Sticky High Beams

General information about the first-generation Nissan Maxima in the US. What was the Datsun 810 became the luxury leader Maxima in the US in 1981.

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kassim503
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Location: Stony Brook, NY

Sticky High Beams

#1

Post by kassim503 »

when i turn my low beams in cold weather the high beams are turning on with them. i have to wait until the engine warms up to around 60 degrees before it turns itself off. does anybody know whats making it do this, i already changed the solenoid and it still does it
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
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asavage
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#2

Post by asavage »

Known problem. Let me see if I can go find my article on this, and suck it over to this site . . . nope, can't find it.

Look at these pics of an '82 Nissan 720 PU:

Image

Image

The switch on the Maxima is similar, and the problem is the same. Take off the covers, clean and lubricate that plastic follower pin.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
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kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#3

Post by kassim503 »

works great, thanks
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
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asavage
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Posts: 5431
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Oak Harbor, Wash.
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#4

Post by asavage »

New pictures, 1983 Maxima switch:

Image

Image
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#5

Post by kassim503 »

For lubericating the pins inside the switch, what is your lube of choice??

Ive done a small collection, silicone spray, WD40, engine oil, white litihium. All fail immediatley or in a few months.

Who thinks graphite is worth a try? I never used this to lube anything, but people say its good for sliding surfaces, just like the pins in the switch.

Im going to try to shoot some light duty grease (the tan one) on there with a syringe and needle, that could be the one that nissan put in there originally.
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
asavage
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Posts: 5431
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Oak Harbor, Wash.
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#6

Post by asavage »

Tri-Flow, a Sherwin-Williams-owned product. It's silicone oil and teflon particles. I have been using it since 1977, when it debuted as "Tri-Flon", until DuPont sued them, whence they changed the name. I recently found an orginal can of Tri-Flon, and it sits up on a display shelf at work now.

It can be purchased as a light grease (in 3oz "toothpaste" tubes)
Image
which I use as assy. grease in automotive locks these days, but it can be very difficult to buy the grease in this part of the country. I can get it through my locksmithing supplies supplier, but haven't ever found a retail source in this state -- though I can buy it off-the-shelf at a hardware store in Oregon.

The aerosol cans
Image
are fairly pricey, with the 4oz can retailing for around $8, and the 12oz can at about $15.

I use the 2oz applicator most at work.
Image
Not shown in that pic, but it comes with a "wand" tube. It's non-aerosol, so it's useless for "uphill" work (like a squeaky brake or clutch pedal pivot) but you don't get overspray with it, so I like it for hinges, lock cylinders (that I haven't taken apart), and general purpose use. It, too, can be hard to get. I buy it at the local hardware store, 2oz for just under $3, and I've got at least six bottles of it scattered around my world. They last quite a long time, because the lack of overspray.

Tri-Flow has a pleasant smell, reminiscent of bananas.

The one big downer is that the teflon particles settle out to the bottom of the container, on the liquid versions. You have to remember to shake the can or bottle before use, or you'll use up all the teflon lickety-split (on the aerosol version, anyway), and you're left with just silicone oil -- which isn't bad, just not optimum.

I don't like graphite for anything, especially locks, where it packs up in the springs, making some problems much worse.

Lastly, I have a spare MF switch from a JY rig, which someone local offered to buy from me at $20, but she never showed up. Untested, but looks in good condition. I may even have two of them.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#7

Post by kassim503 »

asavage wrote:Tri-Flow, a Sherwin-Williams-owned product. It's silicone oil and teflon particles. I have been using it since 1977, when it debuted as "Tri-Flon", until DuPont sued them, whence they changed the name. I recently found an orginal can of Tri-Flon, and it sits up on a display shelf at work now.
I remember tri flow, I thought they stopped making that! Ill look around for it, it was good stuff.
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
asavage
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Posts: 5431
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#8

Post by asavage »

Gun owners, cyclists, locksmiths can all attest that Tri-Flow is still available. Those seem to be their target market, but I use the stuff everywhere. It's a thin lube.

The grease product I didn't know about until a year ago, and it seems to be a well-kept secret.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#9

Post by kassim503 »

Yes, thats what I used tri flow for- fishing reels and gun lube
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#10

Post by kassim503 »

Al, do you want to sell your spare MF switch? Mine has bad contacts and small cracks in it, so there isnt enough force pushing down on the leafs to make a good connection, and the leafs get quite hot if I where to let the headlights run, and that's no good
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
asavage
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Posts: 5431
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Oak Harbor, Wash.
Contact:

#11

Post by asavage »

I've got three spare MF assys. right now. I'll pull them all out of storage and pick out one that's in good shape and ship it to you (Hargrove, right?). Call it $20 shipped, is that OK? If you prefer, I can even send you two if you want, you ship back the one you don't want.

(I didn't know I had three of them until I got to looking through my "Maxima" parts box last weekend.)
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#12

Post by kassim503 »

Sounds great, you only have to mail me one of them, the design of the switch is pretty reliable and easily fixed, so if the case isnt busted up like mine it should be working.

Where would you like me to send payment? After I deleted all the mail in my email account, I also lost all my contacts :(
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
asavage
Site Admin
Posts: 5431
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Oak Harbor, Wash.
Contact:

#13

Post by asavage »

kassim503 wrote:Where would you like me to send payment? (
Right here.

I'll pick it up tonight (right now, actually, I'm on my way home) and mail it tomorrow. How fast do you want it?
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#14

Post by kassim503 »

Can you ship the one step above ground?

I think I want it before friday evening, I can patch up the existing one but the patches usually dont last long, and im too lazy to keep pulling the steering column cover :)

Ill mail payment tommorow.
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
asavage
Site Admin
Posts: 5431
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Oak Harbor, Wash.
Contact:

#15

Post by asavage »

Hold off on sending funds until I get it shipped, and I'll let you know the delta cost on shipping (between Ground and Second-Day).

I've got it sitting in the van, and I'll get it shipped tomorrow for receipt on your end by Friday.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
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