Headlight motor woes...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 650
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From: Pittsburg Ca.
Headlight motor woes...
Does the whole headlight assembly need to be removed to change the headlight motor gear? Seems like you shold be able to remove the black cover and lid on top and then be able to unplug and remove. Just seems like a hassle to remove the whole assembly.......
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,922
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From: West Branch, MI
Always more than one way to skin a cat. Multiple ways to do things on lots of jobs on our Corvettes. Like changing the front turn signal bulbs. Just read some of the threads and learn what you need to know, then dig in and see if your idea is better/worse than that one you read about. You can report your results here. Many times, a user has come up with a better/cheaper/faster/easier solution than previous ideas (the floppy mirror fixes come to mind immediately). Jump on the gear change and let us know how it turns out. It's such a common malady on C5s that your idea might just be the best way. 
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I hear you can do it with the assembly in the car but its not that hard to remove it and would probably make it easier
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 2
From: Denver CO
Usually the replacement gear kit comes with instructions. Very simple. I think just two bolts for the motor and one nut on the linkage, (if I remember correctly).
Try this.. http://www.rodneydickman.com/corvette.html
Try this.. http://www.rodneydickman.com/corvette.html
Last edited by maxx2200; Nov 21, 2012 at 11:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 650
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From: Pittsburg Ca.
The car is for sale, I have a buyer I think. When he came over and checked it out everything was fine. I took it out for my last drive yesterday to do the once over, and low and behold the dam gear goes.... It will take time to get gear, so looks like Ill have to take some off the price and let the buyer fix it himself.......
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 219
From: West Branch, MI
The car is for sale, I have a buyer I think. When he came over and checked it out everything was fine. I took it out for my last drive yesterday to do the once over, and low and behold the dam gear goes.... It will take time to get gear, so looks like Ill have to take some off the price and let the buyer fix it himself.......
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 816
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
When he pays you give him a 100 bucks back with the gear kit, and explane to him what it is and that is a commen occurence with cheap plastic gears. Let him know they sell breass ones that last forever, I have one. and it is a simple replacement. If he wants the car he will accept that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 219
From: West Branch, MI
When he pays you give him a 100 bucks back with the gear kit, and explane to him what it is and that is a commen occurence with cheap plastic gears. Let him know they sell breass ones that last forever, I have one. and it is a simple replacement. If he wants the car he will accept that.
A very wise and clever recommendation. Great idea! 
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Lake Tapps WA.
Don't need to take motor off or apart. Just remove the nut that holds the linkage on turn the shaft 180 and put the linkage and nut back on. Obviously let the new buyer know it's a temporary fix.
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From: Pittsburg Ca.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: South Western Ontario
To answer your original question, I took the motor out without removing the headlight. I believe I pulled the headlight surround (black piece) and then unbolted it. You need a 10mm wrench or 2. Disconnect the wiring at the frame rail and pull the headlights out and you can walk away with the motor.
You can also do as others suggested. Just remove the arm and rotate the motor 1/2 turn and put it back together.
You can also do as others suggested. Just remove the arm and rotate the motor 1/2 turn and put it back together.
Last edited by lionelhutz; Nov 30, 2012 at 12:48 PM.
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 126
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From: Texas
I'm new to the forum, but the first fix I did on my newly acquired '01 was the brass gear upgrade. My driver's side light wouldn't go up without manually cranking first and the passenger side had the nice chatter going.
I thought about trying to replace the gear without removing the light assembly. One side (I think it was the driver's side) could potentially be done that way since the plate for the gear box is accessible. The opposite side was reversed, though, so there was no way I could have accessed the gear box cover without detaching it from the bracket.
The one caveat that I wish I would have known was that once you get the fiberglass cover and lower black shroud off the headlight, you'll need to remove the six screws that mount the whole assembly to the body. DON'T remove the adjustment bracket just below the fiberglass cover. If you do, you get the joy of trying to get it back on just right to line up the light cover between the body panels!
BTW, it's an easy and effective fix. Took me about 45 min/light removal/reinsertion.
I thought about trying to replace the gear without removing the light assembly. One side (I think it was the driver's side) could potentially be done that way since the plate for the gear box is accessible. The opposite side was reversed, though, so there was no way I could have accessed the gear box cover without detaching it from the bracket.
The one caveat that I wish I would have known was that once you get the fiberglass cover and lower black shroud off the headlight, you'll need to remove the six screws that mount the whole assembly to the body. DON'T remove the adjustment bracket just below the fiberglass cover. If you do, you get the joy of trying to get it back on just right to line up the light cover between the body panels!
BTW, it's an easy and effective fix. Took me about 45 min/light removal/reinsertion.
Last edited by ajchance; Nov 29, 2012 at 11:43 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,726
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From: Castro Valley State of Insanity
You don't have to take the old gear out, just remove the control linkage from the the motor, use the manual **** to rotate the shaft 180 degrees and reinstall linkage and nut. Keep the brass gears for next time, I've had mine on the shelf for 4 years now.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
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From: Denver CO
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Everett WA
St. Jude Donor '14
Sure it is the gear?
The car is for sale, I have a buyer I think. When he came over and checked it out everything was fine. I took it out for my last drive yesterday to do the once over, and low and behold the dam gear goes.... It will take time to get gear, so looks like Ill have to take some off the price and let the buyer fix it himself.......