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Head light stuck down???

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Old Feb 15, 2007 | 08:57 PM
  #1  
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Default Head light stuck down???

I got a 99 vette with a stripped gear in the front right headlight motor.
I bought a new motor.
The headlight is currently in the down position and i can't seem to get it up so that i can change the motor out. Is there some kind of trick to get the headlight up with out damaging it???

Any advise would be apreciated.

Thanks Mike
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Old Feb 15, 2007 | 09:40 PM
  #2  
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Originally Posted by coletrickle350
I got a 99 vette with a stripped gear in the front right headlight motor.
I bought a new motor.
The headlight is currently in the down position and i can't seem to get it up so that i can change the motor out. Is there some kind of trick to get the headlight up with out damaging it???

Any advise would be apreciated.

Thanks Mike


Open your hood and there will be a black **** on the side of the headlight. Turn that manually and the light will slowly go up.
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Old Feb 15, 2007 | 10:01 PM
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Could have saved yourself a TON of money had you searched for headlight gears. A very easy fix by just replacing a gear.

Anyway, crank up the light by hand then do your thing on the replacement.


Good Luck....
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Old Feb 15, 2007 | 10:33 PM
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search C5 Tech archives for my Headlight DIY..pics and everything
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Old Feb 15, 2007 | 11:58 PM
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I tried that but it doesn't do anything

If that *** you guys are talking about (the big black plastic one on the back of the light motor) is connected to the gear which is conected to the head light I would assume that wouldn't work either?

Or am i mistaken?

Thanks Mike
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Old Feb 16, 2007 | 12:37 AM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by coletrickle350
I tried that but it doesn't do anything

If that *** you guys are talking about (the big black plastic one on the back of the light motor) is connected to the gear which is conected to the head light I would assume that wouldn't work either?

Or am i mistaken?

Thanks Mike
The **** in question is the rubber covered circular one on top of the headlamp motor itself. It manually rotates the gear and moves the headlamp up. For it not to work the gear would have to be totally stripped which would be very unusual. Normally the nylon gear just loses a few teeth. It does take quite a while to bring the light up and it will only be moving when the remaining teeth make contact with the gears.

Can you see any movement at all?
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Old Feb 16, 2007 | 01:31 AM
  #7  
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If it's not too late, get a refund on the motor and go get some brass gears from Rodney Dickman. Great guy to do business with and the fix will be permanent. If you replace the whole motor with a new one, you will still have a "plastic" gear. You WILL run into this problem again if you keep the car long enough. It's a simple DIY project with included instructions. Good luck.
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Old Feb 16, 2007 | 02:09 PM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by DeeGee
The **** in question is the rubber covered circular one on top of the headlamp motor itself. It manually rotates the gear and moves the headlamp up. For it not to work the gear would have to be totally stripped which would be very unusual. Normally the nylon gear just loses a few teeth. It does take quite a while to bring the light up and it will only be moving when the remaining teeth make contact with the gears.

Can you see any movement at all?
When I hit the lights on the motor comes on and the **** spins but the head light does nothing.

I apreciate the advise on the gear guys and i might do that, if i can ever get the headlight up so i can pull the motor out.

It seems like a very rare occurance since i couldn't find anything out on the boards and i asked a couple of mechanics and still have no answer.

Thanks Mike
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Old Feb 16, 2007 | 03:35 PM
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It sounds like the gear wheel is completely stripped. Never heard of that before.

The replacement motor will fix the problem but as has been said you still end up with a nylon gear

This may help. It goes through the procedure:


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...476&forum_id=1
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Old Feb 16, 2007 | 04:03 PM
  #10  
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I had this problem. You need brass gears.
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Old Feb 16, 2007 | 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by coletrickle350
I got a 99 vette with a stripped gear in the front right headlight motor.
I bought a new motor.
The headlight is currently in the down position and i can't seem to get it up so that i can change the motor out. Is there some kind of trick to get the headlight up with out damaging it???

Any advise would be apreciated.

Thanks Mike
Suggestion, (unsolicited) Why not fill out your profile. It is possible that someone could actually help you with this in your area. I have experience with this issue as many on the forum have.
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Old Feb 17, 2007 | 12:57 PM
  #12  
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Thanks a ton fellas.

I think I know now what i need to do.
That post that DeeGee put up is what i gotta do.
Gona tear into it this weekend.
I'm sure I'll figure it out.

Thanks Again
Mike
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Old Feb 17, 2007 | 01:32 PM
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Do U Have A Special Set Of Staggered Tires On Your Car So U Can Take The Outside On Turn 4?
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