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Headlight issue???

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Old May 29, 2008 | 01:36 PM
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Default Headlight issue???

ok so i went to go out for a nice night drive the other night and both my popup headlight came out but only went halfway and they just kinda bobed and never went full up and locked. i checked the motors and they are both working just fine. my guess is the gears but before i go buy some i figuard i would just ask around see if im missing anything.
Its a 1993 vert.
Taylor Truelove
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Old May 29, 2008 | 08:09 PM
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Most likely the plastic bushings have gone to dust. There is a "sticky" in the C-4 Tech section on the repair:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1848666

Rather than pay Mid-America's or Eckler's prices, I picked up at set at the local Ace Hardware for 65 cents. They have been in several years and work fine.
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Old May 29, 2008 | 10:07 PM
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Most likely the plastic bushings have gone to dust.

To test this theory, turn the manual know atop each headlight motor to see if the errant light feels "loose" or sloppy; if so service the motor bushings.

I got the kit from MAM that has the three bushings along with a brass gear. I tossed the new gear as OEM was in fine shape and just replaced the three nylon-like bushings. Once you have the old plastic gear out it's helpful if you file a notch on the perimeter of said gear to make it easier to install.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 03:58 AM
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WildRide... My headlights are starting to do the same thing. What size bushing should I get at Ace Hardware that will fit. I have a 1988 Corvette.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 06:24 AM
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the bushings are a very easy repair that you can do yourself.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 06:36 AM
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Originally Posted by joecaver
the bushings are a very easy repair that you can do yourself.
Did mine a few weeks ago. The first one took a while, but the second was a breeze!
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Old May 30, 2008 | 08:18 AM
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[IMG][/IMG]They look like this:
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Old May 30, 2008 | 11:44 AM
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I really hope thats it just as soon as i get off work im gonna go check cause i miss getting to turn my head lights on and just have them go all they way up. And now one of them wont even unlock i have to unlock in manualy and lock it in the up right postion now.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 12:45 PM
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100% sure that this is your problem
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Old May 30, 2008 | 01:38 PM
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Well i hope so a nice cheap fix will be nice give me something todo on my weekend no more inbearising using a pen to hold them up at night
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Old May 30, 2008 | 02:05 PM
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just a quick question when i put the motor assebly back on and then put the headlight back into the car if something is out of line or off by my mistake can i risk burning up the modem or can i avoid this in any exstra step just worried about burning the motor up not made of money lol
Taylor Truelove
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Old May 30, 2008 | 05:26 PM
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It is a quick and easy job. Follow the directions in the repair thread. You can also use ford window motor bushings from the auto parts store. They are the same ones.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 07:29 PM
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I changed my bushings today, Its not as easy as some people will have belive. You can't reach some of the nuts and bolts without take entire headlight assembly out. It took me about 3 hours. I'm sure the next one will go easier
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Old May 30, 2008 | 08:33 PM
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Originally Posted by SpeedyKev42
WildRide... My headlights are starting to do the same thing. What size bushing should I get at Ace Hardware that will fit. I have a 1988 Corvette.

The size I have scribbled down was 27/64 by 29/64. Which is length vs. diameter I don't recall.


Try Home Depot and their part number part number 3069987278.

One user had reported problems with the Home Depot bushing collapsing after a few weeks service. That is why I went to Ace and picked up some bushings that had a heavier sidewall. I did have to shorten them slightly to fit into the gear. Ace also had bushings that looked similar to and were the same size as the Home Depot bushing.
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Old May 31, 2008 | 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by frontier1111
I changed my bushings today, Its not as easy as some people will have belive. You can't reach some of the nuts and bolts without take entire headlight assembly out. It took me about 3 hours. I'm sure the next one will go easier
You have to take the entire "bucket" out.

The reason for the long procedure was that you were trying everything you could to get to certain bolts/nuts.

Trust me, take the entire thing out and see if it doesn't go easier for you the next time.
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Old May 31, 2008 | 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by bangand0lufsen
just a quick question when i put the motor assebly back on and then put the headlight back into the car if something is out of line or off
Here is the deal......and dealing with Brand X pop up lights in the past I understand where you are coming from with the alignment thing.

GM designed these to be very simple voltage feedback canceling motors.....in other words, when the headlight assembly hits the rubber stopper, the voltage in the motor begins to spike as the resistance increases dramatically at that point. There is a sensor in there and when it senses the voltage spike.....the motor quits.......It is that simple.

You get the assembly back in, adjust the rubber bumper stops and your golden.

Good luck
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 10:15 AM
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ok so i took apart the headlights yesterday and everything went well install guid was great, only problem is that the bushings are fine inside the gear. I still went ahead a changed them just incase but my popup headlights are still not working right. Its almost like the shaft coming out of the yellow gear in the case is sliping inside the gear cause the gears work fine and motor runs properly but its like the shaft isnt turning with it. Any ideas would be great this is starting to frustrate me a little bit.
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 11:58 AM
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^^That very well may be the case. The twisty gear from the motor could be stripped allowing the shaft to spin inside the plastic.
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 12:15 PM
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How would i be able to test / find out for sure if it is. You are talking about the gear with out the bushings in it correct? also the gear that is attached to the motor shaft isnt striped on the outside teeth are in full contact of the gear with the bushings in it.
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 12:44 PM
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No the Twisty gear....the cork screw one that is attached to the motor itself.

So the cork screw one turns the large white one, which turns the smaller black.....if none of the teeth are ground on visual inspection then it could only be the Motor shaft twisting inside the cork screw gear.

I'm just reaching here, I cannot see what you are dealing with....
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