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Headlight doors won't open.

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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 12:28 PM
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Default Headlight doors won't open.

From time to time, both headlight doors on my 2000 Corvette won't open. When I turn on the switch, both lights will illuminate but the doors remain closed. This problem is intermittent. Turning the switch on and off repeatedly will eventually cause the doors to raise. I believe the problem may be the switch. Is there a way to field test this? Is it possible to replace the switch myself or is it the sort of job only a skilled mechanic can perform? What can anyone suggest?

Thank you,
O.L.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 12:37 PM
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I had this same problem for a while. It turned out I had a loose ground.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 03:02 PM
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If it does turn out to be the switch, you can replace it yourself. Email me and I'll send you the procedure.

edbon@insightbb.com
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Stangkiller
I had this same problem for a while. It turned out I had a loose ground.

I have been experiencing exactly the same problem for the last year on my 03 DD.

With the UK winter fast approaching and the occasional moan of 'Low Voltage' from the DIC I thought it about time I changed the battery.

Put an Optima yellow top in, Voila, problem gone, lights lift first time every time, can't beleive it was the battery.

Good Luck, hope your problem is fixed as easily.
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 04:48 PM
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Which ground did you find was the problem?

I have been having the same problem on my 2000 coupe. I ended up breaking the switch but got a new one from Gene's Karshop and replaced. Still had the problem. Took the light off for the umpteenth time, broke into motor and found that the rubber piece was chewed up since replacing the plastic gears with brass gears. Good luck one and all on this problem. I am really getting tired of electrical problems with this car.
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by rcknusa
Which ground did you find was the problem?

I have been having the same problem on my 2000 coupe. I ended up breaking the switch but got a new one from Gene's Karshop and replaced. Still had the problem. Took the light off for the umpteenth time, broke into motor and found that the rubber piece was chewed up since replacing the plastic gears with brass gears. Good luck one and all on this problem. I am really getting tired of electrical problems with this car.
It was actually my starter was just loose enough to cause electrical problems, but not starting problems, for monthes. Then finally it started causing starting issues as well.

The loose starter actually fried 2 alternators and a battery, before i figured out what it was.

I had a plastic gear go bad as well. However, that's pretty obvious it's not an electrical problem as you can hear the motor trying to turn the head light up.
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 05:07 PM
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Ok, that makes sense. I just had to have the starter replaced, twice. They may not have put spacers in again. Why would it only affect one light and not both though? The battery is draining only because I have been removing the lights while leaving the DRLs on and not disconnecting the battery. Thanks Stangkiller.
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by rcknusa
Ok, that makes sense. I just had to have the starter replaced, twice. They may not have put spacers in again. Why would it only affect one light and not both though? The battery is draining only because I have been removing the lights while leaving the DRLs on and not disconnecting the battery. Thanks Stangkiller.
spacers? Sounds to me like you have a short some where. Check for proper grounding on that side. When it was happeneing for me both sides were either opening or not opening together. When i had the gear strip, the one side clearly worked, while you could still clearly hear the motor trying to work on the other side.
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