C5 headlight malfunction
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 2
C5 headlight malfunction
I have replaced both plastic gears with nicely machined brass gears. The left one was fine for a year and then started acting up. When I shut headlights off or the twilight sentinel shuts them off, the left closes then pops back up approx. 2/3 of it's travel. I removed the whole thing, checked everything, re sealed the casing, re-installed everything . It worked fine........for 5 days and is acting crazy again. Anybody got a clue?
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 2
C5 Headlight malfunction
JR-01's advice to disable the sentinel is indeed good. However, when the headlights are manually turned on and off, after closing correctly the left one pops up 2/3 travel. If you ever drive at night or at dusk you gotta have em. Leaving them off is not an option as the left light is permanently in the 2/3 pooped up position. I suppose I could manually crank it down but it will repeat it's haunted behavior as soon as you use the lights. Thanks...
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 204
From: Calabash, NC
Time to check the little plastic stops. See the following site:
http://rodneydickman.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=309
The little rubber bumpers serve the function to "slowly" stop the travel and allow current to increase in the motor which is monitored to shutoff the motor. If the rubber bumpers are shot you hit metal to metal causing the light assembly to change direction- and stay out of sync. Very easy fix.
In my opinion when you change to the brass gears the stress on the bumpers increase causing them to fail. I'd rather replace the bumpers than the gears - only takes a few minutes. There are 4 per headlight.
Good luck!
http://rodneydickman.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=309
The little rubber bumpers serve the function to "slowly" stop the travel and allow current to increase in the motor which is monitored to shutoff the motor. If the rubber bumpers are shot you hit metal to metal causing the light assembly to change direction- and stay out of sync. Very easy fix.
In my opinion when you change to the brass gears the stress on the bumpers increase causing them to fail. I'd rather replace the bumpers than the gears - only takes a few minutes. There are 4 per headlight.
Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
It may also be this classic "only driver side" issue.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...stay-down.html
Rodney Dickman has the fix also.
Mr. Sam
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...stay-down.html
Rodney Dickman has the fix also.
Mr. Sam
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 88
Likes: 26
From: Clermont Florida
Is the disabling done by unplugging a wire or by menu select? My lights turn on every time I start it up in the garage to pull it out. Thanks for the help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
It's in your owners manual. I also disabled the easy entry option. I also don't need an option that wears out the seat and steering column.
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