Head Lite Door won't Need Fourm Help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Punta Gorda, Florida
Head Lite Door won't Need Fourm Help
How hard is it to replace the Plastic Gear which I hear is
a weak point in the C5.. Where can I buy this with out going
to the dealership which I hate to do for anything !! ??
Thanks in advance for any help ????
a weak point in the C5.. Where can I buy this with out going
to the dealership which I hate to do for anything !! ??
Thanks in advance for any help ????
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Replace it with a brass gear and you'll never have to do it again. I got mine from Corvette Central. Took me less than an hour to replace one. There is a good tutorial on here somewhere, use the search function to find it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,064
Likes: 18
From: Arizona
Its very easy... there are several ways to get it out depending on how small your hands are...
Replace it with a brass gear. I would do both sides so you dont have to do it again in 6 months when the other side goes out.
Let the epoxy dry over night before replacing.
Replace it with a brass gear. I would do both sides so you dont have to do it again in 6 months when the other side goes out.
Let the epoxy dry over night before replacing.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,449
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From: SC
Race Director
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
It's really not a big deal to open the case up though... I've done a few times with no issues...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
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From: Oak Hill Virginia
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Northern NJ
Funny you should ask
I have my passenger side assembly out right now. I tried the quick easy fix but it wasn't so easy and it certainly wasn't quick for me. Then Monday night I took the whole assembly out, brought it into the study, took my time, replaced the gear, put on the urethane (no longer epoxy), clamped it up and am waiting for it to cure all week. I also ordered a bracket to make sure the cover over the gear doesn't come out. Nice and slow, from rounding up the tools to putting the final clamps on took me about 1.5 hours. I am not doing the other side until it fails because doing now doesn't save me anything. Also, I believe my gear failed due to loose tabs holding the motor in place. The other side is nice and tight.
I plan on putting it back in this weekend.
Good luck.
I plan on putting it back in this weekend.
Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,449
Likes: 343
From: SC
I have my passenger side assembly out right now. I tried the quick easy fix but it wasn't so easy and it certainly wasn't quick for me. Then Monday night I took the whole assembly out, brought it into the study, took my time, replaced the gear, put on the urethane (no longer epoxy), clamped it up and am waiting for it to cure all week. I also ordered a bracket to make sure the cover over the gear doesn't come out. Nice and slow, from rounding up the tools to putting the final clamps on took me about 1.5 hours. I am not doing the other side until it fails because doing now doesn't save me anything. Also, I believe my gear failed due to loose tabs holding the motor in place. The other side is nice and tight.
I plan on putting it back in this weekend.
Good luck.
I plan on putting it back in this weekend.
Good luck.
Also, it wasn't necessary to remove the whole headlight assembly. I just removed the motor.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Lafayette La
I have my passenger side assembly out right now. I tried the quick easy fix but it wasn't so easy and it certainly wasn't quick for me. Then Monday night I took the whole assembly out, brought it into the study, took my time, replaced the gear, put on the urethane (no longer epoxy), clamped it up and am waiting for it to cure all week. I also ordered a bracket to make sure the cover over the gear doesn't come out. Nice and slow, from rounding up the tools to putting the final clamps on took me about 1.5 hours. I am not doing the other side until it fails because doing now doesn't save me anything. Also, I believe my gear failed due to loose tabs holding the motor in place. The other side is nice and tight.
I plan on putting it back in this weekend.
Good luck.
I plan on putting it back in this weekend.
Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,449
Likes: 343
From: SC
I got my replacement gear with the brace here:
http://www.top-downsolutions.com/hea...tte-p-128.html
http://www.top-downsolutions.com/hea...tte-p-128.html
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Northern NJ
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Northern NJ
I believe you are correct about the tabs holding the motor being loose. I had the same problem with mine. Or I thought the terrible grinding the motor made when the gear failed, caused the tabs to work loose? Either way, one is replaced and both motors are nice and tight now.
Also, it wasn't necessary to remove the whole headlight assembly. I just removed the motor.
Also, it wasn't necessary to remove the whole headlight assembly. I just removed the motor.
To put in the permanent fix, I found it much more comfortable to remove the headlight cover and the hood support, then easily turnoff the 6 nuts and remove the entire assembly and then lay it out in the study, take my time while referencing the procedure on the computer to make sure I didn't screw it up. I had an "oh crap" and then figured out the drivers side shaft goes in the opposite direction from the passengers side.