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

85 Headlight question

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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 12:41 PM
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Default 85 Headlight question

Quick question and hopefully easy answers.

When I turn on the headlights they will not immediatly flip up. I have to turn them off and wait a minute or two and then turn them on and they will eventually flip up. Is this something that can be adjusted or is this normal operation.

Also, on the top of each headlight motor there is a **** that you can twist. What does it do?

Thanks
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 02:07 PM
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Here is the schematic for the 84.. If you unplug the motor, either side, you should have 12v on the grey wire and ground on the green (always powered with switch off).. When you operate the light switch you should have 12v on the green and ground on the white.. The **** is to manually open or close the headlight door.. If the motor is trying to run, it sounds like time for new gears..
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...placement.html




Last edited by ccrazor; Apr 7, 2013 at 02:21 PM.
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 04:13 PM
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I don't think it is the gears due to not hearing them try and open up. They open just fine smooth and even, it just takes them a minute to do so. I haven't used a stop watch, but it takes them the same amount of time each time I try and turn them on.

Is there any type of adjustment on them? It almost acts like they are operate on vacuum or something and you have to wait for the vacuum to build in order for them to operate properly. I don't know.........
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 05:55 PM
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They should open as soon as the switch is operated.. As suggested disconnect and check voltage. As soon as you operate the light switch you should have 12v on the green and ground on the white, and if you reconnect it should open right away..

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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 06:48 PM
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Ok, I will try that as soon as I get a chance. Thank you!
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 05:12 PM
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Ok, it took me awhile to get it checked, but here are the results.

With the switch/engine turned off and motors unhooked, I am getting 4V at both wires..green/grey.

With the switch turned on and engine running with motors unhooked, I am getting 6V on both wires.

Not sure what I need to check next.....I tried turning headlights on and the came right up no problems (this time).
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 08:20 PM
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Sounds like you got better contact after unplugging the connectors. Clean up the contacts in the connectors & see what happens.
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 08:51 PM
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With the motor disconnected power off or on you should have no voltage on the green, and 12v on the grey. If you connect the meter one lead to the green and the other to the grey 12v.. With the meter connected to the white and the other to green you should get 12v, light switch on, don't need it running. If anything different, put one lead on the white the other on the + of the battery, this checks for a good ground. Put one lead on the green and the other on - of the battery, checking for good 12v on the green..


Last edited by ccrazor; Apr 18, 2013 at 09:10 PM.
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 09:31 PM
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I did check the voltage as you are saying and I was only getting 4 volts on the grey wire (light switch off) and 6 Volts with the light switch on.

You are saying there is a "white" wire as well? I am not seeing that wire...only the green and grey wires.

I haven't checked the for good ground or 12 volts using the battery yet, but I will.
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 09:54 PM
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I'm using the colors off the 84 schematic, but the colors going into the motors s/b the same as 84 - 87 motors are inter-changeable.. What is the color of your third wire??

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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 12:16 PM
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I have a similar problem with my 85. When I pull the light switch out all the way, the headlights light, but do not rotate. I will then push the switch all the way in and then pull it out again and headlights will come on and rotate up. It's always been like this since I bought the car. Then one of the motors went south and needed to rebuilt. Upon inspection, I found the headlight motors were changed to the later design which I think is a 2 wire design and the older one was 3, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I figured the lights worked this way because of the swap and something was mis-wired somewhere.
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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 12:54 PM
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If the later motors were used you should have a similar setup as in this schematic for the 89..



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Old Apr 21, 2013 | 10:24 AM
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I am guessing the PO replaced the headlight motors due to only having 2 wires going to the motors. They are Green and Grey...........

I am having the same problem as member ejscarfo described in his reply....not sure????
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Old Apr 21, 2013 | 10:37 AM
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Originally Posted by smokeeater163
I am guessing the PO replaced the headlight motors due to only having 2 wires going to the motors. They are Green and Grey...........

I am having the same problem as member ejscarfo described in his reply....not sure????
If you only have two wires you should have the control unit as in the schematic above.. Check and clean all terminals, plus the fusible links, also the ground to the control unit..


Last edited by ccrazor; Apr 21, 2013 at 12:29 PM.
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