I have a '81 280zx NA. When I turn the car off the dash door, brake, fuel, and clock lights don't turn off. The car was hacked by the previous owner. I've made attempts to correct many of the mistakes made. The car has an aftermarket radio and I think the issue may be there but is there anywhere else I can look? This site wont allow me to choose my correct car information.

old post.
what year.
easy fix for any mech.
1: fuse blown.
2: brake switch bad,
3: wires bad.
4: PO (previous crazy owner) hacked in trailer wiring, and now
its all shorted out or he cut the wires, and uses useless wire nuts.
that are all corroded now , and useless.
5: collision damage never corrected.

first try it with one new light on each side , only 1, not 2
lamps can short easy (over twisting)
$1 for 2 new lamps, try that too.

look to the scan buttons have the power turned off

Dash board or gages

Have yoiu changed/checled the lightbulbs? (In other words,do your turn signal lights work? If the front turn signal lights work, but the rear don't, then turn on your four (4) way flashers. If the rear lights still don't work, then all the bulbs are bad. It is rare for all the bulbs to be burnt out at the same time, but it does happen.

If the turn signal/four way flasher lights work, then you probably have a bad brake light switch. However, first check your owner's manual to make certain there is not a separate fuse for these lights. If there is, then swap the fuse for the brake lights for another fuse (or relay) of the same size/amperage. (Facing the hood, the power relay box is located on the right side (usually) under the hood.)

The fuse box is located under the dash, on the driver's side of the car. Usually there is a plastic cover that has to be removed to access the underside of the dash, and then there is a plastic cover that has to be removed to access the fuse box. If you don't have an owner's manual, nprmally the fuses and power relays are normally marked on the plastic covers your remove ot access the fuses and power relays.

If the fuses/relays are good, then you have a bad brake light switch. This is located on a bracket just above the brake pedal. When you push the pedal down, the switch makes contact. Disconnect the plug to the switch, and jump across the plug contacts (not the switch) with a small piece of wire, or if a piece of insulated wire is unavailable, you can use a paperclip, you won't get schocked, just make certain that the paperclip does not come in contact with a ground while you have it plugged in to the plug for the brake light switch.

If the lights stil dont work, check for power to the plug for the brake light switch. If you have power to the plug, the turn signals and four-way flashers work, then my guess would be that you have a broken power wire (probably iside the steering column, or a bad turn signal switch. If the brake lights work whe nyou jump out the brake light switch, then the brake light switch is defective.

check brake light fuse un der dash left side. See owner manual for fuse location. cehk brake switch on brake pedal. Do signals work? 4 way flashers?

First check your owners manual for fuse box location and check for any blown fuses. Next check the brake peddle under the dash for a switch, which is mounted to the peddle arm and turns on the lights when the peddle is pressed in. If the switch has worked loose and is not being pushed when you are pressing the peddle the lights will not come on. Hope this helps Fix Ya up.

"painless wiring kit" maybe available for your application. sometimes not so "painless" though

It sounds like you may have blown a fuse, the owners manual should show you where the fuse panels are. It should tell you, which fuse is for the truck and gas door, I'm betting they are both on the same fuse. I don't know if the glove box light is on the same circuit or not, but you may have jared something lose in the dash. Or pinched a wire, behind the dash.

your auto headlamps are operated from a photo (light) sensor on the dash.-thats where you start and end, just replace the sensor...wow $800, they were gonna rob you blind!

You need someone with VAGCOM (the VW/Audi diagnostic software) to turn the light off. Try to find an independent Euro shop rather than a dealer, as they generally charge less. The previous owner of my A4 had to pay an hour's labor for them to turn off an airbag light (a 3 minute procedure).