Headlight Motor
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Headlight Motor
Hey Guys & Girls,
I replaced the passenger side headlight gear on my 2000 convertible with a brass gear, but during the installation i removed the motor from the gear and 2 springs popped out. I connected the two springs to the what appears to be magnets in side the motor. Then i reinstalled the complete assembly back onto the car. The light will turn on and off, but it will not raise up or down automatically. I can still rotate it manually. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated !
I replaced the passenger side headlight gear on my 2000 convertible with a brass gear, but during the installation i removed the motor from the gear and 2 springs popped out. I connected the two springs to the what appears to be magnets in side the motor. Then i reinstalled the complete assembly back onto the car. The light will turn on and off, but it will not raise up or down automatically. I can still rotate it manually. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated !
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 9
From: "Philly" Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by corryleben
Hey Guys & Girls,
I replaced the passenger side headlight gear on my 2000 convertible with a brass gear, but during the installation i removed the motor from the gear and 2 springs popped out. I connected the two springs to the what appears to be magnets in side the motor. Then i reinstalled the complete assembly back onto the car. The light will turn on and off, but it will not raise up or down automatically. I can still rotate it manually. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated !
I replaced the passenger side headlight gear on my 2000 convertible with a brass gear, but during the installation i removed the motor from the gear and 2 springs popped out. I connected the two springs to the what appears to be magnets in side the motor. Then i reinstalled the complete assembly back onto the car. The light will turn on and off, but it will not raise up or down automatically. I can still rotate it manually. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated !
Last edited by tsts; Sep 9, 2006 at 10:29 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 9
From: "Philly" Pennsylvania
Ouch! 
New motor (and plastic gear).
It takes patience. Last time I used bare wire looped around the brush wire to hold them back until armature inserted and then slipped it out (both sides). If you got 3 or 4 hands it's easier.
New motor (and plastic gear). It takes patience. Last time I used bare wire looped around the brush wire to hold them back until armature inserted and then slipped it out (both sides). If you got 3 or 4 hands it's easier.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,454
Likes: 3
From: Hells Sister City Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '03
If you do end up buying the new motor let me know. I did the brass gear replacement and the AZ heat caused the pass side glue to give way and I lost the cover. I could use your pass side motor cover if reasonable. Good Luck!
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Can you believe i took the light back off the car and now i can't find the springs! I feel so _______! I guess i will be taking it to Bill Heard Chevy in Atlanta on Friday. Thanks guys for your insight.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,066
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by corryleben
Can you believe i took the light back off the car and now i can't find the springs! I feel so _______! I guess i will be taking it to Bill Heard Chevy in Atlanta on Friday. Thanks guys for your insight.
My friend had Bill Heard in Scottsdale replace a headlight motor to the tune of $500
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: Roslyn Heights ny
headlight motor
Having had repeat problems with headlight motors, even after gear replacement (glue failure at cover) I finally solved the problem with a T shaped steel strap that holds the cover in place and locked the gear shaft in place which is the reason the covers fail in the first place. The torque on the shaft puts pressure on the plastic cover causing it to brake loose.
You can purchase the straps and rubber gear inserts from "top-downsolutions.com for about $24. The rubber piece within the bronze gear got chewed up on mine and the new ones from Top-Down are supposedly better than OE. Finally, if you do go this route get the necessary washer to push out the shaft on the driver side so that the strap gets a grip on the shaft end.
You can purchase the straps and rubber gear inserts from "top-downsolutions.com for about $24. The rubber piece within the bronze gear got chewed up on mine and the new ones from Top-Down are supposedly better than OE. Finally, if you do go this route get the necessary washer to push out the shaft on the driver side so that the strap gets a grip on the shaft end.
Last edited by one wink; Sep 13, 2006 at 04:19 PM.
