Headlight motor problems
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Prairieville LA
Headlight motor problems
C3 guy making an inquiry for a friend with a 2001 C5. The passenger headlight would not raise up on it's own. My friend took the boot off the manual **** and turned it to raise the headlight. Now the headlight will raise and lower. Here's the problem. The light raises okay, but when it goes back down the power motor continue to run about 5 or so seconds after the light is down. The manual **** continues to spin and the whole assembly vibrates wildly. Any ideas on what the problem is would be greatly appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 13,007
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From: Happiness is Busch in Victory Lane!
St. Jude Donor '09 & '12, '14
The Gear is wore out. Do a Search in C5 General.
New Gears can be purchased that are stronger then Factory so you wont have the issue again
Also there are plenty of writeups on it.
If you need me to find it for you send me a PM.
New Gears can be purchased that are stronger then Factory so you wont have the issue again
Also there are plenty of writeups on it.
If you need me to find it for you send me a PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 167
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
100% sure that is the problem. It was a very common problem with the C5 headlight assembly. The gears simply wear out. Send your friend to this site:http://www.rodneydickman.com/retail_new.html
Click on the "electrical" tab at the top of the page.
Scroll down the page to "Headlight"
Look in the other vehicles section and find the 1997-2004 Corvette metal gears on the right hand side.
Order the replacement gears and it comes with the instructions for disassembly, the gears and the glue to close up the housing. It will be good as new. You will need to pay particular attention to the direction of travel of the gear as well as the position of the headlight when you disassemble it.
The other short term fix that usually works is to open the housing and rotate the gear 180 degrees. Usually only half of the gear wears out and you can buy a little time buy removing and rotating the gear wheel to the other side where the teeth will still be good.
Just an F.Y.I. you have posted this request in the C6 (2005-2009) section of the forum. There is a specific section dedicated to the 1997-2004 as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,615
Likes: 60
From: Haymarket Virginia
100% sure that is the problem. It was a very common problem with the C5 headlight assembly. The gears simply wear out. Send your friend to this site:http://www.rodneydickman.com/retail_new.html
Click on the "electrical" tab at the top of the page.
Scroll down the page to "Headlight"
Look in the other vehicles section and find the 1997-2004 Corvette metal gears on the right hand side.
Order the replacement gears and it comes with the instructions for disassembly, the gears and the glue to close up the housing. It will be good as new. You will need to pay particular attention to the direction of travel of the gear as well as the position of the headlight when you disassemble it.
The other short term fix that usually works is to open the housing and rotate the gear 180 degrees. Usually only half of the gear wears out and you can buy a little time buy removing and rotating the gear wheel to the other side where the teeth will still be good.
Just an F.Y.I. you have posted this request in the C6 (2005-2009) section of the forum. There is a specific section dedicated to the 1997-2004 as well.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
I agree with Talon90’s short term fix except for opening the actuator housing, especially if it’s one that uses adhesive rather than screws to hold it together. Just disconnect the linkage that raises the headlight at the actuator output shaft and use the manual **** to rotate it (output shaft) 180 degrees and then reconnect the linkage. You will need to remove the headlight cover and plastic filler to access the nut (about 10 mm) securing the linkage. I found this to be more than a short time fix.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 808
Likes: 10
From: CV Rancho del Rey SoCal
Brent Franker Gears
Brent Franker also makes replacement gears made from hardened aircraft aluminum 6061. Very high quality it's a solid gear so you don't need the rubber insert that also deteriorates and falls apart over time.
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm
Last edited by 98am; Sep 20, 2008 at 12:59 AM.
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 1
From: West Palm Beach Florida
Brent Franker also makes replacement gears made from hardened aircraft aluminum 6061. Very high quality it's a solid gear so you don't need the rubber insert that also deteriorates and falls apart over time.
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm
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