93 headlight door rotation
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Ephrata Pennsylvania
93 headlight door rotation
I changed the headlights on my 93 convertible. New glass housings and interchangeable modern hi power headlamps. To accomplish this I had to get the doors to rotate halfway then stop so that access was easy for the change.
After completing the job successfully, I returned the rotating doors to their closed and open position many times using the headlight switch.
Within a day the headlight doors would no longer stop at a normal full closed position, they rattled back and forth, rotating only a small amount but still chattering six or more times before going off (rest position).
I fear this is going to wear out the drive mechanism unless I can fix it.
After completing the job successfully, I returned the rotating doors to their closed and open position many times using the headlight switch.
Within a day the headlight doors would no longer stop at a normal full closed position, they rattled back and forth, rotating only a small amount but still chattering six or more times before going off (rest position).
I fear this is going to wear out the drive mechanism unless I can fix it.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 9
From: Minneapolis MN
Sounds like your bushing are toast. Perhaps stopping them like you did was enough to make them finally fail completely. You may need to take the motors apart and replace the bushings. They are three little plastic pieces and not too hard to replace. Plenty of how to threads on this forum.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Ephrata Pennsylvania
93 Headlight door rotation
Thanks for your reply.
I wonder, if the motor bushings went bad (both at the same time) why do the doors operate properly when headlights are switched on and off?
This chatter problem occurs even when I have just the parking lights on.
When the switch is turned to off the chatter begins even if the doors were not opened.
I wonder, if the motor bushings went bad (both at the same time) why do the doors operate properly when headlights are switched on and off?
This chatter problem occurs even when I have just the parking lights on.
When the switch is turned to off the chatter begins even if the doors were not opened.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 5
From: Bay Shore, NY
Its the bushings, I had the same problem in my C4. The headlights would rotate up even when just the parking lights came on and the motors would "run on" when the headlights were rotated up and retracted. Bushings in both motors were toast. Once I replaced them, everything went back to normal.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 144
From: on Barnegat Bay Joisey
just finished replacing the bushings in the left side headlight assy. This is more involved than the tutorials show. Do yourself a favor and take pics of the assy in the closed position BEFORE you start to take it apart cause you can put it together backwards. Figure on 3 to 4 hours with the first one.
I used ZIP products bushings and found them to be oversized. I had to wait to get replacements which were undersized so I mixed the 2 batches together and got them to work. Took about a week and several telecons to get it right.
I used ZIP products bushings and found them to be oversized. I had to wait to get replacements which were undersized so I mixed the 2 batches together and got them to work. Took about a week and several telecons to get it right.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 5
From: Bay Shore, NY
I purchased this kit off eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-1996-Co...item4ab9129bcd
It came with 2 gears and 6 matching bushings along with instructions. I scrapped the instructions in favor of this video tutorial I saw on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfdb1y6SO_o
Initially, I was afraid to do the swap, but after seeing the video, I knew it was in my scope. I did the first light in about an hour, the second in 20 minutes. The hardest part is punching out the pin. I would suggest also removing the outer cover over the headlight. Its a bit tight to work on the frame with it in place and your chances of scratching it are great.
It came with 2 gears and 6 matching bushings along with instructions. I scrapped the instructions in favor of this video tutorial I saw on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfdb1y6SO_o
Initially, I was afraid to do the swap, but after seeing the video, I knew it was in my scope. I did the first light in about an hour, the second in 20 minutes. The hardest part is punching out the pin. I would suggest also removing the outer cover over the headlight. Its a bit tight to work on the frame with it in place and your chances of scratching it are great.
