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My Dad recently gave me his 76 vette with electric pop up lights. I neglected to understand how a leak in the back window would allow as much water in as it did and now my headlights will no longer come up. After it the rain it was winking, I cleaned out the water in the tray, dried and charged the battery (it sat for a little longer than I intended) the one light went down but neither ever came back up, full battery. I checked three fuses in the engine bay that was in the same run of wires leading to the motors, replaced the relays, used a test light on all the fuses under the dash and I am not finding any issues. I am no electrician and do not know where to start/continue from here. I am inclined just not trained... any help would be great so I can safely drive somewhere and not worry about beating the sunset home. Thanks!!
Oye, it's been a few years since I installed mine.
If I remember correctly (definitely fact check me), you need just ground and power to the motors - with the remaining wires (yellow and red) used as trigger wires to actuate the motor up/down. I would test your motors, then check to make sure the relay's are wired correctly.
Thanks Kipring, I was thinking that's the next step just don't have enough experience testing electrical things like that and a but nervous I'll break them even more. Lol. My elementary knowledge tells me red is hot and black is ground but you never know.. is there only one company who made these? I'm not even sure the brand of these to look up schematics..
Thanks Kipring, I was thinking that's the next step just don't have enough experience testing electrical things like that and a but nervous I'll break them even more. Lol. My elementary knowledge tells me red is hot and black is ground but you never know.. is there only one company who made these? I'm not even sure the brand of these to look up schematics..
Those are motors from a NA Miata. Doubt there is anything wrong with them as they are designed to be exposed to the elements, its likely the wiring to them.
Last edited by Dynra Rockets; Aug 2, 2018 at 05:24 PM.
Those are motors from a NA Miata. Doubt there is anything wrong with them as they are designed to be exposed to the elements, its likely the wiring to them.
That's good info. I'll start googling Miata lights. Thanks Dynra!
They look like the mazda/miata motors I used for my electric headlights. Do you know how and where they are triggered? I wired them into the headlight harness to open/close; you should check that too.
They look like the mazda/miata motors I used for my electric headlights. Do you know how and where they are triggered? I wired them into the headlight harness to open/close; you should check that too.
I don't know, sadly. I stopped at the relays and didn't go further back. I'll see if I can later today. I really need a multi meter... Lol
I hear your Dad is too busy messing with his "Mopar" to bother with the Vette!!
I'll send you a PDF installation guide I've put together- as I know your Dad used a harness I made up for him. It has a wiring diagram.
Before you starting taking anything apart- you can do a quick test to see if the motors have power and ground.
1) Disconnect the 14mm jam nut holding the arm to the motor- pull the arm loose from the motor- I'd do this to keep your fingers from getting pinched.
2) Turn the red **** clockwise-should turn smoothly.. After a few turns- the motor should kick on and turn counterclockwise- it will turn fast so watch you fingers.. If it doesn't that means you don't have a power-ground or close trigger power.
Richard, got the driver side off and twisted it, it kicked in and went back. Getting the passenger side off is quite a challenge, still working on it.
Right or wrong I twisted the passenger with it connected light went up then down.. so we know they both are getting power. Where do I go next? Thanks for chiming in Richard!!
OK- so the next is to figure out why the open trigger wire (orange wire in below pic) is not getting power.
1) Is the low beam headlight working on both sides when you turn on the lights? Hit the high beams and make sure they work. Do the headlights come up on the high beams?
2) Make sure the harness is plugged into the low beam and the OEM harness ( Most people put the conversion harness on the driver side) should look like the orange female connector below below-
MAKE sure all three of the male pins have not pushed back in the black connector.
3) Put you hand on the relay- have someone turn on the lights- should feel/hear the relay click-
If no click- then we need to see if the relay is getting +12 on the white wire and a ground on the black wire.
OK- so the next is to figure out why the open trigger wire (orange wire in below pic) is not getting power.
1) Is the low beam headlight working on both sides when you turn on the lights? Hit the high beams and make sure they work. Do the headlights come up on the high beams?
2) Make sure the harness is plugged into the low beam and the OEM harness ( Most people put the conversion harness on the driver side) should look like the orange female connector below below-
MAKE sure all three of the male pins have not pushed back in the black connector.
3) Put you hand on the relay- have someone turn on the lights- should feel/hear the relay click-
If no click- then we need to see if the relay is getting +12 on the white wire and a ground on the black wire.
Found the culprit, a relay I would've not found if not for Richard and his methodical approach and informing me that they plugged into the factory lights, normally, behind the driver headlight. It was buried in there I barely noticed it there. Thanks Richard! Now I need to get fuel to it so I can drive it. That project saved for tomorrow.
I'd make sure you tuck the relay up under/next to the headlight in an upright position so it doesn't happen again. Looks like it was just catching water.
Now go drive it- HOWEVER I wouldn't run your Dad for pink slips now that he added a supercharger!!!
I'd make sure you tuck the relay up under/next to the headlight in an upright position so it doesn't happen again. Looks like it was just catching water.
Now go drive it- HOWEVER I wouldn't run your Dad for pink slips now that he added a supercharger!!!
Richard
Will try and find a place to tuck it. Nope, he's not getting this car back, I've ridden in his car and the power it has is amazing. The violence you experience when floored is soothing and there's no way the Vette will keep up. That's great advice also!!
Electric headlights
