Cant Get It Up!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,681
Likes: 3,432
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Cant Get It Up!!
The headlight that is! 
When I turn the headlights on the driver comes up fine but the passenger only goes halfway if that. I can get out and turn it into position by hand but then in falls back down. Is this a motor issue? Gears, bushings, vacuum? I have no idea what is involved with these headlights or how they come apart. I looked in the headlight sticky but none of the pictures showed up.
Thanks in advance.
When I turn the headlights on the driver comes up fine but the passenger only goes halfway if that. I can get out and turn it into position by hand but then in falls back down. Is this a motor issue? Gears, bushings, vacuum? I have no idea what is involved with these headlights or how they come apart. I looked in the headlight sticky but none of the pictures showed up.
Thanks in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 1
From: Sherwood, Arkansas
All the pictures in the headlight sticky were pulled by Schrade after he got banned. It sounds like bushings. You can get these at Home Depot for a lot cheaper than one of the Corvette suppliers. I have not had to rebuild mine so I do not know what entails this. Others will chime in that have completed this process. I have heard it not hard just a little time consuming.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
I bought some bushings on ebay and they worked perfectly, I was too lazy to take pictures though. The key is taking as few things apart as possible, but it is a super easy fix. Don't forget to put the movement limiter on, or you will repeat one side twice. Total cost was around 3 bucks. Do both lights even though one still works, it won't work for long, the bushings turn to dust.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,681
Likes: 3,432
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Do you have a part number? How do I know the ones on ebay will fit?
Also if anyone has pictures it would be helpful. Thanks!
Also if anyone has pictures it would be helpful. Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,681
Likes: 3,432
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Thanks. Would it be worth while to replace the gear while im at it?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
I would say no, the bushing disintegrate, the gears seem to stay fine. Here is my quick and easy guide
1. remove assembly from hood, mine had 4 nuts and and electrical connector.
2. Use a punch or something else to knock the roll pin loose that holds the motor to the frame, don't knock it all the way out if you can help it.
3. With the assemble upside down, loosen but dont remove the two torx that hold the frame to the finished headlight so you can get to all the bolt that hold the motor to the assembly.
4. Loosen the 3 torx that hold the motor to the assembly now that you can get to them all.
5. Make sure you look at the spin limiter how it goes on before you pull the motor off, also notice how the wire is routed so you can put it back the same way.
6. Back the keeper bolt off, then unscrew the drive shaft a couple turns, don't take it all the way out or a new motor you may need.
7. Remove the screws holding the cover on and pull the thing apart.
8. Dump the dust out and clean the whole thing up.
9. The new bushing will fit tight, get them started at and angle and tap the thing back together.
10. Reassemble the whole thing minding the wire routing and the limit stop.
1. remove assembly from hood, mine had 4 nuts and and electrical connector.
2. Use a punch or something else to knock the roll pin loose that holds the motor to the frame, don't knock it all the way out if you can help it.
3. With the assemble upside down, loosen but dont remove the two torx that hold the frame to the finished headlight so you can get to all the bolt that hold the motor to the assembly.
4. Loosen the 3 torx that hold the motor to the assembly now that you can get to them all.
5. Make sure you look at the spin limiter how it goes on before you pull the motor off, also notice how the wire is routed so you can put it back the same way.
6. Back the keeper bolt off, then unscrew the drive shaft a couple turns, don't take it all the way out or a new motor you may need.
7. Remove the screws holding the cover on and pull the thing apart.
8. Dump the dust out and clean the whole thing up.
9. The new bushing will fit tight, get them started at and angle and tap the thing back together.
10. Reassemble the whole thing minding the wire routing and the limit stop.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,681
Likes: 3,432
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
This is a good walk through! Thank you!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
I believe that is not the part you need. Those are bushings, spacers. You need the gear.
The good news is Ecklers has them. The bad news is when I bought mine they were $5 a few years ago, now the same part is $25….wow. Ecklers says GM does not make it anymore so other suppliers. The gear is also made in metal which never wears out but is more expensive. This is the link for the nylon gear. I might look around to see if there are any other options to buy at better price…..maybe not?
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1154
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Carrollton Texas
I recently went through this, and its not too hard of a job, it only took me about an hour and a half , but make sure all of your linkage is connected right and not loose especially the roll pin, cause thats what was the underlieing cause of why mine wouldnt work. Also, be carefull with the gear if you do decide to replace it, it doesnt take alot of force to break them.
Last edited by davidarnesen; Apr 8, 2009 at 12:07 PM.
