Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Does anyone know where the headlight relay in an 88 nissan Navara is? None of the relays I could find under the dash or in the engine bay have anything to do with the headlights.

The problem with the lights is no low beam, but high beam works fine! And yes, I have checked the globes! Park lights also work

Cheers, Dean

Hi Tas_Dean, I know this may seam a bit over the top but have checked all the fuses and also check the light switch itself.
The reason I say this is that on later vehicles there is usually 2 headlight relays, one for the left and one for the right and the reason for this is so both headlights don’t go out together as is the case with yours.
I’m not sure how far back this arrangement started but I would not be surprised if yours has two relays ( at least 2 relays ) for the headlights.
Usually a quick way to find out if you have dual wiring for the headlights, high and low beam, just check your fuse box.
Cheers and sorry I can’t be more specific.

Drivesafe, Thanks, but I have checked the fuses (also wouldn't get high beam if the fuses were blown anyway), and i have checked the switch. It's not my car, but when I get hold of it again I guess I'll have to pull the instrument cluster out and check behind there!
Cheers,
Dean

The headlamps MAY only be relayed on High beam only. Most later model of Nissan cars use the same types of relay. The relay color--if there is one, should be BLUE

Nick

Check and clean the contacts in the dip switch. These lights are neg switching and it would seem that you have lost the neg switch to the low beam. If you have a test light turn the lights onto low beam and probe the headlight plug and see if there is a pos. supply. if there is check the dip switch.

There is no power to the headlights on low beam, this was one of the first things I tested for. But thanks for your suggestions!
Cheers,
Dean

I think from memory that there is pos switching contacts in the headlight switch as well as neg ones. May be getting confused with Patrol\Skyline. Still feel the fault is in the dip\combination switch. Have seen the same problem before in Navaras.

I have tested the switch outputs by test light, and the positive is definately contacting at the switch, but there is no voltage at the headlight connector on low beam, hence the reason I was asking about the location of the headlight relays.
There are two (blue genuine Nissan) relays above the fuse panel, but these are ignition fuses. Should there be a third relay in here, for the headlights? Or is there a relay in behind the instrument cluster for the headlights, as this is where the wiring loom from the headlight combination switch heads?
I'm getting extremely close to fully rewiring the headlights!
By the way, I'm a maintenance electrician, so I'm not a stranger to faultfinding!

Cheers, Dean

I know they have a relay, but can't remember where it is. There is one at work ATM so I will have a look 2morrow and see if I can find it.

Hi again, and thanks for all your ideas. I was talking to a mate of mine who is an auto electrician, and he said it will almost definately be the switch, so looks like I didn't test the switch well enough!
Apparantly it is very common for the switch in these to sh*t themselves!
An opinion backed up by asking the local nissan dealer how many they have in stock! 10 in stock at $119.95 each!
And apparantly they don't have a Headlight relay, probably why I can't find it!!

Cheers, Dean

Hi Tas_Dean, after you replace the switch, pull the old switch apart and see if you can find out what caused the failure.

It will most likely be burnt because of the current load the switch has to handle. If this is the case you could probably remove the problem that caused the switch to failure in the first place by fitting some head light relays.

This would not only, in the long term, workout cheaper than eventually having to replace the switch again but it would also make your headlights brighter.

Cheers

Drivesafe, Funny you mention that! The same thought came to me in the small hours of the morning! If I can find a couple of suitable outputs on the switch, I may not bother replacing it. I might just relay the existing outputs, then no more problem!

Whose smart idea was it to switch the headlights without relays???

Cheers, and thanks for the input, Dean