C5 Headlights
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
C5 Headlights
Been reading the posts and am impressed with this forum. I need some help on the headlights on my C5. When i turn the lights on the left side lights up, but will not open. When i turn the lights off, the left side turns off then opens. The right side is fine with a little bit of growl after closing. I shimed out the motor and installed new insulators from Ecklers on the left side. A little bit lost on this. Please help with this one.
Thanks,
wazoo224
Thanks,
wazoo224
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 233
From: Placitas NM
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '04
Generally, I would say you need to keep reading. It appears that the gears are going, and in the case of the left side, it may have already been stripped. Though there are MANY reasons the headlight act up, GENERALLY it's the gears.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
You received good advice in the previous post. Let me just add some links so you could have more info on hand.There are several kits available to replace these plastic gears, but this one is one of the best (pay attention because there are 2 different kits: one for "97 to early 2000" and another for "late 2000 to 2004"). Read these step-by-step directions to understand what's involved. If you have to replace the gears and you decide to go the DIY route, you could save money and they will last forever
You might need these as well (the rubber bump stops).
There is a TSB, that calls for shimming the driver's side motor. The parts needed for this are included in the above mentioned kit.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,084
Likes: 3,056
From: CA
Sounds like the plastic headlamp motor gears have failed. You can try turning the shaft 180 degrees, and reattach the headlamp linkage to the headlamp motor. I did this years ago when the gears stripped, and is still working today.
Michael
Michael
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
I agree the gearing is what sounds like it's at fault.
GCG recommended one of the best vendors for GM replacement headlight gears in existence. I've done a lot of business with Rodney Dickman back when I owned Fieros - one of his specialities - and can attest that if he offers anything for a car you get it from him. He stands behind his products 101% if there are any issues.
GCG recommended one of the best vendors for GM replacement headlight gears in existence. I've done a lot of business with Rodney Dickman back when I owned Fieros - one of his specialities - and can attest that if he offers anything for a car you get it from him. He stands behind his products 101% if there are any issues.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Update, went out to take light apart to check gears, and when i turned on lights both went open with lights on, turned off both went down lights out. Did that about 10 times and they both worked fine. The only thing i did yesterday was after i shimmed out motor and put all new tabs/ bumpers/insulators on and tried light. The left light would still not work. I manually shut left light and pushed down on light to help it close. Also plugged and unplugged electrical connector a few times. After that, i did not try untill today and they worked. Happy they are working, but still not sure what i did to make them work. Thanks for all your help.
wazoo224
wazoo224
Last edited by wazoo224; Dec 27, 2015 at 05:07 PM.
