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Old Nov 28, 2014 | 12:27 PM
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Default Headlight problem

My left headlight has been giving me some problems. Sometimes it comes up, sometimes it does not. It would not come up last night so I tried to raise it manually. The light did not move and I heard a pop. Now the light works just fine up and down, but when I turn them off and they go down the left one makes a horrible grinding noise for about 15 seconds after closing. Any suggestions???
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Old Nov 28, 2014 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by thfrider
My left headlight has been giving me some problems. Sometimes it comes up, sometimes it does not. It would not come up last night so I tried to raise it manually. The light did not move and I heard a pop. Now the light works just fine up and down, but when I turn them off and they go down the left one makes a horrible grinding noise for about 15 seconds after closing. Any suggestions???
It sounds like you need to replace the gear. Several vendors sell brass gear replacements.
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Old Nov 28, 2014 | 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Corvette_Ed
It sounds like you need to replace the gear. Several vendors sell brass gear replacements.
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Old Nov 28, 2014 | 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Corvette_Ed
It sounds like you need to replace the gear. Several vendors sell brass gear replacements.
Sounds like its time for a gear (the brass ones) change....do both of them as if one is a problem, the other is probably on borrowed
time.
Take a look at the Rodney Dickman brass gear kit. It comes complete with epoxy, grease, the T brace, the gear and plenty of pic's in the instructions.
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Old Nov 28, 2014 | 09:02 PM
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Thanks, where should you look for this kit, and how big of a job is it?
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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 01:26 AM
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Hi; You can also rotate your original plastic (nylon) gear 180 degrees and you will be on the side of the gear that is not worn out. worked for me... good luck Mike
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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 01:58 AM
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Originally Posted by thfrider
Thanks, where should you look for this kit, and how big of a job is it?
It's not a difficult job and anyone who knows which end of a screwdriver to hold can accomplish it.

Here is just one of the places which sells brass replacement gears: http://www.rodneydickman.com/corvette.html I would order a pair so that you have one on hand when the other headlight gear self destructs.

If you Google C5 Corvette headlight gear, there is a YouTube video showing what needs to be done.


Stu

Last edited by stu12dozen; Nov 29, 2014 at 02:04 AM.
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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by stu12dozen
It's not a difficult job and anyone who knows which end of a screwdriver to hold can accomplish it.
Here is just one of the places which sells brass replacement gears: http://www.rodneydickman.com/corvette.html


Originally Posted by runner140*
Take a look at the Rodney Dickman brass gear kit. It comes complete with epoxy, grease, the T brace, the gear and plenty of pic's in the instructions.


Originally Posted by thfrider
Thanks, where should you look for this kit, and how big of a job is it?

Rod Dickman has the best prices, and his kit also has the additional t-brace.

It is a relatively easy job, even taking your time you can do one in an hour or so.

Buy two kits and do them both as if one is faulty the other isn't far behind it.

The passenger side is slightly easier than the driver's side simply because access is easier for right handed people.

The only "scary" part is breaking the glued gear cover off for the first time, but it is sturdier than you think and can actually be treated quite roughly without any fear of breaking it.


.
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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 07:30 PM
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I had the same problem. The brass gear did the trick. However, don't make more work for yourself by doing both. I did my driver side 5 years ago, and still no problems with the passenger side. When it goes, I'll fix it.
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