Weird headlight activity
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Newberry FL
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St. Jude Donor '07
Weird headlight activity
So, today I walk to the parking garage and I like to drive through the garage with my headlights on; more likely to be seen. I turn on the car, turn on the headlights and the driver side goes half way up and it has a slight delay. As though it is getting caught on something and then pops up. No issue with the turning them off. No grinding or motor noise.
So, I am thinking about replacing the motors. Yes, I am the overkill guy that thinks that doing both at the same time is the way to ensure I don't change one and end up having to order another one later.
Both motors have the new brass gears in them.
Ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions? If I order new ones, best place to get them?
Thanks in advance,
Micah
So, I am thinking about replacing the motors. Yes, I am the overkill guy that thinks that doing both at the same time is the way to ensure I don't change one and end up having to order another one later.
Both motors have the new brass gears in them.
Ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions? If I order new ones, best place to get them?
Thanks in advance,
Micah
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 275
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From: Waretown NJ
When you installed the brass gears did you replace the black rubber inserts?
If not that's probably your problem. If you did replace the inserts with the gears, how long ago? Again, check the black rubber inserts.
For the problem - try cycling by hand to see if anything is binding...
If not that's probably your problem. If you did replace the inserts with the gears, how long ago? Again, check the black rubber inserts.
For the problem - try cycling by hand to see if anything is binding...
Drifting
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From: Placitas NM
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '04
Also check the housing - when I replaced the gears the epoxy failed and allow the plastic case to separate. Ultimately the housing split and the headlights didn't go all the way up.
rr
rr
Thread Starter
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From: Newberry FL
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St. Jude Donor '07
Tonight the headlight went half way up and stopped.
Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeediculous!
I got out and manually operated it and left it at that. I hate it when these lights start acting strange.
Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeediculous!
I got out and manually operated it and left it at that. I hate it when these lights start acting strange.
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From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
Sounds like your motor case has separated. Did you install the metal bracket from Dickman when you did your repair ? If you only used epoxy, that may be your problem.
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From: Newberry FL
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St. Jude Donor '07
Thanks for the suggestion,
Micah
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Hope you get it fixed Micah and don't have to buy new motors. But if you do, I'd recommend getting them from Gene at gmpartshouse.com.
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
When you reassembled the motors, were you aware that the spacers can go back in, in more than one location? If the spacers are wrong, the metal bumper stops/holders will allow the metal to ride up over the rubber bumpers and get jammed.
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From: Newberry FL
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St. Jude Donor '07
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
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Just know the spacers will go in wrongly and the case will still go together. It doesn't like it this way and will cause you issues. Not saying this is the cause but its a possibility.
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From: Newberry FL
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St. Jude Donor '07
Well, I took the assembly off and the adhesive didn't seal properly, so the gear assembly had gaps in it and it leads me to believe the gear may have been shifting around inside. So, I clean it all up and I have purchased a much stronger adhesive and resealed them and they are goin to be curing over night. Hope this fixes the problem. I think it should.
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
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Hope that works Micah. It sounds like that would cause the symptoms. The only other things I could think of would be stoppers or connections.
It could be a broken nylon stopper. It's on the innner side of the light assembly near the motor arm linkage and it looks like a piece of white gum. It stops the headlight at the correct spot when closing but if it breaks it can cause weird problems. Compare the passenger and driver side headlights and it'll be obvious if its damaged.
It could be bad connections on the headlight actuator control module. That's the one that sits under the passenger headlight on the front of the wheel well wall. If the control module is faulty or you have a bad connection it might cause it. Reseat the connectors (one on each side).
It could be a broken nylon stopper. It's on the innner side of the light assembly near the motor arm linkage and it looks like a piece of white gum. It stops the headlight at the correct spot when closing but if it breaks it can cause weird problems. Compare the passenger and driver side headlights and it'll be obvious if its damaged.
It could be bad connections on the headlight actuator control module. That's the one that sits under the passenger headlight on the front of the wheel well wall. If the control module is faulty or you have a bad connection it might cause it. Reseat the connectors (one on each side).
Thread Starter
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From: Newberry FL
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St. Jude Donor '07
Hope that works Micah. It sounds like that would cause the symptoms. The only other things I could think of would be stoppers or connections.
It could be a broken nylon stopper. It's on the innner side of the light assembly near the motor arm linkage and it looks like a piece of white gum. It stops the headlight at the correct spot when closing but if it breaks it can cause weird problems. Compare the passenger and driver side headlights and it'll be obvious if its damaged.
It could be bad connections on the headlight actuator control module. That's the one that sits under the passenger headlight on the front of the wheel well wall. If the control module is faulty or you have a bad connection it might cause it. Reseat the connectors (one on each side).
It could be a broken nylon stopper. It's on the innner side of the light assembly near the motor arm linkage and it looks like a piece of white gum. It stops the headlight at the correct spot when closing but if it breaks it can cause weird problems. Compare the passenger and driver side headlights and it'll be obvious if its damaged.
It could be bad connections on the headlight actuator control module. That's the one that sits under the passenger headlight on the front of the wheel well wall. If the control module is faulty or you have a bad connection it might cause it. Reseat the connectors (one on each side).
The headlight motor I was having issues with literally had a gap that formed that was 1/4 wide. I am certain the gear was not able to do it's job properly with the seating of the motor not true and correct. Does that make sense?
I pulled the driver side off (the one that was not acting up) and I could see a gap forming, so it was on it was only a matter of time.
The adhesive I got on there now...will never come apart. At least not without some SERIOUS work.
Micah
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From: Newberry FL
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St. Jude Donor '07
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From: The Woodlands Texas
To ensure the epoxy on the cover never fails, take three washers and slightly bend one side down on each washer, place the bolts through the washers and align the bent part of the washer over the cover of the motor, tighten your bolts down on the cover and notice the wonderful way the washers hold the the motor cover in place. Did this procedure on both of my motors and it works fine!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
To ensure the epoxy on the cover never fails, take three washers and slightly bend one side down on each washer, place the bolts through the washers and align the bent part of the washer over the cover of the motor, tighten your bolts down on the cover and notice the wonderful way the washers hold the the motor cover in place. Did this procedure on both of my motors and it works fine!