97 D21 with no cluster lights or tail lights

[gullymonster]

Hey all, new nissan owner here, been reading through these issues already. I got my 91 d21 5sp 2wd with 150k this morning and already looking to attack some issues.

No tail lights when headlights are on, no cluster lights regardless of dimmer switch, and pretty sure oil temp gauge isnt working, bottomed out for whole ride, while warm air blew through heater. (Do have 3 inside dome lights work)

Wondering where i should look first, and if these issues are inter related via fuses or circuit, where the switches are to check/ cleanable?

Thank you all! All insight is appreciated.

[JB'sTitanXD]

have you checked the bulbs? i would start with the bulbs first then check fuses

[gullymonster]

Update, i have brakelights, turn signals and hazards. Just no running lights (tai lights) when headlamps on.

[JB'sTitanXD]

yea i would check the bulbs, i believe they are a dual filament blub so its a possibility one of the filaments is broken/burnt out. another thing you can try is use a voltmeter and see if you have power

[BRubble]

Hey all, new nissan owner here, been reading through these issues already. I got my 91 d21 5sp 2wd with 150k this morning and already looking to attack some issues.

No tail lights when headlights are on, no cluster lights regardless of dimmer switch, and pretty sure oil temp gauge isnt working, bottomed out for whole ride, while warm air blew through heater. (Do have 3 inside dome lights work)

Wondering where i should look first, and if these issues are inter related via fuses or circuit, where the switches are to check/ cleanable?

Thank you all! All insight is appreciated.

On the '93 that I had,, the fuse panel was to the left of the steering column. It's been a while,, but seem's like it had a little finger pull indentation, to take the small lid off, or lower to expose the fuse's. Useing a flashlight you may be able to see right off which one is/not blown.

As I recall,, I did have a fuse to blow,, when working with hooking up the trailer light's one time. So check the pigtail for the trailer light's,, if it is installed. Could be just hanging down,, and one of the wire'z may have shorted. Just a guess though.

Could be the bulb's,, but easier to check the fuse's first.

A service manual is a wise investment. There may be a downloadable Nissan Manual here or at some other site. Nissan does have a Nissanhelp.com site to help as well. Haynes' or Chilton would be an aftermarket one. I had the Nissan & Chilton for the '93 that I had. For my '13,, so far,, I've just use the Nissan downloadable SM,, that I got somewhere,, maybe here, just don't remember.

Good Luck

[gullymonster]

after taking a look turns out to be a 97d21 not 91. A mechanic told me today truck needed a diagnostic module and clock spring? related to airbag light. He said they were pretty costly parts, anyone have experience replacing these? Finding the module used?

[BRubble]

after taking a look turns out to be a 97d21 not 91. A mechanic told me today truck needed a diagnostic module and clock spring? related to airbag light. He said they were pretty costly parts, anyone have experience replacing these? Finding the module used?

You can get the part #'s from Nissan, and then check on Ebay by part # or name. Usually cost is a lot lower on Ebay or amazon.

His diagnosis, may be right,, but I think I'd get an estimate from Nissan.

Good Luck,

[Q451990]

Whenever you have lighting issues on a truck, check for hackery under the back for a trailer light connection. It's not uncommon...

Check out your truck's FSM for more information on the air bag system... http://www.nissanservicemanual.com

At the bottom of Nissan's web site, there's a link to purchase parts. This is pretty much an online version of Nissan's parts lookup software called FAST. You should be able to pull part numbers there and then search for the parts wherever you'd like. The '96 and '97 are substantially different from earlier D21s due to the introduction of OBDII.

Good luck!

Heath

[naahcsp1]

gullymonster - I have the same issue with my '94 D21 hardbody. No cluster illumination or taillights but the brake, backup, and headlights work. So far I have tried fuses and the double filament tail light bulbs with no luck. See on forums that problems may also relate to the light switch control or trailer light connection. What worked for you? Thanks Paul

[naahcsp1]

I had the same problem on my 1994 4WD XE pickup. Solution was to clean the contacts on the light switch/control. This is a description from JWG on RepairPal:

Traced problem to turn signal/light control. Dust built up between contacts causing failure. Fix action:

Remove turn signal/light control unit from vehicle. Remove phillips head screws from underside of steering column housing. remove lower housing. hold up upper housing to allow access to both bronze colored phillips head screws holding turn signal/light control unit to steering column. remove both screws. Remove electrical connection. Remove unit from vehicle.

Open the rear cover of the unit to get access to the electrical contacts. The cover is a white rectangle that is held on by raised buttons. Do not unscrew the small phillips head screws. They hold other parts together on the inside. pry the white rectangle off gently using a flat screwdriver. There are 5 electrical contacts. The marker light controls use the middle one. slip a small piece of very fine grit sandpaper in between the contact and sand it clean. The contact arm is springy and can be pulled back a little bit if you need to.

When done, check the operation by connecting the wiring to the switch and turning the marker lights off and on. When finished, re-install the turn signal/light control and put the housing back on the steering column.

[gullymonster]

Yes yes. Weird. But i disconnected tail lamps seperate. Then each started working. Removed a mystery floating bulb where glass broke off cuff stuck in socket and replaced a third bulb in one tail lamp cluster i now have lights and cluster. But when things get bumpy my lights flare up not flicker out. Noticed a ziptie chaffed my pigtail butni havent removed yet, could that be reason for cluster flaring bright?

[JarredH]

Maybe. If there's any chance of exposed wires, tape them up, never good to leave that stuff open. Could be wore out insulation and a power is slightly grounding out.