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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 08:18 PM
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Default headlight covers

When the headlamp switch is activated the headlights come on but the covers do not open. This doesn't happen all the time. Can anybody help me?
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 04:15 AM
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Do you hear the (headlight) motors running ? Do you have stock headlights (or aftermarket HID's)?
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 04:39 AM
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Could be the gears in the headlight motors.
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Jistari
Do you hear the (headlight) motors running ? Do you have stock headlights (or aftermarket HID's)?
No I can't hear the motor running. And they are stock headlights. doesn't happen every time and I see no pattern to when it does. I can see the lights are on under the covers.....just wont' raise.

Any adjustments or possible electrical failures that would cause this that you know of? It has happened when set on 'manual' and 'auto' both????
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
Could be the gears in the headlight motors.
I don't think it is the gears because they normally work.......just occasionally not. Is it possible to take the motor apart to look? or is it too much of a job and not worth it? Thanks.
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Old Sep 1, 2010 | 03:20 AM
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If they work sometimes, and sound ok when they do (not crunchy....or one opens...or shudder when they open, when they work they both go up nice and smooth) I would think its not the motor.

If its not the gears, or HID's low voltage interfering with the opening/closing, Im not gonna be much help.

I'm not even half a mechanic, but Ive taken them apart a few times for a modded head light install, so take this with that grain of salt, may be the switch on the stalk?
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 02:23 PM
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Bill Curlee gave me this post. It was cause by the switch in the column

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...f-replace.html


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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 02:34 PM
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headlight gears.. plastic or teflon that get stripped after awhile.. you can buy brass replacements.. i had to do this last year
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 05:55 PM
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I'm going to make a couple of assumptions, you're not hearing any unusual noises, the problem is sporadic, the multi-function switch works ... if you're new to the car, you might want to check to see if your battery and it's terminals are up to spec.

Before I bought my car, I double checked on the headlight operation, it was fine. Then after 2 weeks of having the car, I changed the battery and my radio lights would flicker at idle and 2 months later when I first went to use my headlights, they would come on but not pop up when the motor was running but would operate fine with the motor off...WTF?
Turned out that my negative terminal needed a quarter of a turn and it instantly solved
both problems.

Check out that battery and terminals!

Jerry
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Old Sep 4, 2010 | 05:45 PM
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Hey Jerry. Thanks for the feedback. You may be right. I had battery cable problems when it was new. They were corroded and also sometimes the interior lights will dim and brighten again. Going to check into this first chance I get. thanks again.
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