Headlight not popping up

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers

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YanMa YatTai
Fast Driver
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:07 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Sydney

Headlight not popping up

Postby YanMa YatTai » Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:47 pm

I have a 1990 NA. Before purchase, when I test drove it, lights worked and popped up. After I bought it when it was at home several days later, it didn't. :(

The headlights will not pop up. The actual lights switch on when I use the switch at the stalk, however they will not pop up. The retractor switch on the tombstone is not even wired up, so it definitely doesn't work!

I have read the relay could be the cause, however I have seen numerous threads locating the relay at 1 of 2 positions:
    1. under bonnet, passenger side on side of engine bay near firewall, labelled LA12
    2. under dash under steering column, near accelerator?
Confused where it should be for an Aus delivered NA6?

Tried following this - http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=304725.
I found the one under the bonnet, unplugged, stuck a multimeter to each of the connectors in the female socket. Got something reading, but never anything like 12V. Ummm... what should I actually be doing with the multimeter? Never used one before! :oops:

It seems I really need to hold the ground on the multimeter firmly onto the body/chassis before any reading occurs, even then it is only ever a slight reading. This is when I test any plug/relay, not just the headlight retractor. Only time I get anything like 12V is from the battery itself.

Please help a newb! Willing to learn, however electronics isn't a strong point!

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gslender
Speed Racer
Posts: 2330
Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:49 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Brisbane, QLD

Re: Headlight not popping up

Postby gslender » Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:54 pm

Can be the switch stork, the relay or the motors.

If both don't work, then it isn't the motors.

If the tombstone switch can't trigger them, it's the relay, if it can, it's the switch stork.

Get the tombstone switch working, and that will test the relay!

G
MX5 91 NA6 LE completely stock and loving it!
MX5 92 NA8/ITBs Silver "aka Track Beeotch"


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