Put each headlight on a relay and have that wired directly to the battery. I'm sure you have some poor grounds or dirty connections in the cars wiring. Putting them on relays will let the headlight stalk only control them (on/off) and not pass any volts or amps which will take the load off the car.
Nice upgrade, I agree that the culprit is a bad ground. The fun part is finding it. Another upgrade if you haven’t done it already is adding relays to your system so that current doesn’t all go through the switch assembly and overheat the wiring in the steering column. Here’s the link on making one. It’s focused on the 240Z but gives you a layout of what’s needed: www.zhome.com/DaveRelay/DaveBuild/DaveInstruction.htm I made one for my car and the lights are noticeably brighter & I just have halogen Wagner Britelite assemblies.
Awesome! Thank you for the link and the insight. I still have a lot to learn about wiring, I want to see about a new harness here soon. It might just be easier to rewire everything and make it all tucked how I want it. How does the relay get activated? Your ignition to the “on” position?
@@JordanPayneLV The relays would be activated by your headlight switch. One relay for low beam, one for high beam. You would tap into one of your headlight plug connections in your factory harness up front on the radiator support. The optimal way is to get headlight connector plugs from a wrecked 280Z (or eBay) to add to your custom relay/harness so you don’t have to cut on your factory wiring.
Late to the party, but I don't see where the one dim headlight was solved. On Z cars (even into the 280zx series) one dim light usually points to a problem with the combination (stalk) switch. The switch had too much power running directly through it and as a result the contacts often arc and burn. I had to put new ones in my 83 zx's and 88 z31. You can file or sand off the points and buy some more time, but eventually they must be replaced. I think one set of headlight contacts touches first, and is usually the side that starts getting dim.
One of my '78 280z headlamps is also out. Instead of replacing it, do you think it would be a bad fuse? I want to keep it original as much as possible. I really don't want to change the whole headlight, because I really like the original look/design of the glass, and not feeling this aftermarket replacement parts.
Thanks for watching this tutorial! If you'd like to see more content on my Porsche 981, or my Datsun 280z, Subscribe! :) See you at the next one!
Ooooof those brakes are Spicey
Dude right?! I always forget how beefy they are haha
Put each headlight on a relay and have that wired directly to the battery. I'm sure you have some poor grounds or dirty connections in the cars wiring. Putting them on relays will let the headlight stalk only control them (on/off) and not pass any volts or amps which will take the load off the car.
Thanks for the suggestion! I have a lot to learn about wiring but having comments like this is steering me in the right direction! 🙌🏻
Nice upgrade, I agree that the culprit is a bad ground. The fun part is finding it. Another upgrade if you haven’t done it already is adding relays to your system so that current doesn’t all go through the switch assembly and overheat the wiring in the steering column. Here’s the link on making one. It’s focused on the 240Z but gives you a layout of what’s needed: www.zhome.com/DaveRelay/DaveBuild/DaveInstruction.htm
I made one for my car and the lights are noticeably brighter & I just have halogen Wagner Britelite assemblies.
Awesome! Thank you for the link and the insight. I still have a lot to learn about wiring, I want to see about a new harness here soon. It might just be easier to rewire everything and make it all tucked how I want it.
How does the relay get activated? Your ignition to the “on” position?
@@JordanPayneLV The relays would be activated by your headlight switch. One relay for low beam, one for high beam. You would tap into one of your headlight plug connections in your factory harness up front on the radiator support. The optimal way is to get headlight connector plugs from a wrecked 280Z (or eBay) to add to your custom relay/harness so you don’t have to cut on your factory wiring.
@@43thegremlin awesome suggestion man, I’ll look into it :)
I am having the same issue did you ever find the culprit?
Yeah unfortunately it was a bad fuse, such a silly mistake
Get you some clear side markers! Made a big dif on my car, and the kit comes w colored leds. (Motorsport)
From Motorsport Auto??
Yes
@@drprick7432 I’ll check them out!
Like your video. does relay harness is need? I didn't see the video mentioned but some forum said it require when putting LED. I had a 78 280z.
For the blinkers yes! I have a video on that as well
Late to the party, but I don't see where the one dim headlight was solved. On Z cars (even into the 280zx series) one dim light usually points to a problem with the combination (stalk) switch. The switch had too much power running directly through it and as a result the contacts often arc and burn. I had to put new ones in my 83 zx's and 88 z31. You can file or sand off the points and buy some more time, but eventually they must be replaced. I think one set of headlight contacts touches first, and is usually the side that starts getting dim.
Thanks for the notes on how to fix it in some cases, silly enough it got resolved by replacing a fuse that I hadn’t noticed had burned out
One of my '78 280z headlamps is also out. Instead of replacing it, do you think it would be a bad fuse? I want to keep it original as much as possible. I really don't want to change the whole headlight, because I really like the original look/design of the glass, and not feeling this aftermarket replacement parts.
Maybe! Mine was a fuse problem, but eventually you may need to replace them because the stock ones are sealed units
Where did you get your grill? It looks super cool. Thanks!
Thanks! I actually made it myself, here’s a link to a tutorial I made
ua-cam.com/video/dLSsNll8GjI/v-deo.html