C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Strange problem with headlight motors. Need help.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 28, 2001 | 08:43 PM
  #1  
kola's Avatar
kola
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Vermillion, SD
Default

1986 convertible.

I was having problems with my headlights: driver's side would go up and down while driving with headlights on and passenger side would not go down until a few minutes after I turn the headlights off.

I removed the motors from the headlight assemblies to install new gears. Before taking the motors apart I decided to test the motors by re-connecting the headlight motors to the headlight motor connectors. I tried the driver's side motor on the passenger side and vice versa.

Both the driver's and passenger's side motors had the same results:

When connected to driver's side, the motor ran when the light switch was in the off position, but did nothing when the light switch was in the on position. (so if the headlight assembly was attached, the headlight would go into the closed position but not the open position)

When connected to the passenger's side, the motor ran fine when the light switch was on the on position, but the motor ran VERY slow when the light switch was in the off position. (so if the headlight assembly was attached, the headlight would open fine but close very slowly)

The problem does not appear to be in the motors. Both the driver's and passenger's side motors work well to close the headlight when hooked up to the driver's side but not when hooked up to the passenger's side. And both the driver's and passenger's side motors work well to open the headlight when hooked upt to the passenger's side but not when hooked up to the driver's side.

The long and the short of it is that the driver's headlight will not pop up and the passenger's headlight will not go down.

I NEED HELP.

thanks

Reply
Old Jul 28, 2001 | 10:37 PM
  #2  
jaa1992's Avatar
jaa1992
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Default

Headlight Relays maybe?

You still might want to open the headlight motors to at least clean the dried up grease and replace it with fresh. Might save you a rebuild later.

Reply
Old Jul 29, 2001 | 12:00 AM
  #3  
phrogs's Avatar
phrogs
Race Director
Veteran: Marine Corps
25 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Loved
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 12,109
Likes: 50
From: SW Michigan
Default

Its the head light relay im not to sure where yours are but on my 89 its on the drivers side in front of the wheel well it is bolted to the front of the wheel well and has two wire conections running in to it that was what my problem was my pass side light wouldnt work but it worked on the driver side conection so i replaced that relay and it works ....
good luck
jp

Reply
Old Jul 29, 2001 | 01:14 AM
  #4  
jfb's Avatar
jfb
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Default

There are 3 relays that connect power to the headlight motors for open and closed position. The third relay is called the isolation relay and is responsible for closing the RH headlight door and probably has worn out relay contacts and is the reason your RH door closes so slowly. I would replace the isolation relay which is on the left side ahead of the wheel well and has a grey, yellow, black, and a red wire on its socket (from my 87 electrical manual, your wire color may be different). Your motors acted incorrectly when tried on the opposite side because the plug wiring is different on each side.
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2001 | 06:05 PM
  #5  
kola's Avatar
kola
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Vermillion, SD
Default

Is there any way to test the relays? I don't want to purchase them and find out they are not the problem.

Thanks
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Strange problem with headlight motors. Need help.





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:46 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE