Headlight won't raise manually using knob - Please Help
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco CA
Headlight won't raise manually using **** - Please Help
My drivers side headlight motor gear is stripped and it's stuck in the down position. I've purchased the kit from Rodney Dickman and am getting ready to do the install.
I've done as I've read on all the DIY threads on this topic and turned the little black **** on the headlight motor. I've probably turned the dam **** Counter-Clockwise about 200 full revolutions and the dam headlight won't raise itself!
I've tried using the search function to find any other threads where this has been covered so I could avoid posting again. I've only found one thread with a solution and it's not outlined very well:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...tuck-down.html
I've tried hooking wires to the headlight frame and pulling on it with all my strength to raise the lights that way, and still they won't go up! I'm afraid I'll break something so hoping there is another way to accomplish this.
Does anyone know of a way to raise the headlight manually that doesn't involve the use of that little ****?
My apologies if this is a topic that has been covered at length, I'm sure it has and I'm probably not using the correct search terms. I have my flame suit on and am ready to be torched so long as you can help me get my dam lights fixed!
I've done as I've read on all the DIY threads on this topic and turned the little black **** on the headlight motor. I've probably turned the dam **** Counter-Clockwise about 200 full revolutions and the dam headlight won't raise itself!
I've tried using the search function to find any other threads where this has been covered so I could avoid posting again. I've only found one thread with a solution and it's not outlined very well:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...tuck-down.html
I've tried hooking wires to the headlight frame and pulling on it with all my strength to raise the lights that way, and still they won't go up! I'm afraid I'll break something so hoping there is another way to accomplish this.
Does anyone know of a way to raise the headlight manually that doesn't involve the use of that little ****?
My apologies if this is a topic that has been covered at length, I'm sure it has and I'm probably not using the correct search terms. I have my flame suit on and am ready to be torched so long as you can help me get my dam lights fixed!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 71
From: MA
You might not be able to to raise it because the headlight motor gears are stripped. Even without the stripped gears I found that turning the **** doesn't work well.
Here is what you can do. Raise the hood. Turn the **** so that it relieves the tension on the motor arm. You can see this by looking at the motor linkage. You might be able to grab the headlight cover near the motor and pull up enough to raise the headlight slightly. This will put the motor linkage in tension again so you have to turn the *** again to relieve the tension and repeat this process. Once the headlight is raised enough you can grab the headlight at the front of the cover and raise it while turning the ***.
If this doesn't work, jack the car and take the bottom splash shield off that is right in front of the front tire. You can then reach up and push the headlight up while someone else turns the ***. When the headlight motor/gear assembly is removed the headlight will want to drop. I used a piece of wood to prop up the headlight assembly.
DO NOT CLOSE YOUR HOOD WHILE THE HEADLIGHT IS RAISED! You will get some interference between the headlight cover and hood, which will scratch both. Also, make sure you tighten the headlight motor on the gear housing. This is the most common cause of stripped gears. Just pinch in the metal tabs on the motor. If your motor on the right headlight is loose, also tighten that motor.
Here is what you can do. Raise the hood. Turn the **** so that it relieves the tension on the motor arm. You can see this by looking at the motor linkage. You might be able to grab the headlight cover near the motor and pull up enough to raise the headlight slightly. This will put the motor linkage in tension again so you have to turn the *** again to relieve the tension and repeat this process. Once the headlight is raised enough you can grab the headlight at the front of the cover and raise it while turning the ***.
If this doesn't work, jack the car and take the bottom splash shield off that is right in front of the front tire. You can then reach up and push the headlight up while someone else turns the ***. When the headlight motor/gear assembly is removed the headlight will want to drop. I used a piece of wood to prop up the headlight assembly.
DO NOT CLOSE YOUR HOOD WHILE THE HEADLIGHT IS RAISED! You will get some interference between the headlight cover and hood, which will scratch both. Also, make sure you tighten the headlight motor on the gear housing. This is the most common cause of stripped gears. Just pinch in the metal tabs on the motor. If your motor on the right headlight is loose, also tighten that motor.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco CA
You might not be able to to raise it because the headlight motor gears are stripped. Even without the stripped gears I found that turning the **** doesn't work well.
Here is what you can do. Raise the hood. Turn the **** so that it relieves the tension on the motor arm. You can see this by looking at the motor linkage. You might be able to grab the headlight cover near the motor and pull up enough to raise the headlight slightly. This will put the motor linkage in tension again so you have to turn the *** again to relieve the tension and repeat this process. Once the headlight is raised enough you can grab the headlight at the front of the cover and raise it while turning the ***.
If this doesn't work, jack the car and take the bottom splash shield off that is right in front of the front tire. You can then reach up and push the headlight up while someone else turns the ***. When the headlight motor/gear assembly is removed the headlight will want to drop. I used a piece of wood to prop up the headlight assembly.
DO NOT CLOSE YOUR HOOD WHILE THE HEADLIGHT IS RAISED! You will get some interference between the headlight cover and hood, which will scratch both. Also, make sure you tighten the headlight motor on the gear housing. This is the most common cause of stripped gears. Just pinch in the metal tabs on the motor. If your motor on the right headlight is loose, also tighten that motor.
Here is what you can do. Raise the hood. Turn the **** so that it relieves the tension on the motor arm. You can see this by looking at the motor linkage. You might be able to grab the headlight cover near the motor and pull up enough to raise the headlight slightly. This will put the motor linkage in tension again so you have to turn the *** again to relieve the tension and repeat this process. Once the headlight is raised enough you can grab the headlight at the front of the cover and raise it while turning the ***.
If this doesn't work, jack the car and take the bottom splash shield off that is right in front of the front tire. You can then reach up and push the headlight up while someone else turns the ***. When the headlight motor/gear assembly is removed the headlight will want to drop. I used a piece of wood to prop up the headlight assembly.
DO NOT CLOSE YOUR HOOD WHILE THE HEADLIGHT IS RAISED! You will get some interference between the headlight cover and hood, which will scratch both. Also, make sure you tighten the headlight motor on the gear housing. This is the most common cause of stripped gears. Just pinch in the metal tabs on the motor. If your motor on the right headlight is loose, also tighten that motor.
Success!
I wasn't able to pry the headlight up using the **** or by pulling from above. So then I got under the car, removed the splash guard, and got my hand on the linkage. Than I just pushed the linkage up, raising the headlight. That simple.
I figure the only reason I was able to push the linkage up so easily was because the gear is stripped. Otherwise I would have had the motors pressure working against me.
Thanks for all the good advice 01vetter - I propped up my hood with some tubing while I was under my car in case the shocks gave out on my hood bringing that thing crashing down into my lights. Glad I side-stepped that land mine
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 71
From: MA
Just one more suggestion. To remove the headlight motor/gearbox you don't have to remove the entire headlight assembly. With the headlight propped up remove the cover and bezel. You can then remove the linkage and unscrew the assembly. It helps if your hands are not to large.
