Headlight wont Open ( not gears )
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Headlight wont Open ( not gears )
My DS headlight will not open when you turn the lights on. I have to open the hood and turn the manual **** just slightly off where its at, then turn off lights and back on. Then it works fine. Anyone had this issue and what fixed it?
Thanks
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 2
From: New York NY
Two possible things to look at
Are all of your bump stops there and in good condition? They're the little white plastic pieces (if you do a search there's a thread on that)
Or
Check to make sure you motor doesn't have any slop to it when it won't open, mine was cracked and sloppy, when you twist the **** it would tighten things up enough that it would open, but would slacken off again when not used.
Are all of your bump stops there and in good condition? They're the little white plastic pieces (if you do a search there's a thread on that)
Or
Check to make sure you motor doesn't have any slop to it when it won't open, mine was cracked and sloppy, when you twist the **** it would tighten things up enough that it would open, but would slacken off again when not used.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Two possible things to look at
Are all of your bump stops there and in good condition? They're the little white plastic pieces (if you do a search there's a thread on that)
Or
Check to make sure you motor doesn't have any slop to it when it won't open, mine was cracked and sloppy, when you twist the **** it would tighten things up enough that it would open, but would slacken off again when not used.
Are all of your bump stops there and in good condition? They're the little white plastic pieces (if you do a search there's a thread on that)
Or
Check to make sure you motor doesn't have any slop to it when it won't open, mine was cracked and sloppy, when you twist the **** it would tighten things up enough that it would open, but would slacken off again when not used.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 347
From: SC
I think your gear is on it's way out. I had the same thing recently. Then one night I got the dreaded grinding noise. Give it time and I believe you'll hear it soon. Mine still worked, but I just replaced the gear with a new brass one. Works like new now!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
If it opens after just barely moving the manual *****, its not the headlamp controller. I had this happen to one of my headlamps and it was due to the headlamp motor internal spacers were in the wrong place therefore allowing the metal portion of the stop to ride up over the rubber bumpers inside, therefore jamming it up. Have your headlamp motors been rebuilt before?
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
The bump spots that were mentioned above have a tendency to get worn, I just turned them around and put the fresh side on the opposite side, it works. LOL! Kind of like turning your underwear inside and wearing them twice.
Seriously, it does work.If you do install gears, get the best adhesive you can find, some small c-clamps and make sure it cures for the time needed...Trust me, I gooned this up when I did mine and had to redo the adhesive.
Hope you find your problem soon and get it corrected. Nothing worse than seeing a winking VETTE or one that has to roll with the headlights up in the middle of the day.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: Stockbridge Ga
Same problem
I am having just about the same problem. I replaced the gears in both motors, with the brass set, about a year ago. The drivers side headlight will say down. When I open the hood and remove the cover over the manual screw and turn a few times, then go back to turn on the lights both will come up. This will last for 3-4 times turning the ligts on then the driver side will not come up again.
Also when I remove the cover on the manual screw and turn the lights on/off both motors are working fine. You can see both screws (both lights) turning so the motors are good.
Do you think it is the driver side Headlight Control Module?
Also when I remove the cover on the manual screw and turn the lights on/off both motors are working fine. You can see both screws (both lights) turning so the motors are good.
Do you think it is the driver side Headlight Control Module?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I am having just about the same problem. I replaced the gears in both motors, with the brass set, about a year ago. The drivers side headlight will say down. When I open the hood and remove the cover over the manual screw and turn a few times, then go back to turn on the lights both will come up. This will last for 3-4 times turning the ligts on then the driver side will not come up again.
Also when I remove the cover on the manual screw and turn the lights on/off both motors are working fine. You can see both screws (both lights) turning so the motors are good.
Do you think it is the driver side Headlight Control Module?
Also when I remove the cover on the manual screw and turn the lights on/off both motors are working fine. You can see both screws (both lights) turning so the motors are good.
Do you think it is the driver side Headlight Control Module?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: Stockbridge Ga
I doubt it. Most likely when you put yours together, you got the spacers back in wrong. They will go in, two different ways. The wrong way allows the bumper stops to ride up over the bumper and jam it. The headlamp switch sends a single single to the headlamp control module to raise both headlamps. It raises/lowers them and based upon load from the motor. When the load goes up dramatically as the stops are reached, it shuts off the power to the motor which is all controlled by the headlamp controller.
I work out of town and only home every third weekend. I am heading out this evening. So maybe next time I am back I can take a look.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
No, the spacers are on the motor shaft "inside" of the motor. When you get it apart, look at things carefully and note that they can go in two different places for one of the spacers. Two spacers and three possible places they can fit in. Only two of the places are the correct ones.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
I have a problem with my driver side headlight. When I turn the headlights off the driver side headlight comes back up, but the light is off. I put a new bronze gear in it about 6 months ago and it worked perfect till today. Any help out their?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
A lot of people have had this happen to them so please use the search function and see what you can find for answers. Personally, I've never had this happen to me but my thought is that its out of sync with the headlamp controller. First and most obvious thing is to check the connectors on the headlamp controller and insure they are plugged in all the way...two of them. The controller is mounted on the forward, right front frame rail directly behind the passenger headlamp. To resync them, turn them on, then off again so they raise and lower again. If one remains up. disconnect its power feed connector at the motor, manually turn it down, then reconnect things. If its still messing up, you've probably got a bad gear that needs to be replaced. Gears are plastic and fail with age.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
No, the spacers are on the motor shaft "inside" of the motor. When you get it apart, look at things carefully and note that they can go in two different places for one of the spacers. Two spacers and three possible places they can fit in. Only two of the places are the correct ones.
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
