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Old May 19, 2012 | 03:57 PM
  #1  
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Default Headlight motor

Well my headlights work fine going up but when I bring them down the driver side motor doesn't stop when they come down and it grinding the gear. I have to unplug the harness and bring it down manually and then I can plug it back in. Anyone know what the issue is here ? Is it the motor or some sort of swich that tells the motor to shut off when the light is down ???? any help is appriciated Thanx Bill
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Old May 19, 2012 | 04:54 PM
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I had the exact same problem. It isn't the motor. You have a gear that needs replaced. You can buy the brass replacement gears or just go to napa and pick up a plastic replacement for like $15 bucks.

My thoughts were exactly what you were thinking. I thought it was a switch or something, but all the guys on here told me to replace the gear.

The install is pretty easy and straight forward. Search "headlight gear replacement" on here or on google.com and you will find instructions. I think it took me about an hour or so.

Good luck!
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Old May 19, 2012 | 09:14 PM
  #3  
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Be very careful to observe where the spacers are when you pull it apart. It can go back together wrongly which will cause the rubber bumpers inside to jam things if one of the spacers is wrong.
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Old May 20, 2012 | 12:21 AM
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From: Redding Ca
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Yes it sounds like the gears in the motor are stripped.Check this thread out, its great information. Knowledge is power... Post #2 and #22 is what your looking for.And welcome to this forum.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...l-in-here.html
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Old May 20, 2012 | 02:26 AM
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From: Oak Hill Virginia
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+1 for replace the gear. A lot of guys will tell you to replace with brass gears and they'd be correct in telling you that they'll last longer.

I wanted mine fixed ASAP and my local autoparts store had the nylon replacements in stock so I just threw those in since they were so cheap and ordered the brass ones for the next time. My first nylon gears lasted for over 80K miles so I'm thinking I'll probably never have to dig those brass ones out of the box...

As others have said; pay attention to how things come apart and be sure to put them back together in the right order. What year is your C5?
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Old May 20, 2012 | 09:44 AM
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My C5 is a 2001 and thank you to everyone's advice
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Old May 20, 2012 | 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by tunnelrat
My C5 is a 2001 and thank you to everyone's advice
01-04 have headlight motors that are sealed (as opposed to bolted like the earlier units). After you break the seal you'll have to epoxy it back together.
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