Headlight Q
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,500
Likes: 556
Headlight Q
I'm looking at buying a low mileage 94' C4. 12k. The person I'm buying it from though doesn't really know much about cars, especially Corvettes, and just bought it as an investment. And he hasn't done much maintenance in the many years he's had it. During my inspection of the car I noticed that there was a strange sound coming from one of the headlights when you turn it on and off. After further investigation this sound seems to be the motor gear going bad. For lack of a better description the noise is Clunk clunk Clunk clunk Clunk clunk repeating for several seconds after the headlight has completed its rotation up or down.
My question is, how does a headlight gear go bad at such low mileage? Is age a factor here?
If I buy it I'm probably gonna rebuild it myself and replace the gear with one of the metal upgrades.
My question is, how does a headlight gear go bad at such low mileage? Is age a factor here?
If I buy it I'm probably gonna rebuild it myself and replace the gear with one of the metal upgrades.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,888
Likes: 590
From: New Port Richey FL
Don't let this minor setback keep you from buying. In most case's it's just the pucks/bushings, if your moderately mechanical you can do them yourself You Tube has many how too's on it. Cost for bushings under $10.00 a side without gears and they usually don't fail but you can get the bronze kit upgrade or the factory plastic gears for far less if needed
Last edited by s carter; Apr 18, 2021 at 04:55 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,378
Likes: 3,261
From: Hartford WI
Don't let this minor setback keep you from buying. In most case's it's just the pucks/bushings, if your moderately mechanical you can do them yourself You Tube has many how too's on it. Cost for bushings under $10.00 a side without gears and they usually don't fail but you can get the bronze kit upgrade or the factory plastic gears for far less if needed
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,500
Likes: 556
I'm still debating on whether I feel like the price is good or not. Its a 94' ZR-1. Prices are all over the map but I haven't seen any advertised prices for a similar ZR-1 even come close. The real value in the car is leaving it the way it is. But I intend to drive it. I don't believe in keeping cars for investment purposes only. If you don't drive it, it is the most expensive paperweight you'll ever own. That said, I probably would be better suited by a car with 25k-30k miles but most are asking similar prices even after negotiation. So overall I feel like the car is as good as it's going to get in value for money. There are some colors I would prefer but they are pretty rare so I'm not sure if those are real options for me.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,378
Likes: 3,261
From: Hartford WI
I'm still debating on whether I feel like the price is good or not. Its a 94' ZR-1. Prices are all over the map but I haven't seen any advertised prices for a similar ZR-1 even come close. The real value in the car is leaving it the way it is. But I intend to drive it. I don't believe in keeping cars for investment purposes only. If you don't drive it, it is the most expensive paperweight you'll ever own. That said, I probably would be better suited by a car with 25k-30k miles but most are asking similar prices even after negotiation. So overall I feel like the car is as good as it's going to get in value for money. There are some colors I would prefer but they are pretty rare so I'm not sure if those are real options for me.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The headlight pucks would not be a concern in deciding to buy the car but your statement about the owner having it for MANY years with NO maintenance would be a red flag especially a ZR-1. Have a professional PPI done before you buy so you know what the true cost to bring back to being able to enjoy it will be.
Last edited by Fiberbundle; Apr 18, 2021 at 09:13 PM.
