Headlight problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 859
Likes: 8
Headlight problem
Tonight I went to for a quick drive and when I got home and turned my lights off I noticed that my passenger side headlight was still up. So I turned the lights on and of again several times to no avail. I could here the motor spinning but the light would not move. I went over and try to give the motor a slight push but it would not move. Finally I got the headlight to move somewhat but it didn't make it all the way around. Now the headlight moves freely around and does not lock in place. If I turn the headlights on or off, the light will move a little bit but doesn't quite make it to either open or closed position. I finally locked it in place shut by turning the light switch off and pushing the light to the closed position while the motor was still running. But if I push down at all on the light it rotates freely again. It was too dark for me to really see anything, but I've never worked on headlights before. What should I look for?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
Probably stripped a gear. The other thing I can think of is there's a roll pin in the end of the motor shaft that fits into the headlight assembly. Maybe that pin is absent or the plastic it fits into is broken. Those are about the only thing I can think of where the motor would run and the light not move in a 3 wire headlight motor which yours should be if it hasn't been converted to the newer style.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Well, you can rule out bushings since you have an '85 Vette (unless it's been converted to the 1988-96 style.)
It's probably a stripped gear. You can purchase them online from Eckler's, Mid-America Corvettes, The Last Detail and other vendors.
It's probably a stripped gear. You can purchase them online from Eckler's, Mid-America Corvettes, The Last Detail and other vendors.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 859
Likes: 8
Actually, I have yet to upate my profile, but I now own a 90 ZR-1. Sorry, I should have mentioned that. Also, the last owner said he had the headlight motors rebuilt.
Last edited by gregm999; May 31, 2007 at 02:14 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
One thing I would suggest is that you do not push or force the headlight up or down. This will only make matters worse. Open the hood, and there is a black **** on the headlight motors. You can manually turn these ***** to raise and lower your headlights. If the gear is badly stripped, you can gently pull or push on the headlight while turning the *****(this should get you past the stripped part of the nylon gear).
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 859
Likes: 8
One thing I would suggest is that you do not push or force the headlight up or down. This will only make matters worse. Open the hood, and there is a black **** on the headlight motors. You can manually turn these ***** to raise and lower your headlights. If the gear is badly stripped, you can gently pull or push on the headlight while turning the *****(this should get you past the stripped part of the nylon gear).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 859
Likes: 8
Ok guys here's an update. I went for quick spin tonight and the headlight that I was referring to actually made it up with a slight hesitation. I turned the lights on and off a few times and I had no problem with it. However, I did notice the headlight motor running for a few seconds after the light had rotated into place. I'm thinking this mean that I need to replace the bushings. How hard of a job am I looking at? I have about 4 hours free tomorrow night, will that be enough? Also, I heard you can get the bushings from home depot, is this true?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Sounds like your bushings. Read the C4 TechTips section here for the how-to-fix articles. Not a hard weekend project at all.
This Corvette Fever article is decent, too.
http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/33098/
You can order the bushings online from Mid-America Motorworks or Eckler's while you're waiting for them to arrive.
This Corvette Fever article is decent, too.
http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/33098/
You can order the bushings online from Mid-America Motorworks or Eckler's while you're waiting for them to arrive.
Last edited by onedef92; Jun 1, 2007 at 10:54 AM.
