Help with front lights.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 90
From: North Ridgeville Ohio
Help with front lights.
I just bought a 2000 C5 and I am having trouble with the front lights. I took the car to my local dealer and they are telling me that I am probably looking at a $1000+ to get them working the way they should. Am I better off going to stationary lights because Chevy is telling me they may have a problem getting parts and there is a open recall on one of the lights (it needs to be shimmed) and the parts aren't available. Can someone recommend a GOOD front light kit that will come with all the wires and connectors. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,201
Likes: 4,187
From: Kannapolis NC
Are you talking about the headlights, trouble with going up and down? What is the trouble you're having? Do they make a grinding noise after closing? Don't be afraid to be specific if you want help?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 147
From: Jasper Alabama
Can you give us more info on the problem you are having. Lots of knowledgeable members on here that can point you in the right direction to fix the issue. There are a few vendors on here that can help you out on any used parts that you may need as well.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 90
From: North Ridgeville Ohio
The passenger side light goes down and then comes back up, and the passenger side light sounds like its grinding.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 147
From: Jasper Alabama
Sounds like the plastic gear has some stripped teeth. A couple ways you can fix this. You can pull the gear and rotate it 180 degrees so that it will ride the teeth that are not damaged. Cost a tube of silicone to seal the cover back on and a few hours of your time. Or you can purchase a brass upgrade gear kit for a permanent fix for aboit $45.00 and a few hours of your time. Try that an see if this cures your problem. No $1000 fix. Thats Corvette tax the dealership adds on.Should be a procedure for this fix in the DIY thread
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 147
From: Jasper Alabama
Click on this link and scroll through it. Pretty sure the procedure is in it along with tons of other useful info you may need down the road.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...l-in-here.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...l-in-here.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Help with front lights.
Get a kit like this one (pay attention because there are 2 different kits: one for "97 to early 2000" and another for "late 2000 to 2004") and follow these step-by-step directions. You'll save more than $900 and they will last forever 
You might need these as well.
The parts needed for this are included in the above mentioned kit. It is only necessary for the driver's side.
You might need these as well.
The parts needed for this are included in the above mentioned kit. It is only necessary for the driver's side.
Last edited by GCG; Jul 10, 2015 at 05:27 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Go to Rodney Dickman's site. He not only makes the parts you need, he will help you with how to do the repairs. I suggest you not only replace the gear with the bronze one, but also buy the headlight stops, only $11 for each side. I had problems with my left headlight still after replacing the gear, the stops cured any further problems. Works like new now.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 90
From: North Ridgeville Ohio
Thanks!
Go to Rodney Dickman's site. He not only makes the parts you need, he will help you with how to do the repairs. I suggest you not only replace the gear with the bronze one, but also buy the headlight stops, only $11 for each side. I had problems with my left headlight still after replacing the gear, the stops cured any further problems. Works like new now.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 23
From: Anaheim CA
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 90
From: North Ridgeville Ohio
If you want someone else to do the repair work then expect to spend some money. Gears for both sides is going to be around $200 and depending upon if the motors are screwed together (early motors vs glued together you are looking at around 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours per side to do the repairs. Work is not difficult but a bit time consuming.
And as Lee mentioned we have no idea where you are located. NO info in posts or profile.....
And as Lee mentioned we have no idea where you are located. NO info in posts or profile.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Help with front lights.
And your inside knowledge can be extrapolated to many other places, so be careful.If you are not mechanically inclined, or don't have time to do it, then you have to expect to spend some money... just be aware of your options and their costs.
Dealership quoted you "about" $750 for both sides and the open recall. They will replace your motors with new ones with plastic gears, as the originals. It's true you will have a warranty on the job done, but your motors "will" fail again because of the plastic gears "after" your warranty had expired
On the other hand, the open recall is just 3 washers to shim the driver's side motor and they are included in the kit I mentioned in my previous post
For comparison, the kit to service both motors in a 97-Early 2000 is just $89.95 and for a Late 2000-2004 is $91.95 and your motors will never fail again because of the plastic gears. You can also order the rubber bump stops and have a basically new mechanism.
This is not as difficult as it may seem and you'll know it was done right (not to mention the satisfaction of doing it yourself)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 90
From: North Ridgeville Ohio
The job is done.
I am on the road again (AT NIGHT) lol. I absolutely LOVE this ROLLING MONEY PIT. In the three months that I have owned this car I have made numerous changes to make it the way I want it and I still have a long way to go. I have LED halo lights coming for the rear and now I am looking for halos for the front......I would prefer plug and play if possible. Any suggestions?