I got in my car this morning, it's raining so I hit the headlights, throw it in reverse and start to go. Then I notice the complete lack of noise coming from the front of the car in the form of headlights moving?!?!?! They worked YESTERDAY. I try the switch again, no love. I pop the hood and get out, sure enough the lights are on, but they are just lighting my engine compartment, that's useful. I try the switch again, this time the passenger side works just fine, nothing from the drivers side.

I look at the motor and it spins freely. Not wanting to be late for work I got in and came in to work anyway. When I got here I was actually a little early so I took another look.

The only thing I can find that doesn't look right is some of the wiring going to the driver's side motor. The green wire looks fine, the gray wire has a small spot that looks slightly burned, and the wire is exposed. It looks like it's probably shorted to something, however the wire is still intact and I can't find anything on the car that looks like this has shorted across to. Ok, so if the wire's my problem, here are my questions.

The wires is still intact, so shouldn't the motor still work?

Of course it won't work if it's shorted, but it's not touching anything with the hood up, so why wouldn't it work?

It wouldn't work if it blew a fuse somewhere, but what fuse? Wouldn't both motors be on the same fuse? If so, they aren't on the actual headlight fuse because the lights still work.

Like I said I'm at work and as such I don't have my manuals with me. Any help, ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I'm taking the car to the track tomorrow and I WANT EVERYTHING WORKING. There is nothing worse than some ghetto Mustang that nothing works on.

 

It used to happen very often with my 86. The only thing that you have to do, use a small hammer or something similar and hit lightly the motor of the light and watch it comming up
Good Luck

 

As much as I like the "beat it with a hammer" theory, I fail to see how that explains the wiring. I'm gonna use a volt meter when I get home and see if the motor gets power, if it actually is, then I'll try the hammer theory.

 

Anybody? Somebody has to have a shop manual or a wiring diagram who can explain this one.

 

I have that problem after a heavy rain. They return to normal operation after everything dries. I imagine that you are getting moisture somewhere around the connectors.

I would either try WD-40 to remove the water or wait until everything dries to see if the problem goes away.

I haven't tried to fix my problem yet, so I don't know where the potential problem areas are....

 

Come on guys... The Hammer? Why dont you just get some VISE GRIPS and become a full fredge Shade tree...

PS. I believe that you BUSHING are out on the motor. they are about $9 to $12 bucks to replace. I posted a thread on this last week...do a search on "spinning" and you will see the replies.

Good luck

 

Actually, perhaps I should re-phrase that. It doesn't "spin freely" it "spins normally" and will open the door. The motor makes no noise at all when you flip the switch, like it isn't getting any juice.

About the rain, it had rained on the car overnight, it could be moisture related. If so that's really gonna bother me until I fix it. Thanks for the info, I bet it works when I go to lunch.

 

I cannot help with the p[ossible burnt wire but have a few questions..

When you first truned the headlights one nothing worked corrct? When you try a second time the Pass side headlight moved.. was the Driverside motor running? or nothing?

it sounds like the headlight door Module could be bad. I believe this module is what gives power to the head lights for moving into the on or off position. i don't know if it is one module for both or one module for each.. Service Manual should show that.


If the motors are running and the lIghts are not moving I would suspect a bad gear or more common the bushings have worn or turn to dust..

HTH's

 

Ok, when I first tried it nothing happened. After I raised the hood the passenger side worked fine. So I think maybe the shorted wire might have been preventing that. Now the passenger side works regardless and the driver's side doesn't.

No, I can't hear the motor running on the driver's side, it's not even trying. I know the gears and such are still good, they wouldn't quit completely overnight. This is the first problem I have ever had with the lights.

 

Funny, My problem started happening after I had washed my car. I am not sure if this has anything to do with it but I was probably moisture that affected mine. My are still spinning both. This happens EVEN if I only turn on the FOg lamps. The fog lamps come on fine. When I turn them off Both Motors spin af if the lights were raised??? I think my bushings are bad. The lights will go up and down but the motors spin for about 3 seconds after any operation. I Kinnda felt it strange for both to go out at the same time? I have not replaced them yet but I hope to do it soon before I lose total ability of up and down operation

 

Well, it didn't work at lunch, and it's a hot day, with a lot of heat off the engine. That kinda blows the moisture theory. In a way I'm happy about that. If it's just wiring I can trace that down and fix it. Moisture would just be a lingering annoyance.

 

Just in case anybody is interested I have traced the problem to the solid state control module for the headlight motors. It's what turns them on and off. It would seem that the driver's side output is toast, probably because of the shorted wire mentioned above.

Here's where it gets good, I can actually get to the module, it's only held on with two screws that you can get from the driver's side wheel well. I got the thing out and it's got that wonderful toasted elctronics smell. I called the dealership, $136, they can't order it until I pre-pay. Of course this is 4:40 on a Friday, so I wouldn't even be able to order the thing until Monday at the earliest. Then I got smart and called the local Corvette rebuilder. I asked him and he said he's got several, and it gets better. He thinks that IS my problem, he IS open on Saturday, AND we are going to put it on the car and test it before I buy it. Should it work, he'll sell me one for $50 plus my old one.

So it's $50 I didn't want to spend tomorrow, but at least it's not $136 I didn't want to spend Monday. Now I just have to fix up that wire so it doesn't fry my new one.

 

same problem here..

they are getting rebuilt nest week

 

I have to agree. Mine did the same thing one day they worked fine the next nothing. When I took the motors apart there was nothing but dust left from the original bushings so I replaced them and now they work great.



[img]http]//www.corvetteforum.net/clubs/redhotvettes/rhvgistry.gif[/img]

 

If it's your bushings, go to Home Depot and ask for item number 595609. They are .69 cents for a pack of three and you'll need 6 to repair both headlights.