double-oh-coupe

As the title states, when I turn on my parking lights, my headlights come up. I do have the infamous stripped gear on one of my headlights that I need to fix ... could these two things be connected? Anyone else had this problem, and how did you solve it?

Thanks in advance,
Chris ...

jbauch357

Funny, I have the same exact problem. One stripped gear, and the headlights come up when I turn on the parking lights. I already ordered new gears, but what to do about the headlights coming up?

muncie21

It's a feature...not a flaw

Let us know how you guys remedy this.

double-oh-coupe

Got my new gears on order too ... hopefully that solves it. I'll post it up (good or bad) when I install. It's good too hear, though, there is at least one other out there with the same symptoms/problem! Makes me think it is related ... Good luck.

blk04z

Maybe a bad light switch?

UncleFodder

Wow - what timing! I'm in the garage as I type this, about to change my gear (gulp!) I have the exact problem (search on my name, you'll find my post/thread about this from about 3 weeks ago). It is said, once you replace the worn gear, the headlights act normally again (do not pop up just on running/fog lights). Wish me luck!

dudleyd

Nope,
It's the striped gear. Replace the gear and and all will work as it should.

UncleFodder

Whew - ok the motor is out. Medium PITA to do so. Hope my fat hands can reach those nuts again on reinstall...

UncleFodder

Looks like that's all my fun for tonight - the epoxy doesn't look like it is going to set up any time soon, so I've decided to let it sit overnight and reattach everything in the morning.

jbauch357

did my gear replacement tonight and it was a snap, parking lights have returned back to normal operation. the light comes up and down at just barely a different rate than the stock gear, but nothing that is going to bother me. the only annoying thing is that I have a little squeak when the lamp comes back down, but it goes away if I hold on to the motor - interesting...

Medivh

I had this problem earlier this year too. I took it to the dealership, and the problem ended up being a control module or the actual left stick on the steering wheel that controls the headlights.

Crooze

I had a stripped gear earlier this year and replaced it and it's been working fine until this morning. When I arrived at work and turn my lights off they both went down but the light with the replaced gear popped back up! I opened the hood used the **** to crank it back down and it wouldn't take it all of the way down. I had to push it all of the way. So I turned them on and off again with the exact same result. Anybody have any ideas? I wouldn't think that big brass gear stripped.

JC in XTC5

When this problem was first posted, I was VERY doubtful that a stripped actuator gear would cause the headlights to incorrectly pop up when turning the switch to Parking Lights. But I was VERY WRONG!

I had the same issue a few weeks ago and discovered that they are indeed related. When one of the headlight gears goes bad, the motor continues to run a few seconds after to headlight door closes because there is not "stop" detected. That stop is what signals the headlight control module to switch power off to that motor (the stop causes the motor to increase current momentarily which the control module detects). Power to the motor does turn off after a few seconds of run-on due to some other timing circuit is my assumption.

So when no stop is detected, the headlight control module becomes confused. The headlight switch provides the CLOSE signal to the headlight control module only when the switch is OFF, so if the control module is confused, turning the switch to PARKING removes the OFF signal and the control module uses that as if the headlights were previously ON (i.e. keeps them raised).

Once I replaced the gear the problem no longer occurs.

JC in XTC5

If the headlight popped back up (I assume partially) check that the plastic stop that the motor arm hits in full close position has not fallen off or snapped. If it has, that will allow the actuator arm to continue past it's normal point.

What worries me is you're saying you can push the headlight down - I assume you still need to manually turn the ****. Check that the motor housing cover that you glued back didn't snap apart.

UncleFodder

Just finished mine, all is fixed again - no more grind, and fogs (only!) come on at the first switch position. Ah, no more fear going out at night, worried someone would hear that nasty grinding noise when killing the lights...

Crooze

I haven't had a chance to take a good look at it. Turning the **** will only take it about 90-95% down and then I have to actually place my hand on the top pf the light and push it the rest of the way.

I'm with you in thinking that the stop has broken or fallen off or the cover has come unglued.

Thanks for your iniput!

UncleFodder

Another possibility - the motor portion of the assembly attaches to the gear assembly by virtue of four metal tabs bent at 90 degrees holding it all together. Some of the info I've read talks about those tabs getting loose and allowing too much slack/tolerance. Simple fix is to smack those suckers back down tight once while the motor is out.

Point & Shoot

Same issue happened when my right front headlight gear went. Glad to hear it's caused by that. I've redone the headlight motor with rodney's bronze gear twice but the epoxy doesn't hold past 3 months. Any ideas?

double-oh-coupe

Thanks for all the replys guys ... good to know that my problem will be fixed once I get my new gears installed! Man I love this place!

UncleFodder

Man I hope my epoxy holds...One guy wrote about getting very small screws (eyeglass size, I believe) and using those to keep the cover on, obviously keeping them out of the works.