Pop-up Headlight Probs
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 438
Likes: 52
From: Baltimore County, Maryland
Pop-up Headlight Probs
So I installed some HID replacements in the stock housings, and I know I am well aware of the criticisms so please keep this on point. They worked great initially, but now when I put the selector into running light mode the headlights come up and when I put the down there is an intense grinding from the drivers side light for about 30 seconds after switching them off. Any ideas? Is the gear out of sync or something?
Thanks in advance.
Zach
Thanks in advance.
Zach
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,428
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Not sure. Dunno where you got them, but I tried a $35 set from Ebay and ended up taking them out because one light would not raise/lower reliably, and a ballast went bad. Since you've done this already, you know the great pleasure experienced taking those @#$$# things apart. I fixed a friend's gear, but he has stock lights. It was a bad gear period. Your's <could> be from low voltage getting to the motor, tho' the gear seems like it could also be a problem if a section of teeth are missing. Does it raise and lower as commanded?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 438
Likes: 52
From: Baltimore County, Maryland
yes it does raise but bot with just parking light function and headlights. I don know what would cause it to go up when I just use the parking lights. It goes down when I turn it off but makes a god awful grinding noise.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 438
Likes: 52
From: Baltimore County, Maryland
No it worked fine for a while and then suddenly started coming up when I use only parking lights and/or heads. When I put them down they lower totally and the drivers side makes a grinding noise for 30 sec after they are lowered. What controls the parking lights, and headlights that keep one from bringing them all the way up or just parking lights on? Is it a resistor or something? It cant be a mechanical switch only if it all the sudden is up at both positions.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
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From: Lake Elsinore, CA
You need to install the brass gears. Here's the thread I posted on the procedure.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...tml?highlight=
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...tml?highlight=
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 438
Likes: 52
From: Baltimore County, Maryland
That's what i am leaning towards. I put each ballast ground underneath the stock front frame grounds and i am starting to think maybe there is something wierd going on there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
This happens when a gear fails. Don't ask me the reason but it has something to do with the fact that the headlight motor never properly sensed it's stop point when you closed them. This messes with the sync and causes them to go up when you turn on the parking lights. Don't worry, everything goes back to normal once you replace the broken gear. There is nothing wrong electronically.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Replacing the gear is tedious, but not technically difficult and it certainly solves the problem. I did one for a friend. Luckily he was around the corner so bringing the assembly back to my workshop was not a hassle, and it makes a big difference to work on a bench with a vise and proper tools.
I wanted to state more in my previous post, but typing on an Ipad is a PITA, so I saved it till now. I met a guy at last Thursday's Cruise in Hackettstown with a highly customized '03Z. He had the same headlight arrangement as I had attempted but advised me to buy a good quality kit instead of a $35 one from Ebay. One thing he did, which makes the mod SO much easier is that he located the ballasts on the fenderwell just behind the popups. Plenty of room and easy to work with. I had loads of problems locating them on the frame, the tape never held and I went thru zip-ties like water. The performance using the stock lenses were excellent. If and when I redo this mod, I will buy good stuff and make my life easier as well.
I wanted to state more in my previous post, but typing on an Ipad is a PITA, so I saved it till now. I met a guy at last Thursday's Cruise in Hackettstown with a highly customized '03Z. He had the same headlight arrangement as I had attempted but advised me to buy a good quality kit instead of a $35 one from Ebay. One thing he did, which makes the mod SO much easier is that he located the ballasts on the fenderwell just behind the popups. Plenty of room and easy to work with. I had loads of problems locating them on the frame, the tape never held and I went thru zip-ties like water. The performance using the stock lenses were excellent. If and when I redo this mod, I will buy good stuff and make my life easier as well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,798
Likes: 8
From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
Replacing the gear is tedious, but not technically difficult and it certainly solves the problem. I did one for a friend. Luckily he was around the corner so bringing the assembly back to my workshop was not a hassle, and it makes a big difference to work on a bench with a vise and proper tools.
I wanted to state more in my previous post, but typing on an Ipad is a PITA, so I saved it till now. I met a guy at last Thursday's Cruise in Hackettstown with a highly customized '03Z. He had the same headlight arrangement as I had attempted but advised me to buy a good quality kit instead of a $35 one from Ebay. One thing he did, which makes the mod SO much easier is that he located the ballasts on the fenderwell just behind the popups. Plenty of room and easy to work with. I had loads of problems locating them on the frame, the tape never held and I went thru zip-ties like water. The performance using the stock lenses were excellent. If and when I redo this mod, I will buy good stuff and make my life easier as well.
I wanted to state more in my previous post, but typing on an Ipad is a PITA, so I saved it till now. I met a guy at last Thursday's Cruise in Hackettstown with a highly customized '03Z. He had the same headlight arrangement as I had attempted but advised me to buy a good quality kit instead of a $35 one from Ebay. One thing he did, which makes the mod SO much easier is that he located the ballasts on the fenderwell just behind the popups. Plenty of room and easy to work with. I had loads of problems locating them on the frame, the tape never held and I went thru zip-ties like water. The performance using the stock lenses were excellent. If and when I redo this mod, I will buy good stuff and make my life easier as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,428
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Ha! It wasnt the quality of the zip ties as much as how many I needed to get around the frame!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,798
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From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,428
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,428
Likes: 971
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Could be, however...
I just remembered, one of mine started to do that, so I took off the covers and watched it operate. Dunno how to explain it, but the motor body was 'loose'. I took it out, separated it from the rest of the mechanism and added pressure to the 'tabs' that hold the motor together by bending them. No more noise.
I just remembered, one of mine started to do that, so I took off the covers and watched it operate. Dunno how to explain it, but the motor body was 'loose'. I took it out, separated it from the rest of the mechanism and added pressure to the 'tabs' that hold the motor together by bending them. No more noise.