headlight issue
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: South Haven Minnesota
Headlight problems
This sort of thing just happened to my 85 Mine won't even go up but I heard the little plastci gears in the motor can chip the teeth and might jamb the gears and making them stick somtimes.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Victoria Australia
Hi Guys,
If there are any signs of headlights hanging halfway, not closing indicates 90% pointing to failed gears causing the headlight rotation to slip. How do I know, I tried all sorts of adjustments, shimming and every form of adjustment when I gave in and bought a recondition motor assembly (exchange) with the updated refurbished gears.
If you are handy with your stuff you can go a cheaper route and buy the gears and dismantle the headlight motor yourself.
If there are any signs of headlights hanging halfway, not closing indicates 90% pointing to failed gears causing the headlight rotation to slip. How do I know, I tried all sorts of adjustments, shimming and every form of adjustment when I gave in and bought a recondition motor assembly (exchange) with the updated refurbished gears.
If you are handy with your stuff you can go a cheaper route and buy the gears and dismantle the headlight motor yourself.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 40
Likes: 10
From: NC
The most likely cause is the three plastic bushings turning to dust.
There are discussions on the forum on rebuilding the drives and the parts are available from the normal suppliers. In my 1992, the plastic gears were fine, the bushings were literally dust. It was a cheap fix.
There are discussions on the forum on rebuilding the drives and the parts are available from the normal suppliers. In my 1992, the plastic gears were fine, the bushings were literally dust. It was a cheap fix.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
The most likely cause is the three plastic bushings turning to dust.
There are discussions on the forum on rebuilding the drives and the parts are available from the normal suppliers. In my 1992, the plastic gears were fine, the bushings were literally dust. It was a cheap fix.
There are discussions on the forum on rebuilding the drives and the parts are available from the normal suppliers. In my 1992, the plastic gears were fine, the bushings were literally dust. It was a cheap fix.
If the headlight motor is running and the light not moving, I'd suspect a gear is missing some teeth. If it's not running, I'd suspect a pitted or burned contact set in the motor...there are two. I'm old enough to still have a points file in my toolbox that I used to clean up mine. I suppose a nail file or emery board would work fine if thats what you have. Easy to do. Disassemble the motor and you'll see the points in the case. Open them up and stick your file in there and file a little bit. Not much room to file, but it's enough. The object is just to clean them so electrical contact is restored, not to remove material. jmo
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 16
From: El Dorado Hills CA
The most likely cause is the three plastic bushings turning to dust.
There are discussions on the forum on rebuilding the drives and the parts are available from the normal suppliers. In my 1992, the plastic gears were fine, the bushings were literally dust. It was a cheap fix.
There are discussions on the forum on rebuilding the drives and the parts are available from the normal suppliers. In my 1992, the plastic gears were fine, the bushings were literally dust. It was a cheap fix.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,777
Likes: 5
From: Wichita Ks
Thread on replacing the bushings http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/33098/index.html Another one http://home.comcast.net/~zrjuan/headlight.html
I was in a hurry when I made the post but I should have stated, this is for the guys reading this thread and have the later C4s and you are correct the older C4s do not have the bushings. I figured with the title of the thread that guys with different year cars would be reading this.
I was in a hurry when I made the post but I should have stated, this is for the guys reading this thread and have the later C4s and you are correct the older C4s do not have the bushings. I figured with the title of the thread that guys with different year cars would be reading this.
Last edited by mrmtrtrnd; Jul 30, 2011 at 05:41 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
Thred on replacing the bushings http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/33098/index.html Another one http://home.comcast.net/~zrjuan/headlight.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 27
From: Athens Ohio
Again, he has an 1984 model. It has no bushings. The repair you're refering to is for models from 1988 to 1996. Unless it's been changed over to the later type, they are definately not the same at all. No bushings in there, don't waste the money buying them because there will be no place to install them in an '84.
There are no bushings in the 84 headlight. I replace gears in my 86 two weeks ago. I removed the whole headlight assembly. Not a bad job at all.
