Headlight Motor Keeps Running
09-17-2007, 03:14 PM
#1
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Headlight Motor Keeps Running
My Headlight Motor keeps running after the headlight goes down on the passenger side for about 5 sec Whats going on......
09-17-2007, 03:20 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Does it make a "machine gun noise"? If so, you have a stripped plastic headlight gear. Do a search, there are two vendors who sell brass replacement gears.
Here is some info:
Headlight gears
The gears in the headlight motor are plastic, and wear out over time. Ice, heavy Euro or projector headlights and twilight sentinal will cause the gears to wear out quickly. Fortunately a few years ago, Rodney started selling replacement brass gears, check out his website. Corvette America and probably a few other vendors now sell their own copy of his brass gears. Here’s a thread that shows how to replace the gears.
Replacement nylon gears are also available from Motormite Help!, part #42400 for $10-13. Src
To replace:
Quote:Originally Posted by MyBlueC5
Src
Raise the headlamps.
Remove the screws that hold the plastic bezel around the headlamp.
Remove (3) 10mm bolts holding the motor to the headlamp assy. (one is a bolt with a nut on the end, the other two are just bolts)
Unplug the wiring to the motor.
Remove (3) 7mm bolts holding the cover for the gear.
Replace gear, reinstall.
Literally a 10 minute fix.
…it is completely unnecessary to remove the headlamp assy to pull the motor off to get to the gear.
Quote:Originally Posted by pattymelt1285
Src
At first my driver’s side headlight would only come halfway up and I would have to get out of the car, turn the headlights on then manually pull up the light. After a few weeks it would not even go up or down at all. I decided to order some new brass gears. After much research I decided to buy them from www.bfranker.badz28.com
The gears from bfranker do not use the stock rubber inside the gear. Good thing, because when I pulled out the stock gear and it was fine! But the rubber bumper was destroyed! With bfrankers gears you don’t have to retain the stock rubber bumper. In this picture you can see the good stock gear on the left on the bad one on the right, also notice it broke the plastic tabs inside the gear that keep the rubber bumper from spinning:
Pic of the stock gear and stock rubber bumper:
Picture of bfrankers gear:
Installed:
Rodney Dickman's gear:
Installed with rubber bumper:
I would go with bfrankers, because with his gear it eliminates the rubber bumper. On 97-99 Corvettes the motor case unbolts with 3 bolts, but on 00+ they are sealed and with bfrankers kit he even includes the epoxy to close the motor case as does Rodneys. I am not ******* on Rodney’s gears, but I am just letting you guys know what else is out there. Bfrankers kit is $43 shipped for one gear kit, or $81 shipped for two. The install only took about 45 min and they work perfect now. More info and instructions for bfrankers gear can be found here:
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm
The install is almost the same as the 93-97 Trans Am in the instructions.
Info for Rodneys gear: (Note Rodney now has a "T" bracket to secure the late model gear covers)
http://www.rodneydickman.com/corvette.html
Patrick
Torque Settings
All Data Diy
Headlamp Mounting Bolts 20 N.m (15 lb ft)
Headlamp Mounting Nuts 10 N.m (89 lb in)
Headlamp Bezel Retaining Screws 1.9 N.m (17 lb in)
Headlamp Capsule Retaining Screws 3.5 N.m (31 lb in)
Headlamp Intermediate Bracket Screws 1.9 N.m (17 lb in)
Headlamp Opening Door Screws 1.9 N.m (17 lb in)
Here is some info:
Headlight gears
The gears in the headlight motor are plastic, and wear out over time. Ice, heavy Euro or projector headlights and twilight sentinal will cause the gears to wear out quickly. Fortunately a few years ago, Rodney started selling replacement brass gears, check out his website. Corvette America and probably a few other vendors now sell their own copy of his brass gears. Here’s a thread that shows how to replace the gears.
Replacement nylon gears are also available from Motormite Help!, part #42400 for $10-13. Src
To replace:
Quote:Originally Posted by MyBlueC5
Src
Raise the headlamps.
Remove the screws that hold the plastic bezel around the headlamp.
Remove (3) 10mm bolts holding the motor to the headlamp assy. (one is a bolt with a nut on the end, the other two are just bolts)
Unplug the wiring to the motor.
Remove (3) 7mm bolts holding the cover for the gear.
Replace gear, reinstall.
Literally a 10 minute fix.
…it is completely unnecessary to remove the headlamp assy to pull the motor off to get to the gear.
Quote:Originally Posted by pattymelt1285
Src
At first my driver’s side headlight would only come halfway up and I would have to get out of the car, turn the headlights on then manually pull up the light. After a few weeks it would not even go up or down at all. I decided to order some new brass gears. After much research I decided to buy them from www.bfranker.badz28.com
The gears from bfranker do not use the stock rubber inside the gear. Good thing, because when I pulled out the stock gear and it was fine! But the rubber bumper was destroyed! With bfrankers gears you don’t have to retain the stock rubber bumper. In this picture you can see the good stock gear on the left on the bad one on the right, also notice it broke the plastic tabs inside the gear that keep the rubber bumper from spinning:
Pic of the stock gear and stock rubber bumper:
Picture of bfrankers gear:
Installed:
Rodney Dickman's gear:
Installed with rubber bumper:
I would go with bfrankers, because with his gear it eliminates the rubber bumper. On 97-99 Corvettes the motor case unbolts with 3 bolts, but on 00+ they are sealed and with bfrankers kit he even includes the epoxy to close the motor case as does Rodneys. I am not ******* on Rodney’s gears, but I am just letting you guys know what else is out there. Bfrankers kit is $43 shipped for one gear kit, or $81 shipped for two. The install only took about 45 min and they work perfect now. More info and instructions for bfrankers gear can be found here:
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm
The install is almost the same as the 93-97 Trans Am in the instructions.
Info for Rodneys gear: (Note Rodney now has a "T" bracket to secure the late model gear covers)
http://www.rodneydickman.com/corvette.html
Patrick
Torque Settings
All Data Diy
Headlamp Mounting Bolts 20 N.m (15 lb ft)
Headlamp Mounting Nuts 10 N.m (89 lb in)
Headlamp Bezel Retaining Screws 1.9 N.m (17 lb in)
Headlamp Capsule Retaining Screws 3.5 N.m (31 lb in)
Headlamp Intermediate Bracket Screws 1.9 N.m (17 lb in)
Headlamp Opening Door Screws 1.9 N.m (17 lb in)
Last edited by Oldvetter; 09-17-2007 at 05:40 PM.
09-17-2007, 03:22 PM
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Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08
09-17-2007, 05:57 PM
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here is an easier fix for this problem that doesnt involve taking the motor off at all. Just undo the linkage from the motor, and turn the motor manually until it spins the shaft 180 degrees, and put the linkage back on. Ive taken these out before, and the gears only go aroung about 90 degrees, so the other side of the gear is still like new.
09-17-2007, 07:17 PM
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Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Worked for me when i tested it. Happened to me the last time i copied and pasted a link also. Sorry. DP
11-28-2007, 12:39 PM
#7
Tech Contributor
I have a 2001. Same thing same side. Does this apply to my car too? Can I simply turn the gear 180 degrees?
11-28-2007, 12:57 PM
#8
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St. Jude Donor '09
I have a 2000 and that's exactly what was done to mine.
I also have a set of Rodney's brass replacement for when the other side of the plastic OEM's strip out.
Yo.
I also have a set of Rodney's brass replacement for when the other side of the plastic OEM's strip out.
Yo.
09-17-2008, 12:57 AM
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sbontrag
I have the same issue with 2001 coupe where the headlight motor runs after shutting off lights. Can you explain in more detail how to disconnect linkage and turn motor, or plastic gear, 180 degrees? Thanks
09-17-2008, 06:25 PM
#11
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Turn on the headlights.
Remove the plug to the motor.
Turn off the headlights.
Take the surround off headlight.
Pull the cover off the motor and rotate the manual headlight **** so that the headlight goes down a bit.
Look at the motor and find the arm that moves the headlight.
Remove the nut on that arm and pull off the arm.
Rotate the manual headlight **** until the output shaft turns about 180 degrees.
Assemble everything back together.
Plug the motor back in.
Cycle the headlights to reset the motor and close the headlight.
Peter
Remove the plug to the motor.
Turn off the headlights.
Take the surround off headlight.
Pull the cover off the motor and rotate the manual headlight **** so that the headlight goes down a bit.
Look at the motor and find the arm that moves the headlight.
Remove the nut on that arm and pull off the arm.
Rotate the manual headlight **** until the output shaft turns about 180 degrees.
Assemble everything back together.
Plug the motor back in.
Cycle the headlights to reset the motor and close the headlight.
Peter
09-21-2008, 01:29 AM
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The prior owner must have had the same or similar problem as when I rotated the motor 180 degress and put it all back together the motor continued to run on opening the headlights. I appreciate the help. Thank you.
10-18-2008, 03:51 PM
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not to bring up an old thread but my 01 Z06 is doing the same thing just on the drivers side and it has the brass gear in it. Continues to run after they are down and now it doesnt want to lift the drivers side. Any ideas???
09-28-2011, 07:13 PM
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I have a problem with my driver side headlight. When I turn the headlights on and then off, the driver side headlight come back up, but the light is off. I replaced the gear in this light about 6 months ago and its been working great till today. Has anybody out their have this problem? Iam sort of leaning to replace the whole headlight motor.
