headlight gear replace by a pro
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
headlight gear replace by a pro
I am not real mechanical and have very little spare time. Can anyone give me an estimate how much it will cost me to have my headlight gears changed to steel on my 2000 coupe.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 14,440
Likes: 3
From: MD
St. Jude Donor '11
Buy the re-build kit for a few dollars and you can do it yourself in less than a hour. The dealership will charge you for a new motor and labor. My guess would be no less than $350.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Mine was done under warranty but they booked about $400 for the job. It'll be done in a day. The dealer will fit a new motor with nylon gears as thats the OEM part. You'd need to negotiate if you want brass gears fitted. I'd be surprised if a dealer would touch it.A motor replacement is easily DIY if you want the quicker solution but the gear fix is not overly complicated and there are plenty of How Tos on the Forum.
Last edited by DeeGee; Jun 30, 2009 at 01:34 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Clark NJ
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
Labor for the gear change ran me $200.00 for both headlights. Well worth it as far as I’m concerned.
Last edited by Johnny_B_Good; Jun 30, 2009 at 09:43 PM.
Team Owner
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No way I would pay $200-400 to have anyone swap out a $20 part that takes anyone less than an hour to do themselves. However if you want to send me the headlight motor and new part I will be happy to take your $$$ 
Seriously 60 minutes with a 1/4 drive socket set and a couple screwdrivers you can do this yourself
Seriously 60 minutes with a 1/4 drive socket set and a couple screwdrivers you can do this yourself
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,567
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From: North Carolina "life is good"
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My god!! 
The dealers are ripping us off.
I just did this repair for a buddy of mine on his 2000. Followed the thread and took the complete headlight assembly out. He bought the gears off of the internet. I swapped them out. Complete job took about 30 to 45 mins each side.
Read the DIY thread on this.
Are you in a local Corvette club? If so I sure someone has done this before. Just ask. It is really simple. $200, $300 , $400 all crazy money for this proceedure.
The dealers are ripping us off. I just did this repair for a buddy of mine on his 2000. Followed the thread and took the complete headlight assembly out. He bought the gears off of the internet. I swapped them out. Complete job took about 30 to 45 mins each side.
Read the DIY thread on this.
Are you in a local Corvette club? If so I sure someone has done this before. Just ask. It is really simple. $200, $300 , $400 all crazy money for this proceedure.
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From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Don't pay to get that done. I know you can spare at least an hr a day.
Here is a good write up by AJ: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...placement.html
Here is a good write up by AJ: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...placement.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,567
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From: North Carolina "life is good"
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Don't pay to get that done. I know you can spare at least an hr a day.
Here is a good write up by AJ: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...placement.html
Here is a good write up by AJ: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...placement.html
Yup! That's the one. I used a 7 min epoxy from Lowes. Let it set up for 15 - 20 mins before taking the clamps off just to make sure it was cured. Easy as pie.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 312
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From: Valrico FL
Seymore,
Are you anywhere in Central Florida? I can help if you need it.
I just ordered two gears from Brent F. last Friday as my 04 start "growling" at me. Hopefully they will arrive soon and I will be doing mine.
Can help if you need it.
Mike
Are you anywhere in Central Florida? I can help if you need it.
I just ordered two gears from Brent F. last Friday as my 04 start "growling" at me. Hopefully they will arrive soon and I will be doing mine.
Can help if you need it.
Mike
Banned Scam/Spammer
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From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
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Le Mans Master
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From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/
A better gear, as he eliminates the rubber portion that can(and will) fail again.
Did both mine while I was at it, in less than an hour.
A better gear, as he eliminates the rubber portion that can(and will) fail again.
Did both mine while I was at it, in less than an hour.