88 headlight issue
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
88 headlight issue
Hey all, I am a new member and I recently purchased my 88 Vette. She had been sitting dormant in a barn for 2 years, wasn't running and needs a lot of work. I have slowly been bringing her back to life, but can't seem to figure out the headlights. Both headlights wont open fully. They open 3/4 of the way and stop. I can't crank them open any further, but can crank them all the way closed. When I turn the lights on, they will flip to 3/4 open and stop. The motors stop running and they don't make any unusual noises. The lights will not close when I turn the switch off. The lights will turn off, but the lights stay 3/4 open. Any suggestions would help as I am lost. I'm attempting to attach a pic of what it looks like when they are open.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
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Does the motor run a few seconds after the lights stop moving? And when you turn them by hand does the **** lock up or just turn without the lights moving?
Last edited by antfarmer2; Oct 19, 2016 at 08:44 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,463
Likes: 3,288
From: Hartford WI
I'm going to say that if it were mine, I'd take it apart and see why it doesn't go any further. Kinda weird that BOTH would go exactly the same. I'd suggest turning the **** manually without the electric current and see what the max of each light is but you said you already did that.
I'm kinda suspicious that it is the pucks. If it runs without stopping, sure but that it stops at exactly the same position on both lights, IDK. I'd want to take it apart and see why it does what it does.
I would definitely recommend the metal gears. Yes, I have heard that you'd be better off sacrificing the plastic but last time I took them apart, I haven't seen anything as far as abnormal wear on either gear. Further to that, how much longer they are going to keep making them is an unknown and plastic gets older and more brittle with age. Mine looked fine till I had time to use a light and look it over. Saw a couple of hairline cracks that I didn't notice. So I would and did go with metal.
I'm kinda suspicious that it is the pucks. If it runs without stopping, sure but that it stops at exactly the same position on both lights, IDK. I'd want to take it apart and see why it does what it does.
I would definitely recommend the metal gears. Yes, I have heard that you'd be better off sacrificing the plastic but last time I took them apart, I haven't seen anything as far as abnormal wear on either gear. Further to that, how much longer they are going to keep making them is an unknown and plastic gets older and more brittle with age. Mine looked fine till I had time to use a light and look it over. Saw a couple of hairline cracks that I didn't notice. So I would and did go with metal.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,463
Likes: 3,288
From: Hartford WI
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 761
Likes: 66
From: Fitzwilliam New Hampshire
Bring the car to someone that has experience with CORVETTE problems/Corvette shop that is capable of fixing your problem first hand before you do more damage trying to fix with little or no experience.The forum members can only give you good advice from your thread input.Lots of info here but not issues can be solved without car in hands of the experts in this forum,good luck with headlite issue.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,463
Likes: 3,288
From: Hartford WI
Or you can use a rebuild service if you don't feel up to it. http://www.parts123.com/corvettecent...050f&ukey=9271
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ategoryid=X860
As a winter project, it isn't too bad.
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ategoryid=X860
As a winter project, it isn't too bad.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
Bring the car to someone that has experience with CORVETTE problems/Corvette shop that is capable of fixing your problem first hand before you do more damage trying to fix with little or no experience.The forum members can only give you good advice from your thread input.Lots of info here but not issues can be solved without car in hands of the experts in this forum,good luck with headlite issue.
they have moving pictures now. Why would you pay hundreds of dollars to do a simple repair? 
Last edited by antfarmer2; Oct 19, 2016 at 11:42 PM.