thanks to toyotatech with the help. it seems to have helped alot. you might want to clean the contacts on the brights/turn signal bar.

Mister Two 2 · 11-01-2009, 09:49 AM

I have checked that the tail lamp relay (s) - there seem to be 2 - work on the bench and there is 12v to their sockets on the car.

There is only .1v to the 15A tail fuse (yes, point one of a volt).

The wiring diagram in Haynes is impossible to follow (for me, anyway!) so I don't really know the circuitry, but thought a fuse comes first in the line and this suggests that there is a feed problem before the fuse ? ? ?

Any suggestions before I tear into the dashboard switch?

IDon'tKnow · 11-01-2009, 11:49 AM

I'm in a similar boat as you, but in my case the only problem is that the "door" function on my dome light doesn't work. I wish I had a Haynes manual like you do: who knows if I would be able to read them or not.

It sounds like you are going to have to pull your cluster surround.

Mister Two 2 · 11-02-2009, 11:34 AM

It was the light switch, diagnosis correct! There was movement between the (male) plug connector on the back of the switch and the contacts inside. Once eliminated, all work well now.
Thanks for all advice.

traintech86 · 11-03-2009, 12:07 AM

i wonder if this is what my problem is, well the lights seem to work ok right now after i ripped them apart at a local gas station. i won't take them apart if they are gonna stay working

>>

scottohno · 11-17-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDon'tKnow

I'm in a similar boat as you, but in my case the only problem is that the "door" function on my dome light doesn't work. I wish I had a Haynes manual like you do: who knows if I would be able to read them or not.

It sounds like you are going to have to pull your cluster surround.

i just got a new dome light assembly from the boneyard. i pocketed it cuz it costs $2 to get in and they told me they were crushing it later that day anyway so i figured id steal it before they crush it... what do they care.

YellowJacket · 11-22-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottohno

i just got a new dome light assembly from the boneyard. i pocketed it cuz it costs $2 to get in and they told me they were crushing it later that day anyway so i figured id steal it before they crush it... what do they care.

Are we supposed to be impressed?

IDon'tKnow · 11-22-2009, 08:55 PM

I think the point was for us to be unimpressed. He was confessing, not boasting.

At least he has a sweet avatar.

10-31-2009, 12:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mister Two 2 No Skills Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 8 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	'86 Mk 1 - No Lights - help! I have recently acquired an '86 Mk 1 which has been standing unused for 4 years. Whilst checking it through I find that the lights don't work. Or rather, the stop, flashing indicators, hazard and headlight flash (only) & interior dome lights do, but nothing else. All the fuses are OK. Any ideas where to look next? Is it likely to be the dashboard switch? All help greatfully received - thank you!

11-01-2009, 11:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
IDon'tKnow but I can find out. Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 131 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I'm in a similar boat as you, but in my case the only problem is that the "door" function on my dome light doesn't work. I wish I had a Haynes manual like you do: who knows if I would be able to read them or not. It sounds like you are going to have to pull your cluster surround. Last edited by IDon'tKnow; 11-01-2009 at 12:12 PM.

11-02-2009, 11:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Mister Two 2 No Skills Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 8 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Light switch It was the light switch, diagnosis correct! There was movement between the (male) plug connector on the back of the switch and the contacts inside. Once eliminated, all work well now. Thanks for all advice.

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10-31-2009, 01:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
traintech86 Traintech86 on all im's Join Date: May 2009 Location: Norfolk VA Posts: 920 Thanks: 14 Thanked 25 Times in 24 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	wait so what lights don't work? O_o

10-31-2009, 02:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
IDon'tKnow but I can find out. Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 131 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	What do you mean by "Headlight flash (only)"?

10-31-2009, 04:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mister Two 2 No Skills Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 8 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	none of the lights work except: Stop lights Hazards (4-way flashers) Flashing indicators Interior dome light Headlight flash ie when you pull the stalk lever on the rhs of the steering wheel and the headlights rise, flash and retract momentarily. So, what don't work are: the headlights in normal driving low/high beam mode, nor do the tail lights, front side (parking) lights, licence plate lights or dashboard instrument lights. Any ideas ????? Thank you!

10-31-2009, 04:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
traintech86 Traintech86 on all im's Join Date: May 2009 Location: Norfolk VA Posts: 920 Thanks: 14 Thanked 25 Times in 24 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	you might have a dirty switch like i had: light switch thanks to toyotatech with the help. it seems to have helped alot. you might want to clean the contacts on the brights/turn signal bar.

11-01-2009, 09:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mister Two 2 No Skills Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 8 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I have checked that the tail lamp relay (s) - there seem to be 2 - work on the bench and there is 12v to their sockets on the car. There is only .1v to the 15A tail fuse (yes, point one of a volt). The wiring diagram in Haynes is impossible to follow (for me, anyway!) so I don't really know the circuitry, but thought a fuse comes first in the line and this suggests that there is a feed problem before the fuse ? ? ? Any suggestions before I tear into the dashboard switch?

11-03-2009, 12:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
traintech86 Traintech86 on all im's Join Date: May 2009 Location: Norfolk VA Posts: 920 Thanks: 14 Thanked 25 Times in 24 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	i wonder if this is what my problem is, well the lights seem to work ok right now after i ripped them apart at a local gas station. i won't take them apart if they are gonna stay working >>

11-22-2009, 08:55 PM	#12 (permalink)
IDon'tKnow but I can find out. Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 131 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I think the point was for us to be unimpressed. He was confessing, not boasting. At least he has a sweet avatar.