A few weeks ago I noticed that when I turned off the headlights and they rotated closed, it seemed like the motor was running a few seconds after they were closed. And now the drivers side stalls half way open for a few seconds and then finally opens. I know the gears inside are prone to problems but I'm really not sure if these are the symptoms that I am having. So I guess I'm just asking, "What the hell is wrong with my headlights?" Gears or motor or something else? :rolleyes: Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Looks like you need to replace the bushings in the motors. I believe Echlers and/or MAD sell a kit to replace them. I haven't done it, but I know others have. There are a lot of posts in the archive on this subject. A search would produce more information than you may want.

 

I just had one of my hedlights overhauled, when it wouldn't close. Found several problems. One might help you.

First, I had a cut wire. That sure put a spanner in the system.

But that wasn't the end of it.

Next, the whole inside of the motor contact points area) was grunged up with excessive grease in all the wrong places... interupting electrical circuit.

Once the wire was fixed and the grease cleaned up, the system went operational.

Now in the process, my mechanic explained how the electric motor knows how to turn itself off when the headlight reaches its end stops. Basically, the system is spring loaded. The whole shaft will pull in either direction, depending on which was the motor is going. After the headlight reaches its stop, the motor keeps turning just a little more. This pulls on the shaft and makes it push (or pull) against the spring. This small movement of the shaft takes the contact points out of touch and the motor turns off. The whole system is both novel and, yet, complex.

By the way, the motors are expensive little buggars to replace. So a good mechanic who can fix these things is worth his salary.

 

It's gonna be the plastic bushings. It'll cost you all of $10 and about an hour or so to fix. Mine started doing the same thing until they eventually quit. When I took the case apart the bushings fell out on the workbench as a nice powder.

 

:iagree: Except it took me about 2 hours to do the first one and about 45 minutes to do the second

 

Yeppers...it's the bushings in the motor. I just changed my drivers side on Sunday and it took a good hour to take it apart. It's not difficult I'm just a hardhead and wanted to do it by removing the bare minimum. There's a tech tip on the forum and do a google search there a step by step pictorial on how to change the bushings (from ecklers). Pretty easy to do!

 

Yeah that is probably a more accurate time estimate. There is so much time spent working on the vette that it all runs together

 

I heard on here somewhere you find find the delrin bushings in a hardware store for like 50 cents a piece.Anyone rem. the size?Just wondering.Many years back,I converted my 86 to the 88 and later headlights and so far havent had any problems with it.Will probably have to do the bushings myself someday as well. :smash:

:cheers:

 

Yup peice of cake just takes time and be sure to have a long t30 Torx screw driver to get one of the screws lodged deep between the assembly.
My passenger side was messed up ... would act up staying up .. I'd have to got out there and hold it in place... while it was turning..
Got fed up and did both sides.... at the same time while I was at it.
now I know I don't gotta do it for a looong while!

Tear it apart and see the Dust don't be scared :D

Mark A.


[Modified by madquake, 7:45 PM 5/13/2003]

 

This is only true for the 84-87 headlights. In 88 when the two wire motors came out they did not have the internal contacts, they used an electronic module to sense the current spike when the motor stalled.

 

Ok, thanks guys, looks like the concensus is gears. Isn't there an up grade to bronze gears, seems like I saw that in one od the catalogs I get. Either way, looks like I'l be tearing it apart this weekend. Thanks for "showing me the light". :jester

 

I think those gears are a waste of money. I would just order the bushings. If after you tear it apart , you find the gears damaged, then you can look into getting the gears too.

 

:iagree: Those bronze gears are really expensive, they are not meant to break or give which could be a problem if someone sits on your headlights! Those gears shouldn't need replaced...just the bushings......trust everyone here.....$10..2-3 hours....done deal.

 

God forbid someone sitting on my car. If they did the headlights would be the least of their worries!!!!! :boxing But thanks for the advice.