Lately on my 2000 Infiniti I30 I've had this odd issue with my headlights. Sometimes one headlight will be out (the passenger side) and then it just comes back on. Also, when I'm turning and I have the blinker on the headlights will dim when I switch the blinker off. When the one headlight does act up, or they both dim from the turn signal i turn the headlight control back and forth on the (stick, or whatever its called) on the steering column this will usually correct the problem.

I have a brand new battery, starter and alternator (all installed last summer). Everything else works fine. I'm wondering what the issue with these headlights could be. I was thinking it was the bulb, but then it wouldn't come back on if it was.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Anyone?

 

When you use the blinker and the headlights turn off for a split second I've read that the contacts on blinker stalk need to be cleaned to fix it.

 

Thanks for the reply. You wouldn't happen to know of a how-to or something similar on how to do that? That is the multifunction switch (MFS), correct?

Is there a place on the forums where I could inquire if someone had one they would sell me?

 

I don't think it is possible to clean the headlight switch contacts. It is a sealed switch. You will have to replace it. It only requires 4 screws to change it.

There is a parts for sale section called Classifieds - https://maxima.org/forums/parts-sale-wanted-41/

The Maxima uses the same switch as the Infiniti, but be careful. Your car has fog lights, but not all Maximas have fog lights. So make it clear that you need a switch for a car with foglights.

Otherwise, you could also visit a junkyard and get one there. If you go to an auto parts store, a new switch will cost around $100.

 

Thanks, Dennis. I'll check that out.

 

Does anyone know if the switch on a 2002-3 will function on a 2000?

 

I had similar issues with my 2000 I30 about a year ago. I replaced the turn signal switch with a Beck/Arnley from Rock Auto. I haven't had any issues since. Here's a link to the part. It's $47

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....363171&jsn=319

 

No, they are different because the headlights are different.

 

Okay. I understand that, but just to clarify that, the wiring is different? I know the headlamps are different but the functionality is the same for the switch though... right?

Thanks

 

I would go to the junkyard and just grab one. If you want to satisfy your curiosity, then you can compare them

 

No. Because the headlights are different, the wiring is different. Because the wiring is different, the switches are different.

In the 2000 & 01 only 4 wires are used to control the high and low beams. On the 2002 & 03, 6 wires are used.

The wire harness connector for the headlight switch is different because of this.

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh makes sense. Got it

 

Lol see i thought about that. Then I said... ehhhhhh bad idea. Might fry something expensive lol.

 

To start with, if you run the headlights with the switch in the AUTO position, the headlights will flicker when the turn signal shuts off. No one seems to know why, but they do. This does not happen if you turn the headlights on manually.

You do not have a fuse problem because the low beams and high beams use the same fuse. There is one fuse for the left side high & low beams and another fuse for the right side high & low beams.

12volts goes to the headlight bulb and is connected to the low beam filament and the high beam filament inside the light bulb itself. The other side of the low and high beam filaments each have its own wire that goes back to the headlight switch. When you turn the **** on the headlight switch, the switch connects the headlight filament to ground and the headlight lights.

Either you have a bad headlight switch or you are missing a ground to the headlight switch.

I really don't know specifically what is the problem. I lean towards the headlight switch over the ground wires that go to the headlight switch. This is because there are 2 ground wires going to the headlight switch. One ground wire is for the left headlight high & low beams and the other ground wire is for the right headlight high & low beams. It is like the fuses; if the high beam works, the ground is OK.

 

It wouldn't hurt to check the grounds though, a little bit of corrosion under the contact could make for a floating condition.

As for replacing the switch unit -- I've not done it on our cars but on ones of different brands and it's fairly easy. The scary part is disconnecting the airbag and putting it somewhere safe (I always treat them like a time bomb.) Then you use a steering wheel puller, remove the wheel, and the rest should be obvious. Just make sure to use a sharpie and mark on the steering wheel shaft where the wheel lines up or you'll be driving cockeyed.

 

Thanks for the replies. Would there be a link to a how-to or something on the forums? I haven't been able to locate anything. Thanks again.

 

I bought a headlight switch off a seller on eBay. The headlight switch is from a running and driving 2001 Nissan Maxima 3.0 Liter V6. It works properly and it's in nice condition. This has auto headlights and fog lights. He said it would work for my car. I paid $22.50 (free shipping).

I've been researching on taking the old one off and putting this one in and it goes from "easy just a couple screws" to "be careful of the airbag". I don't see how this would effect the airbag since I'm just taking the lower cowling off the steering column and replacing the switch.

 

Whether you have to mess with the air bag or not depends on what you bought.

There is a part that goes in the center of the steering column and both the headlight/turn signal switch and the windshield wiper switch attach to it. It is called the combination switch and would require you to take the steering wheel off, which has the air bag in it.

You most likely have the turn signal/headlight switch itself (the part you touch as a driver) and replacing that won't disturb the airbag.

If you ever have to work with an airbag, just disconnect the battery and wait a half hour before working on the air bag.

 

Thanks, Dennis. It's just the switch. Here's a link to the one I bought off eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/162234426778?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Both switches just unscrew after taking the panels off (honda is same way, idk what piles you worked on)

I'd drive the pos into a river if all that work was required for a simple switch.

 

LOL ... thanks for the advice on my 'pile'

 

Anytime. I've got enough haterade for domestic and German crap for years.

 

Well I had my car in the shop to get the muffler issues fixed and I got the new switch for the headlights and had them install that, too. Guy just called and told me he installed the new switch and I still have no low beams - doh! Sixty bucks down the drain.

Then he tells me that new low beams for my car are HIDs and they are a hundred bucks apiece ... O_o

Is there someplace on this forum where people sell things like this? Maybe someone would have a couple Infiniti I30 low beams for less.

 

I found these on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/D2R-Xenon-HI...hWRPyZ&vxp=mtr

Pretty good deal. Better than $200

 

Instead of guessing and throwing money at parts, try diagnosing. Take the lamp out, get a multimeter (voltmeter) and check the continuity of the current bulbs before buying new ones. You can probably tell just by looking at the lamp.

 

I found these http://www.ebay.com/itm/321541026239?euid=4d6c5ec3045f42b1833c1e39a182b33a&bu=43123142724&cp=1&sojTags=bu=bu. A Little more, but probably a better bet than the other ones. I did ask about the bit of brown I see on the silver rim and the seller said they are used, but fully functional. At $27 per bulb it's still a good deal.

The seller did mention that, "These are for low-beam unless your headlight is Bi-Xenon which allows the bulb to work for both." How would I know if my car is Bi-Xenon (or just HID)?

 

I think a better idea would be to get these ones. Better off getting new instead of used. Pretty good deal on 2 of them.

 

I think a better idea would be to get these ones. Better off getting new instead of used. Pretty good deal on 2 of them.

 

I had this problem with my 2000 SE and the problem was a bad plug on the back of the headlight. I picked up a replacement plug at the local auto parts store and spliced it in to the factory harness and all was well for over 6 years.

 

That was my first thought when I started reading this thread. My advice is that all sockets and bulb contacts on the exterior of a car should be coated with white lithium grease to prevent oxidation and corrosion. It's too bad the factories don't do this, it would eliminate a lot of intermittent problems as the vehicles age. I do it as a matter of routine when I buy an older car like this, pull every bulb and bulb connector and grease the contacts. I've been doing this more than 40 years, and haven't had even a single failure like the one in this thread.

 

Do you have daytime running lights? If you do the DRL module can cause some funky behaviour from the lights but the DRL module is relatively easy to access and fix.

I recently had an ordeal with them on my Canadian 2001 maxima:
https://maxima.org/forums/5th-genera...drl-issue.html