Weird headlight issue
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 2
From: New York NY
Weird headlight issue
I've looked through numerous threads, and haven't seen this particular problem.
I had a stripped gear (grinding after closing) in my drivers side headlight so I replaced it using a new aluminum gear (can't recall the vendor) after install everything worked great.
However after getting the car back from the body shop the headlight doesn't go up.....The light turns on, but it doesn't open. If I pop the hood and make an adjustment manually (even a tiny little amount) the headlight functions as normal for the rest of the time I have the car running, but after sitting overnight, back to the same old problem.
Anyone run into this before?? I've been doing a ton of work to the car lately so I haven't been driving much, and I have had my hands into a bunch of things so it's totaly possible this is something I've caused. I'm going to keep digging and will update anything I find.
FYI, 0 codes at this point in time.
I had a stripped gear (grinding after closing) in my drivers side headlight so I replaced it using a new aluminum gear (can't recall the vendor) after install everything worked great.
However after getting the car back from the body shop the headlight doesn't go up.....The light turns on, but it doesn't open. If I pop the hood and make an adjustment manually (even a tiny little amount) the headlight functions as normal for the rest of the time I have the car running, but after sitting overnight, back to the same old problem.
Anyone run into this before?? I've been doing a ton of work to the car lately so I haven't been driving much, and I have had my hands into a bunch of things so it's totaly possible this is something I've caused. I'm going to keep digging and will update anything I find.
FYI, 0 codes at this point in time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 355
From: Rochester New York
Does the motor make sound when you flip the switch? Did you check for power and ground at the motor connector? Try disconnecting the battery and see if it clears the problem. I do believe there is also a fuse for each headlight motor, could be blown.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
could very well be the plastic-like stops for the headlight motor assembly. you'll have to take the headlight apart somewhat to get to them. look at the part that is rotated by the headlight motor, it has an arm on it which contacts the stops to indicate when the door is completely open or completely closed. see if those stops are messed up or perhaps missing. some indentation is to be expected. try removing them and rotating them 180 degrees and reinstalling. this will put a new surface on them or swap the ones on the back of the headlight down to the spots on the motor assembly.
I had the same problem. when the stops were damaged the headlight was not stopping in the correct place and it somehow confused the headlight door control module causing one side to not open. a slight rotation of the manual adjuster and it would work fine for a few days. rotated the stops and the problem is gone.
one thing, the metal gears are probably harder on the stops than the stock gears. the replacement is still a good thing, but it will give less when the doors are fully open or closed, so it will probably wear them out faster.
I had the same problem. when the stops were damaged the headlight was not stopping in the correct place and it somehow confused the headlight door control module causing one side to not open. a slight rotation of the manual adjuster and it would work fine for a few days. rotated the stops and the problem is gone.
one thing, the metal gears are probably harder on the stops than the stock gears. the replacement is still a good thing, but it will give less when the doors are fully open or closed, so it will probably wear them out faster.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Yes, I've had this exact issue. If you manually turn the **** just a little...part of a turn, then turn on the headlamps, you'll probably see them pop up. My car was given to my son about two years ago and he rebuilt the right headlamp with a brass gear. What he did though was he put the spacers back in, into the wrong positions which allowed the bumper stops to rise up over the rubber bumper. Yes, the spacers will go in wrong and it still semi-function. Take it apart again and examine where the spacers are. One in particular needs to go next to the main shaft on the outside edge adjacent to the housing.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 2
From: New York NY
could very well be the plastic-like stops for the headlight motor assembly. you'll have to take the headlight apart somewhat to get to them. look at the part that is rotated by the headlight motor, it has an arm on it which contacts the stops to indicate when the door is completely open or completely closed. see if those stops are messed up or perhaps missing. some indentation is to be expected. try removing them and rotating them 180 degrees and reinstalling. this will put a new surface on them or swap the ones on the back of the headlight down to the spots on the motor assembly.
I had the same problem. when the stops were damaged the headlight was not stopping in the correct place and it somehow confused the headlight door control module causing one side to not open. a slight rotation of the manual adjuster and it would work fine for a few days. rotated the stops and the problem is gone.
one thing, the metal gears are probably harder on the stops than the stock gears. the replacement is still a good thing, but it will give less when the doors are fully open or closed, so it will probably wear them out faster.
I had the same problem. when the stops were damaged the headlight was not stopping in the correct place and it somehow confused the headlight door control module causing one side to not open. a slight rotation of the manual adjuster and it would work fine for a few days. rotated the stops and the problem is gone.
one thing, the metal gears are probably harder on the stops than the stock gears. the replacement is still a good thing, but it will give less when the doors are fully open or closed, so it will probably wear them out faster.
Thanks for the suggestion, going to look into this one, I do think I noticed that one was missing but didn't think it would make much of a difference.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 2
From: New York NY
Yes, I've had this exact issue. If you manually turn the **** just a little...part of a turn, then turn on the headlamps, you'll probably see them pop up. My car was given to my son about two years ago and he rebuilt the right headlamp with a brass gear. What he did though was he put the spacers back in, into the wrong positions which allowed the bumper stops to rise up over the rubber bumper. Yes, the spacers will go in wrong and it still semi-function. Take it apart again and examine where the spacers are. One in particular needs to go next to the main shaft on the outside edge adjacent to the housing.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
There were a couple of them in there. Take it apart again and you'll find them...unless they were left out from the previous work. These are nothing more than washers but act as spacers to position things properly
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 2
From: New York NY
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