Headlight door motor keeps running
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Jefferson, GA, USA
Headlight door motor keeps running
Hello all. I have a question. I just bought a '94 Vette coupe so forgive me if this is a silly question. When you turn off the lights, the lamp doors close fine, however, you can hear the motor keep running for about 10 seconds. Is there a way tp adjust this?
Thanks,
Mark
Thanks,
Mark
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Re: Headlight door motor keeps running (Torre)
I might be wrong, I dont know about the 94, but if it is like my 90, you need new bushings put in the headlight motor gears.
they are nylon, and I think they cost 12 bucks to buy.
If you are farily handy with cars, I found them easy to replace. some people open the actual motor, which is a bad idea, and find themselves with a problem.
I scanned in the corvette magazine article on how to do this. I dont know where I ever put it, but I also sent it out to a few forum members, maybe they have it and will post.
You can also check the tech section for a write up if someone did one.
If you let the problem go, the motor will continue running longer and longer. Mine seemed to run for about 30 seconds, then they finally stopped opening and closing the headlight bucket. The bushings turned to powder. I think I had them working like this for about 6 months untill they finally failed and went limp, so to speak.
they are nylon, and I think they cost 12 bucks to buy.
If you are farily handy with cars, I found them easy to replace. some people open the actual motor, which is a bad idea, and find themselves with a problem.
I scanned in the corvette magazine article on how to do this. I dont know where I ever put it, but I also sent it out to a few forum members, maybe they have it and will post.
You can also check the tech section for a write up if someone did one.
If you let the problem go, the motor will continue running longer and longer. Mine seemed to run for about 30 seconds, then they finally stopped opening and closing the headlight bucket. The bushings turned to powder. I think I had them working like this for about 6 months untill they finally failed and went limp, so to speak.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,388
Likes: 1
From: X
Re: Headlight door motor keeps running (Torre)
This should give you some insight into what you have to look forward to.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2001...ghts/head1.asp
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=16&TopicID=2
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2001...ghts/head1.asp
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=16&TopicID=2
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
Re: Headlight door motor keeps running (JonM)
Junkyard Warrior or Mr. CJ sell the bushings for 12 bucks... they are 1/4" think cut pieces of nylon dowel... very easy fix... less than an hour...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,676
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From: Charlotte NC
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Headlight door motor keeps running (BluByU)
I have the bushings if you need some, let me know, make sure you are ready to do some tearing apart of your car, it is not that bad, but scares most people!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,676
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Headlight door motor keeps running (BluByU)
Good to hear that they worked for you!
Junkyard Warrior or Mr. CJ sell the bushings for 12 bucks... they are 1/4" think cut pieces of nylon dowel... very easy fix... less than an hour...
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
Re: Headlight door motor keeps running (Mr. CJ)
Good to hear that they worked for you!
Junkyard Warrior or Mr. CJ sell the bushings for 12 bucks... they are 1/4" think cut pieces of nylon dowel... very easy fix... less than an hour...
Junkyard Warrior or Mr. CJ sell the bushings for 12 bucks... they are 1/4" think cut pieces of nylon dowel... very easy fix... less than an hour...
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Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 104
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From: Richmond VA
Re: Headlight door motor keeps running (bill mcdonald)
If you are farily handy with cars, I found them easy to replace. some people open the actual motor, which is a bad idea, and find themselves with a problem.
They're right about it being pretty easy, though. And compared to the cost of a rebuilt headlight motor, it's well worth it. I don't know about the bushings Mr. CJ sells, but the kit that Zip Corvette sells comes with a fairly decent set of illustrated instructions. I think it's about the same price.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 193
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From: Jefferson, GA, USA
Re: Headlight door motor keeps running (Mr. CJ)
Mr. CJ, I would be interested in those parts if you are sure that's the problem. When I looked into it, this is what I discovered. Only one door does it so I was able to compare the two to see what was different. Here is the big difference, when you manually turn the motor to close the door, it closes but will not tighten. Kind of like a stripped thread on a screw. On the good door, it closes and also tightens. The problem has to be in the motor or the gears after the motor, not in any of the linkage.
Will these parts fix this problem?
Thanks again,
Mark
Will these parts fix this problem?
Thanks again,
Mark
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
Re: Headlight door motor keeps running (Torre)
Torre - Your 94 already has bronze gears from the factory... this EXACT same thing happened to me... it is definatly the bushings!!!!
If you want to be sure this is the easy way to check.. remove the three screws holding the ENTIRE headlight assembly to the hood... remove the ENTIRE headlight (this is the quick and easy way) and place it on a rag on your work bench (dont scratch your paint ;) ) remove the round cover on the headlight motor... probably all you will see is a whitish yellow plastic dust... this is all that is left of your headlight bushings... if you dont see dust and have three bushings in there (1/4" round and 3/16" thinck) its somehting else.. but I bet you'll find the plastic is ground down to nothing
If you want to be sure this is the easy way to check.. remove the three screws holding the ENTIRE headlight assembly to the hood... remove the ENTIRE headlight (this is the quick and easy way) and place it on a rag on your work bench (dont scratch your paint ;) ) remove the round cover on the headlight motor... probably all you will see is a whitish yellow plastic dust... this is all that is left of your headlight bushings... if you dont see dust and have three bushings in there (1/4" round and 3/16" thinck) its somehting else.. but I bet you'll find the plastic is ground down to nothing
