My headlights have been working great on my 01 z06 until right here recently.

when i go to turn them on, they both light up but physically they don't come up. After a few off/ons with the switch they come up. There is no grinding or anything like that, so i can pretty much cross out the gears.

It seems to be pretty random. Sometimes they come up ont he first try, then others its the 5th or more try.

I've read some threads where i can replace the box under the pass light. Before i do this is there anything else to check for?

 

The box there you are referring too is the headlamp controller and its function is to raise and lower the headlamps. However....the usual cause of failures is the headlamp switch itself. Are both doors impacted at the same time, each time?

 

I just replaced both headlight motors in my 2000 today. Left side had been replaced in 2004 but wouldn't always come up on first, second, third, etc try. Right side was original to my knowledge. Right side would always come up but gave the machine gun sound when closed to the stop. With hood open I could see the motor case shaking until the grinding stopped.

Talked to a friend who said replace the right side motor and most likely the left side would straighten out as the controller wouldn't be confused with one side running on when the other one stopped.

Upon replacement of the right side it worked perfectly but the left side didn't want to open. I turned the manual **** on the left side and felt the motor unlock. Hit the switch and up it came. Then, when I turned the switch and closed the doors the left side started running on and the gear case was shaking like a bastard.

Picked up a new motor for the left side, installed it and now everything works as it is designed to.

Expensive, PITA job but finished in under two hours and all is well. Let's see how long these brand new, genuine GM units manufactured in Taiwan last.

One additional thing, the Chevrolet parts man told me that because it is an electrical part when you open the box you own it. PERIOD ! ! ! Wonder if that applies to a mis-boxed part? Forgot to ask him that.

 

yes. Both do not come up. When it does work, they both come up together.

I do not think it's the steering column switch because when i turn the headlights on, the lights actually light up..but they do not physically raise up. When they do raise, they raise up both together.

I've had an fbody so i am familiar with the headlight problem. I do not think this is it.

 

Well, then check the two connectors at the headlamp controller to insure they are both plugged in properly. Its possible the headlamp controller is the issue of course but more often, its the headlamp switch itself causing this. You need to know that the headlamp switch sends the command to the headlamp controller, to raise the lamps but the command will also get passed through the BCM in the case of a car with the twilight sentinel option. Example is the headlamp switch is in the auto position and the twilight sentinel is turned on, then the command to the headlamp controller gets passed through the switch from the BCM. Again, the common item is the headlamp switch.

 

I had previously suggested one other forum member replace his controller based upon this same failure and much to my embarrassment, he had spent for the new controller and it still wouldn't work. It was in fact, the headlamp switch.

 

Seems like the best thing to do first is remove and check/refurbish your headlight switch. Costs nothing and at least you can then cross it off your list. Bill Curlee and maybe others have posts outlining procedure.

 

My experience had been that the the rubber bumpers inside the head light motor drive had also failed.
This was causing the motors to jam randomly.

The bumpers are $24 shipped from Rodney
My recommendation is to replace the gears and bumpers and see how it goes.


The light switch assembly was about $150 (don't quote me) as I recall and a pain in the **** to swap.

Dave