headlamp motor runs by itself??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 116
From: North Dallas Forty Orange County, Ca.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13, '15,'21
headlamp motor runs by itself??
This morning I walk into the garage and immediately begin hearing what sounds like a small motor that is running. After walking around the garage I discover that the noise is coming from my car. Pop the hood, sure enough, the noise is coming from the pass side headlamp motor. At this point the HL's are still down and turned off, and after a minute or two the motor stops. As I open the door the chime starts its thing like the key is in the ingnition but it's in my hand. Start the car, now the HL's go up without the lights turning on, so I turn the lights on and then off. HL's go down and everything appears normal. 
anyone got ideas???
anyone got ideas???
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The head lights stop UP and DOWN because they hit a MECHANICAL STOP. The MOTORS STOP running when the buckets are in the stops because the head light control module senses an increased current draw. Once it sees this increased current draw, it stops the motor from running.
So,,,for the motor to run when the lights were in the DOWN position, the module would have to have sensed a decrease in current draw (like the head light popped up. If the lid was fully closed, heres the scoop:
Inside the head light motor housing is a clutch of sorts. It operates on friction. If that clutch is weak, it will allow the motor to run when the head light is in the stops.
My recommendation would be to either purchase the rebuild parts or get a new headlight motor.
The chimes and dash warnings may have occured because the BCM sensed that the headlight motor was running. I would have to look into that a little deeper if repairing the headlight motor doesnt correct that issue.
Bill
So,,,for the motor to run when the lights were in the DOWN position, the module would have to have sensed a decrease in current draw (like the head light popped up. If the lid was fully closed, heres the scoop:
Inside the head light motor housing is a clutch of sorts. It operates on friction. If that clutch is weak, it will allow the motor to run when the head light is in the stops.
My recommendation would be to either purchase the rebuild parts or get a new headlight motor.
The chimes and dash warnings may have occured because the BCM sensed that the headlight motor was running. I would have to look into that a little deeper if repairing the headlight motor doesnt correct that issue.
Bill
