Headlight question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,220
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Headlight question
One of my headlights is acting a little strange. Though they open and close O.K., one of them continues to run for a few seconds after it closes. In other words, the motor continues to whine for about 5 seconds, then it shuts off.
Is there an external switch that controls open/close travel? Its it something else? Are gears getting ready to shoot craps? Or is there an adjustment somewhere?
Thanks.
Gregg
Is there an external switch that controls open/close travel? Its it something else? Are gears getting ready to shoot craps? Or is there an adjustment somewhere?
Thanks.
Gregg
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,220
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Are the gears inside the motor?
If gears were going bad, I'd expect to see jumping, jerking, etc. (You know -- from missing teeth, jumping teeth, etc.) But, the motor sounds/looks normal until the headlight rotates smoothly closed, then it continues to whine evenly until the motor finally stops. Seems more like a shut-off switch error.
(Not arguing, just wondering)!
gp
If gears were going bad, I'd expect to see jumping, jerking, etc. (You know -- from missing teeth, jumping teeth, etc.) But, the motor sounds/looks normal until the headlight rotates smoothly closed, then it continues to whine evenly until the motor finally stops. Seems more like a shut-off switch error.
(Not arguing, just wondering)!
gp
Pro
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Originally Posted by GREGGPENN
Are the gears inside the motor?
If gears were going bad, I'd expect to see jumping, jerking, etc. (You know -- from missing teeth, jumping teeth, etc.) But, the motor sounds/looks normal until the headlight rotates smoothly closed, then it continues to whine evenly until the motor finally stops. Seems more like a shut-off switch error.
(Not arguing, just wondering)!
gp
If gears were going bad, I'd expect to see jumping, jerking, etc. (You know -- from missing teeth, jumping teeth, etc.) But, the motor sounds/looks normal until the headlight rotates smoothly closed, then it continues to whine evenly until the motor finally stops. Seems more like a shut-off switch error.
(Not arguing, just wondering)!
gp
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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What year? 1984 through 87 Vettes don't have bushings. Need more info.
And FWIW, I used Home Depot's bushings (nylon spacers) for my headlight repair two summer's ago and mine have worked fine ever since. I wouldn't call saving money a mistake.
And FWIW, I used Home Depot's bushings (nylon spacers) for my headlight repair two summer's ago and mine have worked fine ever since. I wouldn't call saving money a mistake.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 322
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From: Mt. Pleasant TX
Saving money
No way, as much work as we do on our babies we have to save at every opportunity.
That being said. I had exactly the same prob. also , replaced the 3 bushings, I believe your 89 is close to the same motor as in my '95. I did order the bushings from Mid Am. $10 and about 3 hrs to do both lights. Look up the thread that has a link to "How to" section of " Corvette Fever" magazine. Excellent article on how to do the job. A little patience is all thats needed to get the lights back to Normal
BTW once the bushings have disintegrated the nylon gear will no longer make proper contact w/ the worm gear in the motor so in turn once it hits where it should STOP it slips for a couple of extra turns gives you the syptoms you are having .. So Home Depot or Mid America , Ecklers, etc. it's a cheap fix that will give the desired results .. Good Luck.
That being said. I had exactly the same prob. also , replaced the 3 bushings, I believe your 89 is close to the same motor as in my '95. I did order the bushings from Mid Am. $10 and about 3 hrs to do both lights. Look up the thread that has a link to "How to" section of " Corvette Fever" magazine. Excellent article on how to do the job. A little patience is all thats needed to get the lights back to Normal
BTW once the bushings have disintegrated the nylon gear will no longer make proper contact w/ the worm gear in the motor so in turn once it hits where it should STOP it slips for a couple of extra turns gives you the syptoms you are having .. So Home Depot or Mid America , Ecklers, etc. it's a cheap fix that will give the desired results .. Good Luck.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 512
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From: Orlando, FL
Originally Posted by rufneck
No way, as much work as we do on our babies we have to save at every opportunity.
Bushings from Eckler's on the left of each picture, Home Depot bushings on the right.
Last edited by behnevette; Jul 12, 2005 at 08:19 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 322
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From: Mt. Pleasant TX
MAM bushings
Originally Posted by rufneck
That being said. I had exactly the same prob. also , replaced the 3 bushings, I believe your 89 is close to the same motor as in my '95. I did order the bushings from Mid Am. $10 and about 3 hrs to do both lights. .
Another thing after seeing the pics of the bushing comparison. Don't buy either one of those!!! The ones I got from Mid Am were, SOLID Delrin. Not a hollow bushing, I can see now why they are advertised as a big improvment. Thanks for posting the pics. The wealth of info here is awesome.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
$10 with shipping.
Those bushings are hollow, the original ones and MA ones are solid. For $10 lousy bucks, get the right ones.
It's an easy job. First one I did took about an hour. You will need a 10 MM socket and a 13MM socket. That's it to get it out.
From there it's a little tedious, but take your time and pay attention. TAKE PICTURES wiith a digital so if you're not sure how it goes back together you can reference.
Also, mark the headlight frame's position when you take it out of the car.
Those bushings are hollow, the original ones and MA ones are solid. For $10 lousy bucks, get the right ones.
It's an easy job. First one I did took about an hour. You will need a 10 MM socket and a 13MM socket. That's it to get it out.
From there it's a little tedious, but take your time and pay attention. TAKE PICTURES wiith a digital so if you're not sure how it goes back together you can reference.
Also, mark the headlight frame's position when you take it out of the car.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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I still stand behind the Home Depot bushings. Maybe you guys just got a bad batch? Who knows?
Like I said, mine have worked fine going on two years now, and there are many other guys on the Forum who are successfully using HD bushings with no premature failure issues.
There's no way in the world I'm going to pay $10 for a BS-assed piece of nylon. We all know the dreaded Corvette tax is out there, but goodness gracious! That's rediculous!
Like I said, mine have worked fine going on two years now, and there are many other guys on the Forum who are successfully using HD bushings with no premature failure issues.
There's no way in the world I'm going to pay $10 for a BS-assed piece of nylon. We all know the dreaded Corvette tax is out there, but goodness gracious! That's rediculous!