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Since the car is new to me I'm wondering and probably am right that when the headlight lids close they keep running for several seconds with a continuous clicking is not right. Sounds like a plastic gear is about to strip.
Thanks! very informative! I printed the article. I'll tackle that after I get the dash squared away. Trying to get the A/C programmer out from under the dash....YIKES...If you never did one before your in for a real treat!
Yep, they should not continue making noise after the close. If they do, the bushings are the likely culprit. Same thing happened on mine when I first acquired it, and like you, I assumed it was normal operation. Eventually, one of them failed to close all the way, and that's when I realized.
Make sure not to strip the torx bolts. I stripped the one on the bottom rail of the driver's side unit. It's back together without, and working well despite the missing bolt. There are three other bolts holding it, but I"ll have to keep an eye on it and replace it if the assembly starts to slip. Also those pesky 1/4" bolts holding the cover over the gear... I had one snap on the passenger's side before I even tried to turn it and easy-outs failed (again). The assembly works fine now, but the gear housing isn't sealed properly, even with the gasket so I will probably pull it apart and try to drill out the old bolt again at some point.
Reassembly would have been easier with a diagram. Even with a photo, I managed to install the stop toggle on the passenger side 90 degrees off and the headlight only opened about half way. Took several tries to get it right. I'm sure there's a diagram somewhere in the FSM but for the life of me, I couldn't find it.
The plastic bushings are cheap. I used 2x "Dorman 74410 Window Regulator Gear Plug, Pack of 3," about $14 total off of Amazon. They were available locally but a couple of dollars more expensive.
Thanks! These cars sure do have some gremlins built into them. Low mileage doesn't seem to help either. Lumbar A/C and headlights seem to be the favorites.
Thanks! These cars sure do have some gremlins built into them. Low mileage doesn't seem to help either. Lumbar A/C and headlights seem to be the favorites.
I understand the notion of low mileage, but the plastic, silicon, and rubber are close to 30 now...
I understand the notion of low mileage, but the plastic, silicon, and rubber are close to 30 now...
Yup! your right. Low mileage means nothing. Mine has 25K on it. At the moment I'm addressing the climate control issues I just finished taking the dash apart. I pulled the controller and the programmer, on my head for 3 hours working that push nut off the vacuum block on the programmer, What a job! I also decided to pull the instrument cluster and send it out too. This dash disassembly will be the first and last I hope. Then it will be on to the headlights.
There's also a good video on YT by ChrisFix that explains the puck replacement. I bought a kit from Dickman that had quality bushings, gaskets, and some additional instructions that turned out to be pretty helpful. I think it was like $18.
It is the degraded pucks, if it is just a noise at the end. While you are in there, I suggest you replace the gears with the brass ones, and the pucks with the Delrin one. The Corvette suppliers have these as a kit. This is what degraded pucks look like when you tear it apart
Ordering the parts for the headlights. On a search, and there are many, I have not found the part # to order the gear. So as not having to read all the post.... I figure it's 25 years old and I know I will not want to pull it apart again should it fail. I'd just rather replace it while I do the bushings. Is there a better source than not for the gear. Don't mind spending just don't want a cheap knock off.
Thanks
The brass are all knock-offs. OEM spec is the plastic. The usual suspects, Eckler and Zip-corvette have them. eBay and Amazon both have them as does Dickman. Google search "C-4 Corvette headlight rebuild." Prices range from $30 to $150.
So today I did the repair on my headlight retracting issue. I watched several YouTube Videos and noted several different ways these guys did the job. One guy took according to him most of the day. I did the left side first. That's the easy side as most of you already know. I did not take much of the headlight assembly apart as some say. I just loosened the parts I needed to and removed what needed to be removed. I weaseled the motor out and replaced the bushings. To my delight the headlight worked on reinstall. Not too bad a job! Then I did the right side and decided to time myself. 55 minutes headlight assembly out and on my bench and back in the car. That included the motor separating on me as one bolt fell out and the brushes popped out. As all the guys have said it's an easy job even with a problem. If you have never done it before fear not! It's TOO EASY a fix!
So today I did the repair on my headlight retracting issue. I watched several YouTube Videos and noted several different ways these guys did the job. One guy took according to him most of the day. I did the left side first. That's the easy side as most of you already know. I did not take much of the headlight assembly apart as some say. I just loosened the parts I needed to and removed what needed to be removed. I weaseled the motor out and replaced the bushings. To my delight the headlight worked on reinstall. Not too bad a job! Then I did the right side and decided to time myself. 55 minutes headlight assembly out and on my bench and back in the car. That included the motor separating on me as one bolt fell out and the brushes popped out. As all the guys have said it's an easy job even with a problem. If you have never done it before fear not! It's TOO EASY a fix!
Took me a bit longer but I agree it's an easy job. I found that pulling the whole assembly (four bolts, two nuts (three if you count me) and a plug) was easy. What killed my time was a stripped torx bolt, and the little toggle piece that I installed incorrectly several times despite the picture.
Took me a bit longer but I agree it's an easy job. I found that pulling the whole assembly (four bolts, two nuts (three if you count me) and a plug) was easy. What killed my time was a stripped torx bolt, and the little toggle piece that I installed incorrectly several times despite the picture.
Jerry
I did the same, pulled the whole headlight assembly. It was a holy crap moment when the motor came apart and the motor brushes popped out! I got the brushes back in to their slot and held them in place with some stiff wire bent in a square "U" shape. I got the motor back in and wiggled the wire out...It worked well.
headlight noise after closing
