Strange Motor Noise with Flip Up Headlights
02-02-2019, 08:35 AM
#1
Strange Motor Noise with Flip Up Headlights
When I turn my headlights on they flip up just find but I keep hearing a popping or grinding noise for a couple seconds after they're up. Same experience when closing. It's like the motor doesn't know to stop once the lights are fully up or fully down. Any ideas on what's wrong?
Last edited by gsburden; 02-02-2019 at 08:36 AM.
02-02-2019, 09:16 AM
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Feb 2003
Location: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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2015 C2 of Year Finalist
yes time to rebuild your headlight motors with new gears and bushings. there are many write ups on how to do it.
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gsburden (02-02-2019)
02-02-2019, 09:24 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jan 2019
Location: Park City, TN
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2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
2020 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (stock)
This video is pretty good.
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gsburden (02-02-2019)
02-02-2019, 09:32 AM
#4
It's the nylon bushings in the motor itself. I had the same problem with my 93 when i bought it. I removed the complete headlight assy, placed on work bench, disassembled, cleaned out the left over dust form the old bushings and replaced with new delrin bushings. It's not too hard, just watch where each washer belongs and replace in the same order.Several videos on this on you tube. There are 3 bushing in each motor and most vendors here have them.
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gsburden (02-02-2019)
02-02-2019, 05:26 PM
#5
Rodney Dickerman sells a rebuild kit for this. Replace the nylon gears with BRASS gears. I just rebuilt both of mine last week, the kit for Two has everything, including grease, instructions, silicone sealer. There are two types of motors so you need to check his photos out to ensure you order the correct kit. rodney@rodneydickman.com
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gsburden (02-03-2019)
02-02-2019, 05:37 PM
#6
Team Owner
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When I rebuilt mine years ago Corvette Central had both plastic and brass gears and bushings. I figured since plastic lasted 20 years new would do the same. And now I don’t own the car anymore
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gsburden (02-03-2019)
02-02-2019, 06:41 PM
#7
Team Owner
1. The new plastic is the same and will last
2. If, for whatever reason it doesn't, you can still get a replacement relatively easy without dumpster diving in the boneyard
3. You will dispose of the car (Away from friends and family) before it breaks.
I had #3 since I will NEVER sell to friends and family but not sure of the first 2 so I got brass.
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gsburden (02-03-2019)
02-02-2019, 08:10 PM
#8
I used the same logic when choosing to use plastic gears, and the teeth on one of the gears stripped off within 6 months. It may have looked the same as the oem gear but the plastic obviously wasn’t up to the same grade. Get brass the first time and be done with it.
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gsburden (02-03-2019)
02-02-2019, 09:34 PM
#9
Team Owner
My gears looked fine and I was saving it for a spare till I put a bright light on it and saw hairline cracks rhat I did not see with casual observation
02-02-2019, 10:20 PM
#10
Intermediate
Mine do the same thing. I bought the replacement bushings for a couple bucks right after I bought the car but haven’t been motivated to replace them. In my mind they still work fine and I don’t want to take a couple hours to replace them. I guess I’ll get around to it eventually. It’s just a little annoying to hear them flutter for a couple seconds before and after they flip over.
02-02-2019, 11:14 PM
#11
Team Owner
Mine do the same thing. I bought the replacement bushings for a couple bucks right after I bought the car but haven’t been motivated to replace them. In my mind they still work fine and I don’t want to take a couple hours to replace them. I guess I’ll get around to it eventually. It’s just a little annoying to hear them flutter for a couple seconds before and after they flip over.