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Old May 15, 2013 | 06:09 AM
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Default Headlight motor

I had a guy at a corvette shop tell me the 04 headlight motor is not servicable. I wanted to rebuild my motor with a brass rebuild kit but he is saying cant be done. Is this true?
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Old May 15, 2013 | 07:27 AM
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Originally Posted by c5vette211
I had a guy at a corvette shop tell me the 04 headlight motor is not servicable. I wanted to rebuild my motor with a brass rebuild kit but he is saying cant be done. Is this true?
We need a little more information to help you.....what is your headlight doing or not doing? Noise? etc.
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Old May 15, 2013 | 07:36 AM
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Originally Posted by runner140*
We need a little more information to help you.....what is your headlight doing or not doing? Noise? etc.
I am not trying to figure out whats wrong with it... the person was telling me I am unable to replace the gears inside with brass gears.
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Old May 15, 2013 | 07:38 AM
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Originally Posted by c5vette211
I am not trying to figure out whats wrong with it... the person was telling me I am unable to replace the gears inside with brass gears.


the difference between the early and late model headlight motors is screws vs glue

check your PMs
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Old May 15, 2013 | 09:31 AM
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The nylon gear CAN be replaced with a brass one. I had the famous grinding gear syndrome about 4 months ago on my 2002 A4 coupe. I bought two new brass gears (and related parts) in a kit from a forum vender (Why 2? So I could update both headlight units at the same time), took both units apart, replaced the nylon gears with brass ones and everything works just fine.

Perhaps the Corvette shop guys simply wanted you to spring for big bucks replacement parts (and since the gears in the replacement units are nylon, they would still wear out at some inopportune time).

The replacement gears kit cost in the $50 - $75 range, your labor is free, and it takes two days to do (only because you need to let the epoxy glue set up when you glue everything back together).

Go for it...and think twice before going back to that Vetter shop.

The Lizzard
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Old May 15, 2013 | 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by c5vette211
I had a guy at a corvette shop tell me the 04 headlight motor is not servicable. I wanted to rebuild my motor with a brass rebuild kit but he is saying cant be done. Is this true?
It IS servicable. Youre case is high hypersonic welded. But it is really easy to open it, if youre carefull. For people with only thumbs at the hand it needs about two hours including taking out of the car.

mfG René
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Old May 15, 2013 | 09:59 AM
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Originally Posted by 8VETTE7
The person telling you that must want to sell you a whole new motor at a big price.

The newer headlight motors are "glued together but they CAN be opened, brass gears used to replace the plastic ones and then reglued with a special epoxy.

Do a google on the name Rodney Dickman and read on.
already PMd him that
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Old May 15, 2013 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by 8VETTE7
Unfortunately I couldn't read your PM to him so I didn't know what you told him... But now he has the info from 2 good sources...
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Old May 15, 2013 | 03:00 PM
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Thanks for the info guys. I did a million searches prior to arriving at his shop and I know how to do this proceedure already. I did it on my 99. Just was a little thrown off when he threw me that curve ball. There are a million wacky things that are different on the 04 so i didnt put it past chevy to slide that one in on me. The shop (dalemabry area :wink is known for things like that so i knew not to take it too seriously. I didnt loose sleep over it I knew I could just make a post this morning to verify Thanks again guys.
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Old May 15, 2013 | 03:14 PM
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i changed the gear in mine due to the grinding noise. i drilled tiny holes in my motor case and used tiny screws to hold it back together. i tried epoxy prior to this and for some reason it did not hold.
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Old May 17, 2013 | 12:33 AM
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Default Grinding Noise

Are you guys talking about the noise that emits for about 4 seconds after the door closes?
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Old May 17, 2013 | 12:49 AM
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If you have a noise after the lid closes youre gear is toast and should be replaced.
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Old May 17, 2013 | 06:20 AM
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Start a new thread if you want to talk about problems with your headlights.... I am not trying to troubleshoot mine, I was trying to find out if the gears can be replaced in a 04 because I was told they cant....
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Old May 17, 2013 | 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by c5vette211
Thanks for the info guys. I did a million searches prior to arriving at his shop and I know how to do this proceedure already. I did it on my 99. Just was a little thrown off when he threw me that curve ball. There are a million wacky things that are different on the 04 so i didnt put it past chevy to slide that one in on me. The shop (dalemabry area :wink is known for things like that so i knew not to take it too seriously. I didnt loose sleep over it I knew I could just make a post this morning to verify Thanks again guys.
Take it over to PowerTech Performance in St Pete. Joe has done a number of these.
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Old May 17, 2013 | 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by c5vette211
Start a new thread if you want to talk about problems with your headlights.... I am not trying to troubleshoot mine, I was trying to find out if the gears can be replaced in a 04 because I was told they cant....
No thanks, I got my answer. Thanks Vollmi.
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Old May 17, 2013 | 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by alxltd1
Take it over to PowerTech Performance in St Pete. Joe has done a number of these.
Thanks, I know joe and trust him, but I am more of a do it yourselfer unless i hit a brickwall and start throwing tools I am going to be at his shop as soon as I finish mt TT project for test and tune
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