C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

86 Headlight Problems

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Old Jan 31, 2010 | 11:16 AM
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joes86vette
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From: Katy Texas
Default 86 Headlight Problems

Hi - I have searched on this and see lots of posts but all of the instructions I see are for later model C4s. The few notes I see for Earlier Model C4s (like my 86) refer to gears needing replacement vs. bushings.

But what I cannot find are the instructions on the procedure for the earlier model C4s.

Further - iI am not sure this is my problem at all... I'll explain briefly.

My 86 just recently started with the Headlights Sticking from time to time... They always come up when turned on... but when turned off they sometimes want to stick. If I listen very closely - I can hear a very faint clicking sound in the headlight region and it seems to be trying to close... If I wait long enough - it will close after a few minutes but not always.

Once it closes - it always opens very fast when the lights are turned on again. It does happen on both sides and it isn't always consistent. Sometimes it happens - sometimes it doesn't happen... Mostly it happens though - and only when turning off the lights.

Any thoughts? Does it sound like the gears need to be replaced? If so - does anyone have instructions put together for the earlier C4s?

Thanks so much in advance!

Cheers ~ Joe
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Old Jan 31, 2010 | 03:51 PM
  #2  
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Hi I have an 85 and had some problems with the headlight motors also and shifted gears but they were not very reliable after that either.
If you take them out open them you will see a sort or mechanical relay there . When the doors get meet something that resists movement the axle in the motor assy moves and pushes on some contacts. which mans there must be free movement for this axle inside and the relay contacts there must be clean. There migt be something that has losend and prohibit movement. In my case it was part of the magnet of the motor that had chipped and falen down.
Be sure that there are no screws or anything else in the headligt doors that prohibit the movements of the doors. I had once a screw that had screwed itself out and then the door opened just half way.
I would realy check this and open the motors they are quite easy to open. The drawback with these assamblies is that here is steel screws into plastic and there are heavy loads on them so I with some of them changed to have screws going through the plastic with nuts on the other side.
Good luck.
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