ok, i have an 81' z28 that i am working on. the headlights don't work and neither do the turn signals. the brake lights work fine.

this is the first car i have ever worked on and i am learning as i go. does anyone know what is wrong with them. i'm sure it could be more than one thing, but any suggestions would be helpful.

also, is this going to be something i will be able to fix? or will i have to take it to the shop? as i said, i have never worked on a car before, and the most i have done is ajusted belts on a car.

could anyone explain what i need to do to fix this? are there any books that would help me?

thanks,
chris

 

Chiltons makes a book that explains how to do stuff. I'd say you have an electrical problem and get a meter and measure how much current you are getting to the headlights and such. start there.

 

how do i measure the current? where do i get a meter? autozone?

 

A Chiltons or Haynes manual for your car should have a wiring schematic (diagram). It will have the wires identified by color/colors (blk = black, blk/grn = black with green stripe, etc.). Use this to find the ground wire colors for the headlights and turn signals. Now at the car, trace these color wires from the headlight conectors to the bolt or screw that grounds them to the car chassis. I'm betting on an '81 the ground connections are bad. Take this connection apart and make sure it's clean and the wire terminal is touching bare metal when you reconnect them. If this doesn't cure the problem, then you need to start tracing the positive (Batt.) side back, checking all connections along the way. Also check the fuses, probably ought to try that first.

 

You said the brake lights work, but what about the tail lights, do the tail lights come on when you turn on the headlight switch? If the tailights dont come on with the switch either then it's probably a bad switch in the dash. If the tail lights are coming on then it's something else. The dimmer switch on these cars can also make the headlights not work so check the dimmer switch as well

 

the tail light don't come on. when i turn my turn signal on the turn signal dosn't appear in my dash either. i don't think any of the instruments on the panel do.