Passenger side headlight not rotating
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Passenger side headlight not rotating
Hello all,
Im 19, stationed on Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, California, and completely brand new to the whole Corvette thing. I just got my grandfathers 84, and everything is going well except that the passenger side headlight rotates when it wants, and usually only rotates out if the headlights are on and the hood is opened and then closed. Its almost like its getting stuck on something, or maybe there's a gear that's not engaging? On the few times I'm able to get the passenger side headlight to rotate out, it closes fine on its own when i push the lever in to turn them off.
Has anybody had this problem and know a solution? AND, if anybody is in the San Diego area and would be willing to help me fix this problem, it would be very helpful and greatly appreciated. I constantly hear about Corvette drivers being a "family" and helping each other as much as they can. I need to be able to drive at night! haha
Thank you to all who read/post a response to this! Now hopefully I can be pointed in the right direction!
Hope everyone has a fantastic day!
Im 19, stationed on Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, California, and completely brand new to the whole Corvette thing. I just got my grandfathers 84, and everything is going well except that the passenger side headlight rotates when it wants, and usually only rotates out if the headlights are on and the hood is opened and then closed. Its almost like its getting stuck on something, or maybe there's a gear that's not engaging? On the few times I'm able to get the passenger side headlight to rotate out, it closes fine on its own when i push the lever in to turn them off.
Has anybody had this problem and know a solution? AND, if anybody is in the San Diego area and would be willing to help me fix this problem, it would be very helpful and greatly appreciated. I constantly hear about Corvette drivers being a "family" and helping each other as much as they can. I need to be able to drive at night! haha
Thank you to all who read/post a response to this! Now hopefully I can be pointed in the right direction!
Hope everyone has a fantastic day!
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Sounds like you need to replace the bushings in the headlight motor, it's a common problem with these cars. Search the forum for a fix . I wish I could direct you to one. Be sure to find one that is for 84 to 87 cars , the 88 and later cars are different. BTW , welcome to C4 ownership.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
The 84 motor does not have the bushings, that would be the 88 up. If the light works with the hood up, it's probably hitting on something. Look very carefully, with someone else turning the lights on. Put pressure on the light when it turns off or on and make sure it pulls through. Wiggle the wires to see if you have a broken on or a bad connection.. It could be a bad gear in the motor, or even a bad relay. Take two asprins and call me in the morning
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,889
Likes: 8
From: Whitefish Falls Ontario
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
This thread from the C4 tech section gives you the how to repair the newer C4's, but if you go to post #18 it discusses the 84-87..http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...air-w-pic.html. Hope this helps.. 
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
thank you to everyone giving me ideas of what could be wrong!
@zr1fred-- the headlight never rotates when the hood is open. only if i have the headlight on and then drop the hood closed will it (occasionally) close. This thought may be dumb, but maybe the vibration of the hood closing is enough to move the gear enough if one of those teeth on it are broken so it will engage? idk... Just gotta get some more ideas before I go ordering parts..
once again, thank you! Im just crossing my fingers its not a sign of the motor starting to go out...
I can always manually turn the light to the on position for the time being, so not all hope is lost of any night driving!
@zr1fred-- the headlight never rotates when the hood is open. only if i have the headlight on and then drop the hood closed will it (occasionally) close. This thought may be dumb, but maybe the vibration of the hood closing is enough to move the gear enough if one of those teeth on it are broken so it will engage? idk... Just gotta get some more ideas before I go ordering parts..
once again, thank you! Im just crossing my fingers its not a sign of the motor starting to go out...
I can always manually turn the light to the on position for the time being, so not all hope is lost of any night driving!
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Whitman MA
Check the relays. My 87 had the same problem. The relays are just in front of the wheel well on the drivers side under a cover with two 9/32 head screws holding the cover. There are three relays there. On mine the bottom two controlled the headlight motors. Try swapping the two relays, if the problem goes to the other side headlight, you know you have a bad relay.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 5
From: Bay Shore, NY
Check the relays. My 87 had the same problem. The relays are just in front of the wheel well on the drivers side under a cover with two 9/32 head screws holding the cover. There are three relays there. On mine the bottom two controlled the headlight motors. Try swapping the two relays, if the problem goes to the other side headlight, you know you have a bad relay.
I would check the wiring going to the motor on that faulty side as well as the relay. If both check out, you probably have to rebuild the motor.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Hey all, so i just swapped the headlight relays and the problem still persists! lol kinda ruined my evening. was hoping for a quick fix, didnt seem to happen.... so i also have another question. according to ecklers corvette, there are 2 different types of relays under the cover in front of the drivers wheel well. there are 2 headlight "actuator" relays and 1 headlight "isolator" relay. what exactly is the difference? i swapped the 2 actuator relays, could the "isolator" relay be the source of the headlight not rotating out? as for checking the wiring, I did my best to wiggle all the wires, and thoroughly ensured the gray connector that powers the headlight motor was connected fully. as for right now I still have the "problem" headlight rotated out manually, and locked, and both the headlight motors are unplugged, so the headlights are rotated out all the time, i just control whether the lights are on or not.
As i said before, the "problem" headlight ALWAYS rotates in when i turn it off, but the dang thing just refuses to rotate out when I turn the headlights on. The gears seem like the next task, and working in a parking lot on a military base, with limited tools seems like a daunting task looming in front of me. haha
Thank you for all the help!
As i said before, the "problem" headlight ALWAYS rotates in when i turn it off, but the dang thing just refuses to rotate out when I turn the headlights on. The gears seem like the next task, and working in a parking lot on a military base, with limited tools seems like a daunting task looming in front of me. haha
Thank you for all the help!
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,889
Likes: 8
From: Whitefish Falls Ontario
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Not sure why they used an isolation relay, but it only controls the close on the RH motor.. If you have a meter check the connectors to the motors for 12v. The RH motor should have 12v between a dark green/white wire and a white/black wire. The LH motor between a dark green wire and white wire.. If they both have 12v, time to look at the motor..
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
I'll bet your white headlight gear is stripped (very common problem). My left one has stripped twice. The right one is still fine after 26 years.
The only way to really find out is to take it apart and see what's happening.
The only way to really find out is to take it apart and see what's happening.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Alright, Update time.. so the headlight problem is resolved, my grandpa has the car at his house right now because I'm deployed, he took apart the headlight, gears were fine, ordered some relays, that wasn't the issue. Apparently a wire near the firewall had broken, and finally showed itself. Reattached the wire and wrapped the mended area in shrink wrap, and the headlight rotates fine again. Sometimes the simple things don't show themselves until you try all your other methods... Lol. At least I have some extra headlight relays in case I need them in the future.
Now the paint on the rear end above the tail lights has started to fade and the clear coat is in bad shape, looks like time for some new paint in that area. When I get home, gonna get the exhaust done, just gotta get some headers for the crossfire, or have some made at my local exhaust shop (assuming they can) Thinking about porting the intake as well. There's always something that can be worked on!
Have a good one y'all.
Tim
Now the paint on the rear end above the tail lights has started to fade and the clear coat is in bad shape, looks like time for some new paint in that area. When I get home, gonna get the exhaust done, just gotta get some headers for the crossfire, or have some made at my local exhaust shop (assuming they can) Thinking about porting the intake as well. There's always something that can be worked on!
Have a good one y'all.
Tim