Weird Headlight Problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Wauseon Ohio
Weird Headlight Problem
Hey Guys,
My left headlight motor in my 85 went bad and stripped out the gears so I replaced it. Well i put the replacement motor in and it worked fine. Then when i turned it off and the headlight closed but the motor kept running and stripped the gears in the new assembly. So i exchanged that headlight motor assembly with a new one. It worked great for a week. Then i turned it off one night and the light closed but the motor kept running. Here's the thing. With the light still closed, I turned on the fog lights and the motor stopped running. I turned off the fog lights with the headlight **** and the motor started running again. So when everything is off, the motor runs. When the fog lights are on, the motor stops. What can be the problem? What initially tells the motor to stop running. Thanks alot
Matt
My left headlight motor in my 85 went bad and stripped out the gears so I replaced it. Well i put the replacement motor in and it worked fine. Then when i turned it off and the headlight closed but the motor kept running and stripped the gears in the new assembly. So i exchanged that headlight motor assembly with a new one. It worked great for a week. Then i turned it off one night and the light closed but the motor kept running. Here's the thing. With the light still closed, I turned on the fog lights and the motor stopped running. I turned off the fog lights with the headlight **** and the motor started running again. So when everything is off, the motor runs. When the fog lights are on, the motor stops. What can be the problem? What initially tells the motor to stop running. Thanks alot
Matt
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Sounds like bad bearings, but if you replaced the gears I assume those are fine. When I had a gear crack I stepped up to the brass units...all is well in flip-up headlight land now. Good luck...sorry I can't be of any more help.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 103
From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
Hey Guys,
My left headlight motor in my 85 went bad and stripped out the gears so I replaced it. Well i put the replacement motor in and it worked fine. Then when i turned it off and the headlight closed but the motor kept running and stripped the gears in the new assembly. So i exchanged that headlight motor assembly with a new one. It worked great for a week. Then i turned it off one night and the light closed but the motor kept running. Here's the thing. With the light still closed, I turned on the fog lights and the motor stopped running. I turned off the fog lights with the headlight **** and the motor started running again. So when everything is off, the motor runs. When the fog lights are on, the motor stops. What can be the problem? What initially tells the motor to stop running. Thanks alot
Matt
My left headlight motor in my 85 went bad and stripped out the gears so I replaced it. Well i put the replacement motor in and it worked fine. Then when i turned it off and the headlight closed but the motor kept running and stripped the gears in the new assembly. So i exchanged that headlight motor assembly with a new one. It worked great for a week. Then i turned it off one night and the light closed but the motor kept running. Here's the thing. With the light still closed, I turned on the fog lights and the motor stopped running. I turned off the fog lights with the headlight **** and the motor started running again. So when everything is off, the motor runs. When the fog lights are on, the motor stops. What can be the problem? What initially tells the motor to stop running. Thanks alot
Matt
Matt did you replace the bushings as well. Sounds like there is no friction points to lower and rasie the lights hence the running motors?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
I'm not sure exactly but a voltage spike tells something to switch off. The voltage sensor in yours is bad.
JUST MY THEORY. The ones that actually know something will come along and correct me
JUST MY THEORY. The ones that actually know something will come along and correct me
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 7,634
Likes: 326
From: Greenville SC
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Chandler Az
Biff,
You will need to replace the headlight actuator relay. The motor is a torque type motor and the relay see the increase in amprage draw. When this happens, the relay cuts off the power. In your case, the relay is sticking intermittently and causing the motor to run continiously. Ecklers sells the relay, Item# 33793 for $16.99.
Steve
You will need to replace the headlight actuator relay. The motor is a torque type motor and the relay see the increase in amprage draw. When this happens, the relay cuts off the power. In your case, the relay is sticking intermittently and causing the motor to run continiously. Ecklers sells the relay, Item# 33793 for $16.99.
Steve
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
Amen to that Brother. There are some on here that know my car better than I do and they have never seen it or me
I am thankful for them.
On a side note, I find it fascinating to see a person attack those knowledgeable persons. The attack stems from jealousy and it is very transparent. Yet it still occurs.
just a thought as I type.
I am thankful for them.
On a side note, I find it fascinating to see a person attack those knowledgeable persons. The attack stems from jealousy and it is very transparent. Yet it still occurs.
just a thought as I type.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 10
From: King George Virginia
2 or 3 wire
If your motors are original they will have 3 wires to them. The relays do not turn them off. The armature moves in the housing when the headlight moves against the stops and opens the circut. My first 85 had the original setup and it was a royal pain trying to find a good rebuilt motor. I ended up using parts from several to make one that actually worked. My current 85 has the 2 wire conversion, electronic control that works flawlessly.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,301
Likes: 240
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Chandler Az
Biff, If you remove your headlight motor you will notice that there is no limit switch. Therefore, how does the motor know when to open the circuit? This is accomplished by an increase in torque which in turn increases the amprage draw on the relay. The relay is designed to react to this condition and open the circuit, thus removing the power from the motor. I hope this helps.
Steve
Steve
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 10
From: King George Virginia
2 wire system
Biff, If you remove your headlight motor you will notice that there is no limit switch. Therefore, how does the motor know when to open the circuit? This is accomplished by an increase in torque which in turn increases the amprage draw on the relay. The relay is designed to react to this condition and open the circuit, thus removing the power from the motor. I hope this helps.
Steve
Steve
I believe in 88 they went to the new style.