Headlight Rebuild DIY with [PICS]
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
From: . [Rotorhead] "You seem to be a douche. What I'm getting at is just STFU" [/Rotorhead]
St. Jude Donor '06 & '09 & '11
Originally Posted by pewter99
yeah...they have been so much better 
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,218
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Originally Posted by Jay13
Yeah, well I'm 100% sure my headlight gears will never wear out.
ok..well ya got me there..but if the touch pads on the entry system go..get back with me
I can talk smack now as I dont have my new Z yet
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by page62
Wait until C5's are 25 years old, especially with all the electronics and whatnot...
C5 Whatnot rebuild kit and kaboodle - $1000
C5 Whatnot rebuild kit w/o kaboodle - $ 900
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 816
Likes: 0
From: Mountain House CA
Headlight repair
First of all your pics are very helpful but you do not have to remove the entire headlight. You are adding work for yourself. Second, you can get the kit from topdownsolutons.com for $39 with the instructions and everything you need except for the wrenches. Just a little FYI. As a woman it took me about an hour to repair it. I think anyone can do it, fairly easy.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Weirton wv
Change Gears (Headlights)
2000 Vette // you don't need to remove headlight assembly to replace a new gear in the headlamp motor (actuator) Just did it today and worked out great / took about 1 hour to do. Little tight in getting to the headlight actuator arm nut (10mm) and holding headlight assembly (if some hold the headlight assembly while you remove the arm HELPS) I have the newer type motor and was pretty easy, to pop off the cover. Don't know if its just as easy with the older type and the three (3) screws but don't why it would't work. Your instruction were of a great help /// but I think if you try it this way you may find it quicker and easy. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR INFO:
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
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
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,218
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Originally Posted by traceevidence
First of all your pics are very helpful but you do not have to remove the entire headlight. You are adding work for yourself. Second, you can get the kit from topdownsolutons.com for $39 with the instructions and everything you need except for the wrenches. Just a little FYI. As a woman it took me about an hour to repair it. I think anyone can do it, fairly easy.
well I couldn't ...but maybe your hands are smaller than mine or as someone else stated the newer lights may be a bit different...also I am not one to want to worry about dropping crap down inside the car only to create more work trying to find it if I can easily remove the assembly. You stated an hour to fix it....no faster than my way. Each to his or her own...
FWIW back when I did this write up originally the only place to get the kit without paying $$$$$$ was Rodney...also he ships 2 day priority for no extra charge....so to me that was a
Since then I see Mid America sells the kit..someone named Frank..and apparently now TopDown.....anyway.....if someone else does the fix without pulling the assembly please take pics and post them for others...thats the reason for having this section.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Masummerrain
2000 Vette // you don't need to remove headlight assembly to replace a new gear in the headlamp motor (actuator) Just did it today and worked out great / took about 1 hour to do. Little tight in getting to the headlight actuator arm nut (10mm) and holding headlight assembly (if some hold the headlight assembly while you remove the arm HELPS) I have the newer type motor and was pretty easy, to pop off the cover. Don't know if its just as easy with the older type and the three (3) screws but don't why it would't work. Your instruction were of a great help /// but I think if you try it this way you may find it quicker and easy. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR INFO:
Just did this tonight, took the el cheapo route and just rotated the gears (both sides started making noise) 180 degrees. The passenger side gear was split too.. looks like I am going to go the brass gear route in the very near future.
For now both sides work fine and no ugly noise when the headlights go down. I did this without removing the assemblies...
