headlights tripping out
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Flint Michigan, #2 in unemployment, #3 in Violent crimes
headlights tripping out
when turn on my parking lights everything is fine, when I turn them off, the headlight motors starts spinning, but not lifting or lowering the lights. when I turn on the headlights, once the lights are in the full up position, the motors continue to turn for about 5-6 seconds, and then again when I turn them off, they keep turning.
is there a switch, relay or a button that tells them when they are fully up or down? is this a common problem? this is my first corvette and I am finding out very quickly that the systems are alot different than on other cars.
I have had everything from 10 second mustangs to grand nationals and I will be experiencing a learning curve for the next few months.
any help will be appreciated.
is there a switch, relay or a button that tells them when they are fully up or down? is this a common problem? this is my first corvette and I am finding out very quickly that the systems are alot different than on other cars.
I have had everything from 10 second mustangs to grand nationals and I will be experiencing a learning curve for the next few months.
any help will be appreciated.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: Conyers Ga
nylon gears are shot. Do a search here on how to repair. 4 out of 10 difficulty..........
here..........
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light+bushings
here..........
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light+bushings
Last edited by Yellow2015; Jan 2, 2008 at 06:40 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Flint Michigan, #2 in unemployment, #3 in Violent crimes
that is exactly what I am experiencing, my only question before performing this is that my headlight motors will spin with the parking lights only when you turn them off. wont do it when you turn on parking lights only, but when you turn off park lights only, they spin. also does it when you do the headlights off and on, but I read many posts for the gears, none had this problem (that I could find anyways) of when you cycle the park lights only, no headlights.
I probly need the gears anyways but that is my only concern. and they both do it, not just one. outside of that, my PS light is a bit lazy to come up, but it does cycle up fully about 1 second behind the DS.
I probly need the gears anyways but that is my only concern. and they both do it, not just one. outside of that, my PS light is a bit lazy to come up, but it does cycle up fully about 1 second behind the DS.
Last edited by Overboost; Jan 2, 2008 at 07:40 PM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: Conyers Ga
that is exactly what I am experiencing, my only question before performing this is that my headlight motors will spin with the parking lights only when you turn them off. wont do it when you turn on parking lights only, but when you turn off park lights only, they spin. also does it when you do the headlights off and on, but I read many posts for the gears, none had this problem (that I could find anyways) of when you cycle the park lights only, no headlights.
I probly need the gears anyways but that is my only concern. and they both do it, not just one. outside of that, my PS light is a bit lazy to come up, but it does cycle up fully about 1 second behind the DS.
I probly need the gears anyways but that is my only concern. and they both do it, not just one. outside of that, my PS light is a bit lazy to come up, but it does cycle up fully about 1 second behind the DS.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: Conyers Ga
It's not so much the mileage as how often the headlights were used. From what I remember, the weight of the sealed headlamps is what caused premature failure. I believe GM upgraded the bushings but I'm not sure on what year.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 14,146
Likes: 936
From: Fremont Ca
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I dont know what the deal is with these motors but both headlight motors will run for 5 seconds when the lights are turned on and the same when the lights are turned off.Both stop at the exact same time everytime.Its almost as if a relay is allowing the motors to run longer than they should.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Flint Michigan, #2 in unemployment, #3 in Violent crimes
excatly what is happening to mine. both are perfect timing and they both shut off. I am going to just rotate the gears the 180 and see what happens. if it quits, I am installing the brass gear set.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Guntersville Alabama
93cruiser
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/601701article.pdf
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
Here is another web site that walks you through how to fix the headlight gears. http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2001...ghts/head1.asp
Cruising
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Gettysburg PA
I dont know what the deal is with these motors but both headlight motors will run for 5 seconds when the lights are turned on and the same when the lights are turned off.Both stop at the exact same time everytime.Its almost as if a relay is allowing the motors to run longer than they should.
I'm having the same problem. Has anyone fixed it yet? It does seem strange that a bad bushing would cause this, but if I knew it all I wouldn't be asking questions.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 667
Likes: 10
From: New York
Bad Gears?
Yesterday, I started to install Fog lamps and as I followed the instructions. It read to raise head lights manually. so stupid me decide to remove rubber cover at the light motor and turn I 1st turned it counter Clock sloooowly nothing happened then I tried clockwise as I turned I herd a pop I guess I went past the endpoint and broke something. so I stopped went in the car turned on headlights they went up turned off headlights they went down... BUT the motor keeps spinning for about 5 or 6 seconds. did I break the gears? 
Thanks in Advance
Thanks in Advance
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Sounds like a bad switch, if you are only turning on the parking lights and then turning them off. Turning on the parking lights will not cause the headlights to come on and turning off the parking lights will on cause the headlights to try and turn off, if the headlights were on pryor and the light switch was turned to parking lights.
Long story short, you have a bad switch.
Long story short, you have a bad switch.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Yesterday, I started to install Fog lamps and as I followed the instructions. It read to raise head lights manually. so stupid me decide to remove rubber cover at the light motor and turn I 1st turned it counter Clock sloooowly nothing happened then I tried clockwise as I turned I herd a pop I guess I went past the endpoint and broke something. so I stopped went in the car turned on headlights they went up turned off headlights they went down... BUT the motor keeps spinning for about 5 or 6 seconds. did I break the gears?
Thanks in Advance
Thanks in Advance
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 667
Likes: 10
From: New York
Thanks I tried to screw it back. it feels like I pulled it out of gear. as I turn it I feel like some up & down play. I want to try to remove the housing. I'm hopping I can get in to the housing and fix it. what are your thoughts?
Last edited by miltievette; Apr 22, 2008 at 12:08 PM. Reason: Gramer
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 0
From: Somewherein Pa
Buy the bushings first, they are cheap. Take the motors apart per the tech brief attached. The gears are most likely okay. I do not believe rotating them will be of any benefit. I just replaced the bushings on mine and it only took 2 hours to do.
93cruiser
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/601701article.pdf
93cruiser
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/601701article.pdf
no matter what shape the gears are in, if the bushings are shot.....no lights, if I was to do mine again, I would replace both the bushings and the gears. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 30
nylon gears are shot. Do a search here on how to repair. 4 out of 10 difficulty..........
here..........
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light+bushings
here..........
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light+bushings
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Flint Michigan, #2 in unemployment, #3 in Violent crimes
Sounds like a bad switch, if you are only turning on the parking lights and then turning them off. Turning on the parking lights will not cause the headlights to come on and turning off the parking lights will on cause the headlights to try and turn off, if the headlights were on pryor and the light switch was turned to parking lights.
Long story short, you have a bad switch.
Long story short, you have a bad switch.
replaced them both sides, perfect operation now.
now when I turn on the parking lights only, and then turn them off, I hear a click at the lights and nothing, no run on no anything.
the bushings on both lights were pure dust, nothing there.
replaced them with aluminum gears and bushings.
I had a hell of a time replacing them, but in the end, it was worth it.
