Headlight Control Actuator
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 808
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Headlight Control Actuator
I read numerous posts after doing a search. It seems that I need to replace the headlight motor control acuator. I rebuilt the passenger side headlight motor with a brass gear. My headlights functioned flawlessly for a few weeks. The passenger side headlight on a few occasions would not fully close aafter a few weeks. If I pressed on the cover, it would close. Shortly thereafter the headlight began to fail to open. Now it only will only open rarely. The headlight is on with the cover closed on the passenger side when the driver side headlight is operational.
How can I be sure that the actuator is the culprit without purchasing an expensive electrical part?
Thanks,
Greg
How can I be sure that the actuator is the culprit without purchasing an expensive electrical part?
Thanks,
Greg
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Do you hear the motor running on the side that is staying down? If it isn't running, then the headlamp control module is probably bad although I would think it would cause both to stay down. There are two relays in the engine fuse box which one of them could be bad.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 808
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
I don't hear the headlight motor running, but the engine noise would drown out headlight motor noie. The passengers side headlight had been failing to open automatically when the car is started in low light when the drivers side headlight opens.
To check if I could hear it running I stood next to the car with the engineoff. I turned on the headlight switch and both headlights opened. They both closed when I switched the headlights off. I repeated this a couple of times and both headlights worked fine.
I then turned the ignition key to on without starting the car. Both headlights opened. They both closed after an appropriate delay.
I then started the engine and both headlights functioned properly.
The headlights are acting fine today, but will probably exhibit the same problems again. It seems strange that they are working fine this morning, but haven't worked fine for several weeks.
Thanks,
Greg
To check if I could hear it running I stood next to the car with the engineoff. I turned on the headlight switch and both headlights opened. They both closed when I switched the headlights off. I repeated this a couple of times and both headlights worked fine.
I then turned the ignition key to on without starting the car. Both headlights opened. They both closed after an appropriate delay.
I then started the engine and both headlights functioned properly.
The headlights are acting fine today, but will probably exhibit the same problems again. It seems strange that they are working fine this morning, but haven't worked fine for several weeks.
Thanks,
Greg
Intermediate
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
right headlight acuator
I have a 1998 c-5 coupe.I have a simlar problem my right head light want let up and I can see the motor spending do I need to change the gears . If so is there a step by step direction I can get? I can't let it manually either. I need some help
Donniej1
Donniej1
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
These headlights can be finicky. It could be your headlight control module but then again it could just be there's some resistance in the door that's causing the control module to shut off. The control module senses that full open and full close stops by the increase in current from the motor when the arm hits the stops. If the stop was not there the control module would send power for about 5 seconds more, hence why you would hear grinding if the motor gear was shot (i.e. the worn gear behaves as if the stop is missing). It sounds like the control module may be sensing the stop current prematurely.
Try lubing all the hinges of the headlight door including where the motor arm connects to the pin with white lithium grease. Also put some grease between the manual motor **** and the motor body. I've seen instances where the manual **** gets screwed tight against the body when the headlight closes and hence won't open on the first shot because I suspect the control module senses that tightness as a stop. By lubing the back of the **** it reduces the amount of friction so the control module shouldn't see any resistance. It may not work but try it.
Try lubing all the hinges of the headlight door including where the motor arm connects to the pin with white lithium grease. Also put some grease between the manual motor **** and the motor body. I've seen instances where the manual **** gets screwed tight against the body when the headlight closes and hence won't open on the first shot because I suspect the control module senses that tightness as a stop. By lubing the back of the **** it reduces the amount of friction so the control module shouldn't see any resistance. It may not work but try it.
