Headlight Problem
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1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
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Headlight Problem
Passenger side headlight will only open half way but motor still runs. Must turn headlights on and off to get to close. After it closes motor continues to run for a few seconds. Any ideas what may be wrong?
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
headlights
Good luck
Corvette Mike
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 97
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From: Rugby, Warwickshire, England
Fixed Mine Today
Finally got around to fixing my Passenger Side Headlight today, it has been acting up since last July and I've had the parts since about September but have been moving house and haven't had chance before, I just got the 3 bush kit from MAM, was relatively simple, took me a couple of hours, should probably have taken less! The old bushes were reduced to crumbs.
Guide below was excellent, think already linked here, but linked here again in case it helps, thanks Corvette Forum!
http://home.comcast.net/~zrjuan/headlight.html
pK;-)
Guide below was excellent, think already linked here, but linked here again in case it helps, thanks Corvette Forum!
http://home.comcast.net/~zrjuan/headlight.html
pK;-)
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
Likes: 2,719
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
the 2nd side
The 2nd side after you have did one goes alot smother and quicker.
Corvette Mike
Corvette Mike
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Rugby, Warwickshire, England
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Waco TX
It's either the bushings (VERY common problem) or the axle that goes through the middle of the gear is loose (rare, but it happened to me).
The previous owner of mine had already put brass gears and when I checked the bushings, they were fine so I was stumped. Then I noticed after taking things apart that the gear could just spin freely around the axle that goes through the center of the gear. It should be fixed. The axle has some splines in the middle of it that are supposed to keep it from doing this. My solution was just to simply tap the axle out of the gear with a rubber mallet hammer and then knock it back through. When I put it back through the gear, it fit much tighter for whatever reason. Problem solved.
Caveat: when you're taking things apart to do this do NOT take the motor housing off the gear housing. It is a PITA to put back together. There are these 2 spring loaded brushes that push up against the shaft coming out of the motor. The shaft coming out of the motor looks like a big screw where the teeth of the gear mesh with the groves on the screw. Do NOT take the screw-like shaft out of the housing, just take the gear out. Trust me...I wish someone would have told me this.
The previous owner of mine had already put brass gears and when I checked the bushings, they were fine so I was stumped. Then I noticed after taking things apart that the gear could just spin freely around the axle that goes through the center of the gear. It should be fixed. The axle has some splines in the middle of it that are supposed to keep it from doing this. My solution was just to simply tap the axle out of the gear with a rubber mallet hammer and then knock it back through. When I put it back through the gear, it fit much tighter for whatever reason. Problem solved.
Caveat: when you're taking things apart to do this do NOT take the motor housing off the gear housing. It is a PITA to put back together. There are these 2 spring loaded brushes that push up against the shaft coming out of the motor. The shaft coming out of the motor looks like a big screw where the teeth of the gear mesh with the groves on the screw. Do NOT take the screw-like shaft out of the housing, just take the gear out. Trust me...I wish someone would have told me this.
