You can see where the part is supposed to go in a picture from another post http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/z...8/DSC_0106.jpg It seems that it is missing from the passenger side of my '93. It just came off the driver's side. (in picture). Both headlights seem to work fine (go up and down fine). Is this part necessary? Should I try and repair it, or just not worry? Has this happened to anyone else? (I just purchased the '93)

 

It was there for a reason

 

That bushing is on the opposite side of the motor on the housing and the wire conduit passes through? I've never seen a failure like you suggest but there is a bushing and if it were missing I'd certainly replace it. In your case I'd do the pair. I may have one that I can get a snapshot of later. I'd think it has a tab on the inner diameter to locate it.

I don't see the tab that I would expect to see in yours. I would think if you have the headlamps that far disassembled a bushing should be an easy find if you just measure the ID of the housing it pivots in.

Here's some images of product:

https://www.google.com/search?q=nylo...w=1145&bih=640

 

For clarification: I have not disassembled anything - headlights still in the car, and operating perfectly. The metal tab fell off (with black plastic bushing as shown). I can see the bushing is broken/worn out, and I can find bushings online, but I can't seem to locate the metal tab part. I don't think any wires pass through it.

 

That's some of what confused me - you mentioned works fine and fell off. That's NOT possible for a '93 with factory lights. Do you have some sort of after-market lamps on this car?

How about some different profile snapshots of the part?

 

It's a stock, unmodified 1993, with only ~30,000 miles. I looked at another headlight motor I had in the attic from my 1996. It is also missing the same part. Next week, I'll check the motors in my 1996, and see if they have it. Here is a side view of the part, with a ball point pen through the bushing. I can see the part in the assembly in pictures, like the link in my original post. I promise, the headlights work just fine, so it's possible. I suspect this part may have something to do with stopping the travel, up or down, and I may be putting unnecessary wear on the motor. Of course the part was there for a reason. I was posting here, trying to get some insight as to what that reason was, and how much trouble I might get into later , by leaving the assembly as is.

 

Thats the positive stop for the headlight assembly, without it the assembly is going to stop on the adjusters (rubber bumpers).

You said you just bought the car.

Theres no way possible that this part just fell off and the headlights still work.

My guess is the part just now fell out of the car. Whoever worked on it last probably lost it and you just found it. If it was my car I'd put it back in.

 

Thank you, that's the kind of info I was looking for. Yes, that part did just fall out. It was loose, the lights weren't going up and down, and I fiddled with it, and it came off in my hand. The other side was missing all together. The car was not driven often, and probably seldom at night. I can replace this one, (with a new bushing), but I need to find a place to purchase the passenger side part.

 

It would require substantial disassembly to put the part back in. This is how it's assembled in a RH motor for a later model. Your snapshot in your original post was a little deceptive due to it's size.

To get to it the first actual link (sheet metal) is retained by snap-rings on each end and the crank arm (machined piece) is retained by a roll pin. If you notice the inversion of the T on the piece you have vs. my snapshot that I believe would indicate a LH part because the T in my snapshot on a RH motor is opposite.

Like mentioned there's no way this fell out and If it's actually missing in yours it's going to be a tough install. Doable but tough.



I'd say if that piece is actually missing you would need the assemblies on the bench to accomplish a repair easily. In the snapshot you link to you can see where the roll pin has been replaced by a cotter pin. I believe the HL functions well because the link that's retained by snap rings has a stops machined internally where a round pin that's swaged into the actual HL bracket acts as a stop.

Here's a snapshot showing the link and also where the stop is swaged into the bracket.



The part actually appears symmetrical like it would do R & L but the difference of T on mine and yours hints otherwise. With your loose part can you see any potential difference? Contact this forum member "Scarabexc" to see if he can help you. He just maybe can. I'd think his email hasn't changed or just PM him.

mailto:scarabexc@aol.com