Headlight pin came out???
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: The artist formally known as NONO5.0 Mobile, Al
Headlight pin came out???
Was driving along tonight and all the sudden I see my pass. headlight start to wave up and down 
and finally go down.
Get home and check and find out the pin that goes through the motor bracket came out somehow (below):
Everything is working ok, the motor is still goin up and down like it should so it looks like all I need to do is put this pin back in place but how do ya do that? I can't see the bottom of the headlight of course and I felt around the drivers side but I'm not exactly sure how to put the pin back. Is there any other piece that might have fallen down that I should be aware of?
Thanks for any help!
and finally go down. Get home and check and find out the pin that goes through the motor bracket came out somehow (below):Everything is working ok, the motor is still goin up and down like it should so it looks like all I need to do is put this pin back in place but how do ya do that? I can't see the bottom of the headlight of course and I felt around the drivers side but I'm not exactly sure how to put the pin back. Is there any other piece that might have fallen down that I should be aware of?
Thanks for any help!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
The retainer washer is missing. Maybe broke off or just came off. After re-inserting that pivot pin a flat, spring type lock-washer gets pushed onto the shaft to retain it. The retaining washer is not available from GM as a separate item, however you could just take the pin to the auto parts store or maybe Home Depot and find one of the correct size. It just pushes on over the shaft and is self-locking.
BTW when reinstalling, be sure to leave a little room for a little side-to-side movement of the pin and not make it too tight; otherwise binding may occur from the increased friction.
HTH
FYI, do a search on "HID install". There are a number of posts with pictures of the headlight assemblies in various stages of dis-assembly. A post by jprich has a picture that shows that pivot pin and the retaining washer installed.
HTH
BTW when reinstalling, be sure to leave a little room for a little side-to-side movement of the pin and not make it too tight; otherwise binding may occur from the increased friction.
HTH
FYI, do a search on "HID install". There are a number of posts with pictures of the headlight assemblies in various stages of dis-assembly. A post by jprich has a picture that shows that pivot pin and the retaining washer installed.
HTH
Last edited by LoneStarFRC; Sep 4, 2008 at 12:13 AM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 21,766
Likes: 25
From: The artist formally known as NONO5.0 Mobile, Al
The retainer washer is missing. Maybe broke off or just came off. After re-inserting that pivot pin a flat, spring type lock-washer gets pushed onto the shaft to retain it. The retaining washer is not available from GM as a separate item, however you could just take the pin to the auto parts store or maybe Home Depot and find one of the correct size. It just pushes on over the shaft and is self-locking.
BTW when reinstalling, be sure to leave a little room for a little side-to-side movement of the pin and not make it too tight; otherwise binding may occur from the increased friction.
HTH
BTW when reinstalling, be sure to leave a little room for a little side-to-side movement of the pin and not make it too tight; otherwise binding may occur from the increased friction.
HTH
Thanks A LOT for the info!
When I removed the black headlight cover I saw what you were talkin about. I used a bolt w/ a nut that was a little longer than the pin and installed it but didn't tighten it up too much...just snug. The bracket has some wiggle room (compared to the drivers side which is tight with no wiggle in it)Thanks again!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Thanks A LOT for the info! When I removed the black headlight cover I saw what you were talkin about. I used a bolt w/ a nut that was a little longer than the pin and installed it but didn't tighten it up too much...just snug. The bracket has some wiggle room (compared to the drivers side which is tight with no wiggle in it)
Thanks again!
When I removed the black headlight cover I saw what you were talkin about. I used a bolt w/ a nut that was a little longer than the pin and installed it but didn't tighten it up too much...just snug. The bracket has some wiggle room (compared to the drivers side which is tight with no wiggle in it)Thanks again!
BTW, if you used a bolt/nut, I would advise using a locking type nut (nyloc for example) as it will stay precisely where you tighten it to and not back off causing the same problem again. Also, there is (or was) a white nylon bushing that the pin originally passes through. I hope you still have it installed.
