Didn't plug in the headlight control module. Thanks ajg1915!!!
headlight gear replacement trouble
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
headlight gear replacement trouble
Can anyone help? This evening I replaced the stripped gear in the passenger side headlight. After completing the job, I plugged the motor headlight assembly cables back in...and now neither headlight will raise or lower. For clarification, there is no movement from the motor. What's strange is, I did not replace the drivers side yet...I simply unplugged it. I can manually raise and lower them without a problem. I double checked the connection. Any ideas? Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,217
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
well thats a new one....did you check the fuse? do the lights come on?
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
If your car is equipped with twilight sentenial put it to yes and see if the lights work.
Also could be micro relay 44 in the passenger footwell.
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Another small problem
My car just started doing this: When I manually turn on the parking lights, the headlight motors activate and bring the headlights up but the lenses themselves are not lit up. I used to be able to turn on just the parking/fog lamps without having the main headlights come up. Could this be a problem with the module?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
My car just started doing this: When I manually turn on the parking lights, the headlight motors activate and bring the headlights up but the lenses themselves are not lit up. I used to be able to turn on just the parking/fog lamps without having the main headlights come up. Could this be a problem with the module?
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Again, just to clarify, my headlight doors operate just fine but they open even when only the parking lights are turned on. They should not open with the headlight switch in the parking light position.
Last edited by NoJodas67; Sep 23, 2009 at 04:23 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
My C5 did the same thing, the headlights came up with the parking lights when my one gear was stripped. All was fixed when I replaced the single bad headlight gear.
Apparently, it has to do with the headlight module operating in the "time override mode".
Normally the headlight module turns off the power when it finds a high current surge from the motors when the headlights hit their stops (either up or down) and the motors can't turn.
But this continual trying to turn at the stops, causes the plastic gear to strip, when this happens the motor can continue to turn (you may hear the machine gun noise) and their is no current surge.
There must be a "time override" built into the headlight module, and it turns off the power if a surge is not detected within a certain time period (like 5 seconds).
Well, when this "time override" feature is used enough, something gets "thrown off" and it can cause headlights to raise with just parking lights being turned on.
Apparently, it has to do with the headlight module operating in the "time override mode".
Normally the headlight module turns off the power when it finds a high current surge from the motors when the headlights hit their stops (either up or down) and the motors can't turn.
But this continual trying to turn at the stops, causes the plastic gear to strip, when this happens the motor can continue to turn (you may hear the machine gun noise) and their is no current surge.
There must be a "time override" built into the headlight module, and it turns off the power if a surge is not detected within a certain time period (like 5 seconds).
Well, when this "time override" feature is used enough, something gets "thrown off" and it can cause headlights to raise with just parking lights being turned on.
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
My C5 did the same thing, the headlights came up with the parking lights when my one gear was stripped. All was fixed when I replaced the single bad headlight gear.
Apparently, it has to do with the headlight module operating in the "time override mode".
Normally the headlight module turns off the power when it finds a high current surge from the motors when the headlights hit their stops (either up or down) and the motors can't turn.
But this continual trying to turn at the stops, causes the plastic gear to strip, when this happens the motor can continue to turn (you may hear the machine gun noise) and their is no current surge.
There must be a "time override" built into the headlight module, and it turns off the power if a surge is not detected within a certain time period (like 5 seconds).
Well, when this "time override" feature is used enough, something gets "thrown off" and it can cause headlights to raise with just parking lights being turned on.
Apparently, it has to do with the headlight module operating in the "time override mode".
Normally the headlight module turns off the power when it finds a high current surge from the motors when the headlights hit their stops (either up or down) and the motors can't turn.
But this continual trying to turn at the stops, causes the plastic gear to strip, when this happens the motor can continue to turn (you may hear the machine gun noise) and their is no current surge.
There must be a "time override" built into the headlight module, and it turns off the power if a surge is not detected within a certain time period (like 5 seconds).
Well, when this "time override" feature is used enough, something gets "thrown off" and it can cause headlights to raise with just parking lights being turned on.
I like the Corvette but when it's time to replace it, it will be an M6.
Anyone looking for a one-owner 2000 yellow convertible 6 speed with just 10k miles?
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
The fit and finish is terrible, panel gaps, rattles, and reliability issues are like those of a typical GM, not a $50K car.
The point I was making is that I can get a 2 year old M6 convertible with a 500+ HP V-10 for about $50k (original sticker of 100K); while the car will not have zero miles, performance and reliability will be much better than a brand new Vette (sad but true, speaking from experience).
So again, if anyone would like to buy my mint condition weekender ride, yellow convertible, six speed with polished wheels and every avail. option back in 2000, just let me know. The car has no issues, besides the headlight gears which will be replaced with brass gears next week; and I've never raced or modified this car; it was only used on dry weekends, hence the less than 1,000/year miles.
I've already started looking for that perfect, gently used, M6; so let me know if you're interested. Looking to get in the mid $20's for the vette.
The point I was making is that I can get a 2 year old M6 convertible with a 500+ HP V-10 for about $50k (original sticker of 100K); while the car will not have zero miles, performance and reliability will be much better than a brand new Vette (sad but true, speaking from experience).
So again, if anyone would like to buy my mint condition weekender ride, yellow convertible, six speed with polished wheels and every avail. option back in 2000, just let me know. The car has no issues, besides the headlight gears which will be replaced with brass gears next week; and I've never raced or modified this car; it was only used on dry weekends, hence the less than 1,000/year miles.
I've already started looking for that perfect, gently used, M6; so let me know if you're interested. Looking to get in the mid $20's for the vette.
