Ok 98 C5 46K on the clock

Drivers side headlight raises and lowers but makes a lound noise for a few seconds after it is lowered then it stops.

Passenger side works just fine most of the time. Every now and then it will not raise. I get out of the car turn the little black **** behind the headlight assembly a couple of twist get back in the car and turn the lights on again and the light will raise.

Any idea waht the problem is and what is the fix for both? Help/advice appreciated

 

Sounds like your gear is shot.

 

Where can I order the brass gears from?

 

From DIY post at top of this section:



Parts needed:

brass gear kit
10mm socket
13mm socket
1/4 drive ratchet
magnetic pick-up tool
phillips screwdriver

brass gear kit (you can get this from Rodney Dickman) at www.rodneydickman.com (yes I know he sells Fiero parts...trust me he sells the gears for the headlight) you can order online or call him. he is a super nice guy and ships the stuff Priority Mail.
you can also buy the kit thru MidAmerica.


Ok, lets get started. Turn the headlights on or manually crank up the bad light. If you turned the lights on you can unplug the bad light and turn the other light off so as not to kill the battery.

Remove the black plastic headlight surround, 3 Phillips head screws. Now look inside the opening and you will see there are basically 5 nuts/bolts that hold the assembly in place. the following pics show the locations.




After these bolts /nuts are removed lift the assembly out and you have this.



Turn the whole piece on its side and you will see the round cover which is secured with 3 little screws:



Remove these screws and take off the cover. You will probably see something that looks like this.






Make note of how you remove things and clean all that stuff out of there so it will look like this.





Now install the new gears and replace the cover.



Install is the reverse of removal. Plug everything back in and you should have this.

 

for the first time in over 10 years, I went to turn on the headlights and they didn't pop up. then un-turned and turned the switch and they went up no problem and then went down no problem after that.... weird

I listened for any noises after they closed, because my WS6 T/A did that a few times, but I heard nothing on the Vette

 

Either the gear is shot as mentioned already or the previous owner tried to rebuild it and got the spacer back in wrongly. If they aren't in correct, the stops will ride up over the rubber bumpers inside of the motor assembly causing it to jam.

 

The head lights have worked perfectly for the last 3 years since I have owned the car. From what you all have said, it appears I have a bad gear. Old vetter thank you for the instructions. I am going to give it a whirl!

 

I have a brand new brass gear kit if anyone wants to save a little money. Drop me an IM or email.