i just bought a 1983 datsun 280zx and the break lights stay on all the time even when the car is off(thats why it was so cheap). but unless i leave the fuse out they stay on and kill the battery. does any one know what this might be and how to fix it. thanks for the help and now that i have a 280zx im glad i found this web site

 

Welcome to ZDriver. Sounds like someone hacked the wiring, or your stop switch is hosed. Poke your head down by the brake pedal & find at the top of the pedal arm the small metal cylinder w/ 2 wires connected to it. Pull one wire off & see if that turns off the brake lights.

 

Yeah, mine were on all the time once... I was pissed. I thought for sure it was going to be a major pain in the *** to figure out why. Until I took a look... It wound up costing me exactly $.01 to fix the problem.


The piece on the back of the brake pedal had broken off. I got a piece of electrical tape about 3 inches long and taped a penny to the back of the pedal.

Problem solved.



Rod.

 

Rod, that's the best fix I've ever heard of.

 

I'm not sure it was 'exactly' $0.01 since you had to spend something on the electrical tape/penny adhesive, but it's probably close enough unless you used a couple feet of the tape in the effort...

 

Thats cheaper than my fix. I bought a nut and bolt and just secured it where the stopper was before it shattered. Both my brake switch and clutch switch have had that happen. But with the clutch it's not such a big deal. Now I can just start the car without pushing the clutch in

 

Ugh... I can see where that's gonna lead...

 

Same here on both of my Z's. I could always start them without pushing in the clutch. Unless I am in gear, and well you know what happens then.

 

thanks for all the help

 

Does that mean it's fixed?

 

did these cars come with safety switches, mine can start in gear, no clutch??? i found out the hard way.

 

Yes they came with a clutch safety switch (on manuals). The little switch stop is probably broke off the way mine is. It's the same deal as with the brake lights. The stop breaks and the lights stay on all the time. Well with the clutch switch, if the stop breaks then the car just thinks the clutch is in all the time.