Headlight chatter
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 56
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Headlight chatter
Finally finished my total salvage rebuild of a 2002 Z06. Only have a couple of issues. The headlights go up and down and all the bulbs function correctly however when they retract they chatter for about 10-15 seconds after they are fully retracted. Brand new battery and doesn't mater if car is running or not. Can't really find anything that covers this in the service manual. Is this normal or is there something I need to look into and repair?
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Fletcher North Carolina
My passenger side light will continue to run for about 5 seconds after they go down, not sure if its broke, bad for it or what the problem is but it still works so I'm gonna leave it be for now....I know this didn't help you but your not alone 
I have heard there is a plastic gear in there that will strip out and this is most likely the cause of that.
I have heard there is a plastic gear in there that will strip out and this is most likely the cause of that.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 287
Likes: 2
From: Corydon Indiana
The nylon gear in one or both of the actuating motors is stripped and failing. Do a search on headlight motor failure. There are many threads on here on how to repair it and what your options are. That's how I fixed mine.
Regards and good luck.
Gunny John
Regards and good luck.
Gunny John
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 208
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
i got a new nylon gear from advance auto. it was one of those help brand parts. take out the motor and rebuild it. i had trouble with the motor cover though. had to drill holes and use tiny screws to hold it together. beats buying a new motor.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 287
Likes: 2
From: Corydon Indiana
Early '99 and earlier has a rebuildable motor; i.e., it can be disassembled and internal parts replaced. Late '99 and later use a motor assembly that is glued/plastic welded together. It can be rebuilt but the motor housing has to be pryed apart - dremel cutoff tool? - and reglued or drilled and screwed back together; this requires often adding a shim to the gear axle to get the worm and gear spacing correct. And no, the early and late motors are not interchangeable - they have very different mounting hole spacing. (Naturally! Corvette tax?)
My VIN # and the GM parts man told me my '99 was a late type after I had bought the repair kit for the early unit. Rather than mess with tearing into the "new" style (too lazy and too incompetent) I just bit the bullet and bought a new replacement motor.
Good luck and just for giggles, let us know how it turns out for you.
Regards
Gunny John
My VIN # and the GM parts man told me my '99 was a late type after I had bought the repair kit for the early unit. Rather than mess with tearing into the "new" style (too lazy and too incompetent) I just bit the bullet and bought a new replacement motor.
Good luck and just for giggles, let us know how it turns out for you.
Regards
Gunny John
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 19
From: Not far from COTA
I used this guy's parts and directions, not a bad job at all
http://rodneydickman.com/catalog/pro...products_id=92
same parts available from many of the vette parts vendors
