headlight problem
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
headlight problem
Ok, so I have another problem on my 86. My driver side headlight is not spinning out. The light is on though. The passenger side is fine. Both lights were working last night. I haven't actually looked into the problem yet, but if anyone has any input of where to start, that'll be great.
sonny
sonny
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 0
From: CV ca
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13
I had to rebuild both of mine. I have an 89, not sure if their the same, but there are 3 teflon looking "pellets" that turn into mulch in there. Both headlights needed these, and only 1 needed a gear.
If I remember right the kit was around $5-$7. Per side.
If I remember right the kit was around $5-$7. Per side.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
As an old mechanic told me: (1) no brake lites - don't back up, (2) engine or drivetrain noise - turn up the music, (3) no headlites - don't drive at nite..
Good thoughts to live by
Good thoughts to live by
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Kokomo Indiana
If you can hear the motor spinning but the headlight will not raise, then it's probably the 3 bushings mentioned before. They are cheap. Just a little bit of a pain to get to them. MidAmerica sells them alone and also with the larger gear. I bought both and I ended up not needing the larger gear. Better to have it and not need it then to have it all torn apart and find out you do need it. Just my 2 cents.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
well, at least my car still have one eye left.
i don't even hear the motor working so maybe that's the problem. Is there some way to check that? and, can i manually force the headlights to flip up?
i don't even hear the motor working so maybe that's the problem. Is there some way to check that? and, can i manually force the headlights to flip up?
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Fuquay Varina North Carolina
Originally Posted by sonny746
well, at least my car still have one eye left.
i don't even hear the motor working so maybe that's the problem. Is there some way to check that? and, can i manually force the headlights to flip up?
i don't even hear the motor working so maybe that's the problem. Is there some way to check that? and, can i manually force the headlights to flip up?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
Originally Posted by sonny746
well, at least my car still have one eye left.
i don't even hear the motor working so maybe that's the problem. Is there some way to check that? and, can i manually force the headlights to flip up?
i don't even hear the motor working so maybe that's the problem. Is there some way to check that? and, can i manually force the headlights to flip up?
You can test the headlight motors by supplying direct ground and 12v on certain wires. HERE is a thread I started that tells you how on a 86 and I'm sure other years, but may have different color wires. MrRenoman and jfb know there stuff.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,335
Likes: 264
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake IL
I do not know if the 86 light assemblies are the same as the 94 I do know that earlier C4's had a different light assembly.
If the motor is spinning it sounds like the delrin bushings are dead. You can purchase them at Corvette America, Ecklers, Corvette Central. They are about $6.00 a set.
Buy a set for both lights and replace them at the same time.
I only replaced one and now the other light is starting to make the noice DUH
Enclosed is a step by step guide on how to replace the bushings.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/zrjuan/headlight.html
Hope this helps
Javwho
If the motor is spinning it sounds like the delrin bushings are dead. You can purchase them at Corvette America, Ecklers, Corvette Central. They are about $6.00 a set.
Buy a set for both lights and replace them at the same time.
I only replaced one and now the other light is starting to make the noice DUH
Enclosed is a step by step guide on how to replace the bushings.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/zrjuan/headlight.html
Hope this helps
Javwho
CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,040
Likes: 34
From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Originally Posted by VinceC4
Yes you can turn the headlight up manually..there is a **** near the headlight(black)..keep turning it and you will see the headlight flip up
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
Try and manually rotate the headlight up. Have the headlight motor wires connected. Turn the headlights on and then turn them off. Does the headlight go down or stay up? Test the voltage at the connector with a VOM with the headlights on and off. The headlight operate on a ground. Take the relays out and ohm test them. All of this is discussed in the link I provided above. This could possibly be a relay problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 124
From: Reno/Sparks Nevada
Keep in mind that the early C4s 84-87 motors are completely different than the 88-up. 86's don't have bushings. I had posted in a previous thread a link to a website detailing the early C4 headlight motor dismantling. Plus isolating the problem to the motor is vital before throwing money at it, which is what usually happens.
Art
Art
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
Originally Posted by FF1wms
I had to rebuild both of mine. I have an 89, not sure if their the same, but there are 3 teflon looking "pellets" that turn into mulch in there. Both headlights needed these, and only 1 needed a gear.
If I remember right the kit was around $5-$7. Per side.
If I remember right the kit was around $5-$7. Per side.
There are relays on the drivers side engine compartment that could be a problem. Also, inside each motor there are two sets of contacts...look like standard point igition type things. In my '87, those contacts were pitted...like used to happen to points used in ignition systems of the 60's. Filing those contact sets with a points file fixed mine when one was stuck in the down position.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 124
From: Reno/Sparks Nevada
Here's a link detailing the dismantling of an early C4 motor...
http://automobiletest.com/service/19...ghts/index.htm
And here's one for a later motor...
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/zrjuan/headlight.html
Very different designs. Even the symptoms when there is a problem are different. Good Luck!
Art
http://automobiletest.com/service/19...ghts/index.htm
And here's one for a later motor...
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/zrjuan/headlight.html
Very different designs. Even the symptoms when there is a problem are different. Good Luck!
Art
Last edited by MrRenoman; Oct 29, 2006 at 09:57 PM.