Headlight Problem Need Help!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,460
Likes: 16
From: hamilton alabama
Headlight Problem Need Help!
i have a 97 with a headlight problem.the problem is 1 nite i turned off the car then the lights and the driver side light stayed up.ive checked fuses and connections and all seem fine so i thought i needed a new motor which i got yesteday.i plugged the motor in and still nothing.im out off suggestions to the problem not to mention tired of opening and closing the headlight manually.does anyone know what might be wrong or had the same thing happen to them?
thanx,
rikk
thanx,
rikk
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
Originally Posted by screw991le
Stripped Gears, the stock ones are plastic, ge some brass gears.
Rikk: Do you hear any noise in the headlight motor like it's trying to close, or it closes then pops back up?
If no, then the problem is likely the Headlight Control Module located under the passenger headlight bolted to the wheel wheel wall. It's a small box with a connector on both sides - the inboard connector receives the on/off voltage from the rotory switch in the car, and the outboard connector sends individual open/close signals to each headlight as well as the on/off signal for the bulbs. You may be able to squeeze your hand under the raised passenger headlight and try removing and reconnecting the outboard connector to see if that does anything. Otherwise it may need to be replaced.
If the answer to the above question is yes, then the nylon stopper is likely gone which stops the headlight at the correct close position. Without the stopper, the headlight will pop back up and stay open. The fix is fairly cheap, and here's the TSB:
http://corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/q....php?qstId=217
Last edited by JC in XTC5; Jul 12, 2006 at 05:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,460
Likes: 16
From: hamilton alabama
jc i dont hear anything out of the headlight that im aware of.can the module under the passenger side be reached from the bottom of the car easier by jacking it up or worse case i will have to take the headlight assembly out i guess.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
Originally Posted by gitusum
jc i dont hear anything out of the headlight that im aware of.can the module under the passenger side be reached from the bottom of the car easier by jacking it up or worse case i will have to take the headlight assembly out i guess.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
Before I did anything I'd unplug the wiring harness in the engine compartment (on the wheelwell) and check to see if you have current to that point. If you have access to the service manuals it should have a wiring diagram so you can figure out what's ground/hot and high/low beams. My .02 anyway.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
don't know if it applies or not but on my 89 firebird with that problem (twice) I was able to take apart the headlight motor relay module and: -clean the contacts inside the first time and -resolder a break in the board the second time, then put it back together with rtv silicone. If you can turn the headlight back down manually and then make it pop back up when you turn the headlight switch back on, I would asume the problem lies with that module.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Maple Valley WA
Headlight Motor Relay Module
I had the same problem on a trip to CA and after all the testing that I did - I found mine to be the headlight motor relay module.
It's easy to remove and replace it. If you can do it your self, you will save a tone of green backs!
I called the nearest dealer ship to me on my trip and they quoted $600.00
for R&R...
I did it myself in about 10 minutes and saved $475.00.
Best regards!
It's easy to remove and replace it. If you can do it your self, you will save a tone of green backs!
I called the nearest dealer ship to me on my trip and they quoted $600.00
for R&R... I did it myself in about 10 minutes and saved $475.00.
Best regards!
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,460
Likes: 16
From: hamilton alabama
Originally Posted by billjoeu81
I had the same problem on a trip to CA and after all the testing that I did - I found mine to be the headlight motor relay module.
It's easy to remove and replace it. If you can do it your self, you will save a tone of green backs!
I called the nearest dealer ship to me on my trip and they quoted $600.00 for R&R...
I did it myself in about 10 minutes and saved $475.00.
Best regards!
It's easy to remove and replace it. If you can do it your self, you will save a tone of green backs!
I called the nearest dealer ship to me on my trip and they quoted $600.00
for R&R... I did it myself in about 10 minutes and saved $475.00.
Best regards!
