headlight issue...possible problems?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
From: Marlboro NJ
headlight issue...possible problems?
Hey guys...posted this in general and saw the sticky on the top of tech...figured I'd post here also. So here is the story:
Jumped into the vette today after work. She has been sitting for a good week (tons of rain here) anyway, started her up, popped the headlights (popped up no prob, no hesistation), took a drive to the bank (15 minutes) Now the whole way, there was no shaking or anything. Turned the car off at the bank, turned off the headlights, and here is the prob. Drivers side does it's little dance and closes no prob. passenger side flips about 1/2 way closed and stops. No noises or anything. If I go to turn the lights back on, it flips the 1/2 back up. What are the possible problems? I want to buy the Bronze gear and bushing kit http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1158 to be on the safe side. Could it be something else? I'd hate to buy the parts and it is something else. Or is this gonna be trial and error? Weird though...no symptoms or anything of this prob about to happen. Does it usually happen like this?
Thanks!!
Oh and my headlight motor (or any other part) isn't being hurt B/C it is half open is it? Not sucking any battery juice either?
Jumped into the vette today after work. She has been sitting for a good week (tons of rain here) anyway, started her up, popped the headlights (popped up no prob, no hesistation), took a drive to the bank (15 minutes) Now the whole way, there was no shaking or anything. Turned the car off at the bank, turned off the headlights, and here is the prob. Drivers side does it's little dance and closes no prob. passenger side flips about 1/2 way closed and stops. No noises or anything. If I go to turn the lights back on, it flips the 1/2 back up. What are the possible problems? I want to buy the Bronze gear and bushing kit http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1158 to be on the safe side. Could it be something else? I'd hate to buy the parts and it is something else. Or is this gonna be trial and error? Weird though...no symptoms or anything of this prob about to happen. Does it usually happen like this?
Thanks!! Oh and my headlight motor (or any other part) isn't being hurt B/C it is half open is it? Not sucking any battery juice either?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
I see your car is a '90.... double checked to make sure you weren't workin' on and '84.....as your name suggests. Sounds like just the bushings from what your describing....you won't know for sure until it it apart. You can always order the gear down the road if you need it.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
headlight motor problem advice
The problem you have is one or both of the plastic gears has lost some teeth . It sounds like both of your motors need attention . I have used both the bronze and plastic replacement gears and DO NOT recommend the bronze . Use the plastic replacement gears . These motors are designed this way for a reason . If you put bronze gears in them , first of all , they rarely go back together and operate freely . Secondly , the next thing to go bad will be more expensive to fix because the gear that was plastic and is now bronze or brass will not give causing something else that is under a load to break . That is usually the little circuit board attached to the wiring harness inside the motor . This typically results in a meltdown requiring motor replacement . Use the plastic gears and if you get another 24 years out of them , you can live with that , cant you ?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 552
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From: Marlboro NJ
Do you think I should replace the gear just to be safe? Also, I don't want to have it apart and need the gear...then the car sits while I am waiting for shipping...ya know? And do you know if the gear and/or bushings could be the only problem. I want to order them tonight
Also, it's weird to me. How could it be the bushings? when it's stuck 1/2 closed...but still opens all the way when I switch the lights on. I would think it wouldn't go at all
Last edited by Jared1984; Dec 12, 2008 at 09:42 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
I'm pretty sure you'll only need the bushing set for your fix. If you find you need the gear after you remove the assembly from the car...just don't reinstall the one headlamp assembly....and drive the car during the day...or if you must drive at night limit your drive time and use the other headlight + the fog lamps to see until you get the extra part. If all this is too much for you to deal with.....just order both the gear and the bushing and be done with it.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
From: Marlboro NJ
OK....so I ordered the new delran bushings and Plastic gear (I see the point you made about it lasting this long and being this way from the factory)
Anyways next ?...The metal bracketry piece (don't know how to describe it...but it is the piece on the side of the headlight that the arm goes up+down in when turned on/off) Know what I am talkin about? Well it has some wiggle play in it...where the drivers side does not. Is that another problem or is it related?
Anyways next ?...The metal bracketry piece (don't know how to describe it...but it is the piece on the side of the headlight that the arm goes up+down in when turned on/off) Know what I am talkin about? Well it has some wiggle play in it...where the drivers side does not. Is that another problem or is it related?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
OK....so I ordered the new delran bushings and Plastic gear (I see the point you made about it lasting this long and being this way from the factory)
Anyways next ?...The metal bracketry piece (don't know how to describe it...but it is the piece on the side of the headlight that the arm goes up+down in when turned on/off) Know what I am talkin about? Well it has some wiggle play in it...where the drivers side does not. Is that another problem or is it related?
Anyways next ?...The metal bracketry piece (don't know how to describe it...but it is the piece on the side of the headlight that the arm goes up+down in when turned on/off) Know what I am talkin about? Well it has some wiggle play in it...where the drivers side does not. Is that another problem or is it related?
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Brett Foote
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Conway AR
If you will go to AutoZone or O'Rielly's and look in the "help" section, you'll find the 3 little bushings and the drive gear (with the triange shaped hole) there. It's under the FORD parts for a power window regulator. About $15 for the gear (it's the same size as long as you don't get one for 93), the bushings are about $8.
The bushings are designed to break before anything else does, cheaper to fix that way. BTW, IF you don't use the lights much (the 94 I bought had never been driven in the rain or after dark), the grease and the plastic seems to congeal and become one-which means, things don't work anymore.
The bushings are designed to break before anything else does, cheaper to fix that way. BTW, IF you don't use the lights much (the 94 I bought had never been driven in the rain or after dark), the grease and the plastic seems to congeal and become one-which means, things don't work anymore.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Be careful when driving out the push pin in the armature. Easy job, just takes time....
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Sounds like your bushings. Also, be sure your lenses are plastic, not glass. The factory switched to plastic lenses in 1992, I believe to put less strain on the headlight motors.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Hey guys...posted this in general and saw the sticky on the top of tech...figured I'd post here also. So here is the story:
Jumped into the vette today after work. She has been sitting for a good week (tons of rain here) anyway, started her up, popped the headlights (popped up no prob, no hesistation), took a drive to the bank (15 minutes) Now the whole way, there was no shaking or anything. Turned the car off at the bank, turned off the headlights, and here is the prob. Drivers side does it's little dance and closes no prob. passenger side flips about 1/2 way closed and stops. No noises or anything. If I go to turn the lights back on, it flips the 1/2 back up. What are the possible problems? I want to buy the Bronze gear and bushing kit http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1158 to be on the safe side. Could it be something else? I'd hate to buy the parts and it is something else. Or is this gonna be trial and error? Weird though...no symptoms or anything of this prob about to happen. Does it usually happen like this?
Thanks!!
Oh and my headlight motor (or any other part) isn't being hurt B/C it is half open is it? Not sucking any battery juice either?
Jumped into the vette today after work. She has been sitting for a good week (tons of rain here) anyway, started her up, popped the headlights (popped up no prob, no hesistation), took a drive to the bank (15 minutes) Now the whole way, there was no shaking or anything. Turned the car off at the bank, turned off the headlights, and here is the prob. Drivers side does it's little dance and closes no prob. passenger side flips about 1/2 way closed and stops. No noises or anything. If I go to turn the lights back on, it flips the 1/2 back up. What are the possible problems? I want to buy the Bronze gear and bushing kit http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1158 to be on the safe side. Could it be something else? I'd hate to buy the parts and it is something else. Or is this gonna be trial and error? Weird though...no symptoms or anything of this prob about to happen. Does it usually happen like this?
Thanks!! Oh and my headlight motor (or any other part) isn't being hurt B/C it is half open is it? Not sucking any battery juice either?
There is a good reason GM finally scrapped the pop-up headlight system for C6 and beyond... THEY COULD NEVER GET IT RIGHT !!
I have worked on more C4 and C5 headight problems than I can count.
This was my latest "dance" on my C5. Problem turned out to be twofold: Plastic gear cover on motor popped loose(they are only glued on), and armature offset was excessive so it wasn't making contact with the stop tabs. This allowed the linkage to headlight to rotate freely in a full circle(much like a crankshaft and piston rod). The only reason it even stops is due to motor "timeout".....I'm glad they incorporated this feature !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ierse...e=channel_page
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
From: Marlboro NJ
new issue
Well, I'll tell ya...I am a freakin einstein. I knew I should have done a closer inspection of the problem. It isn't the bushings or gear, There is a small metal looking peice (which apparently rotates when the HL pops up and down) on the side of the headlight and it apparently got stuck. HOWEVER...when compared to the drivers side headlight there is still an issue. drivers side piece is fixed in place...can't move it.(but rotates with the HL) Passenger side, I can spin it freely and when the HL opens I am assuming since it's loose (or broken) it's causing an issue. Hopefully someone understands what I am trying to describe
I'd like to know what to order now...Since I ordered the gear and bushing from ecklers and now don't need em (I'll hold on to them though...for when they do go)
it's this piece....must have some kind of washer or something that broke off..maybe it's just glued?
I'd like to know what to order now...Since I ordered the gear and bushing from ecklers and now don't need em (I'll hold on to them though...for when they do go)
it's this piece....must have some kind of washer or something that broke off..maybe it's just glued?
Last edited by Jared1984; Dec 19, 2008 at 01:43 PM. Reason: found pic
8th Gear
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
i have sell new OEM sets of hl motors for $289 if you need them
rimexlighting@yahoo.com
charles 765 635 7949
rimexlighting@yahoo.com
charles 765 635 7949
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
This clock projects the time, date, or temp on the wall or ceiling http://www.liangdianup.com/clocks_1.htm some people call
it a ceiling clock but I call it a digital projection clock. I got the black one because at the time that was the only color
they had. But now they have them in black and also in white.
it a ceiling clock but I call it a digital projection clock. I got the black one because at the time that was the only color
they had. But now they have them in black and also in white.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
You seem to really know about this C4 headlight issue. Please help me if you can. I recently replaced my p/s motor with a new one and initially the light worked fine for three days. My problem now is that I cant get it to stop running once its closed. I have to unplug the connector. I am thinking that there is a contact problem or something that would shut it off after it fully closes. The motor just continues to run.
