Actuator for Left Headlight door
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Actuator for Left Headlight door
Just got a call from the Chevy dealer. It will cost me $390.00 plus $300.00 labor to replace the actuator motor for the left headlight blend door (think thats what its called - the thingy that goes up and down). The light itself is operating but it will not come up out of the body. Any suggestions. 2002 C5 convertible.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Also read somewhere that there is a brass gear that can be replaced that someone got on Ebay for 12.95. $690.00 get the headlight door open? Thats 1.38% of what I paid for the Vette.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 794
From: Tollesboro Kentucky
You can get an aftermarket one for less than $200 and change it yourself in less than an hour.That is why they are called "stealerships'!!Does the motor run but the headlight won't move?If so,the gear will fix it for way less money!!
Last edited by jamieo; Jul 11, 2013 at 11:54 AM. Reason: more info
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
A new gear would likely fix it. The metal ones are more like $40. You have to break the motor case open, replace the gear and then glue it back together. I believe the one gear supplier provides a bracket that helps to hold it together after you are done. Not too difficult, but it's a do it yourself type of fix that most repair shops likely wouldn't touch.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 208
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
$690 is a total rip off.
if the motor sounds like it is grinding, it is the gear inside that you can replace yourself in about 2 hours or less. i got a plastic gear at the local parts store for $6 but the brass ones are better if you can get one. i am sure you can find a post on here on how to do it.
if the motor sounds like it is grinding, it is the gear inside that you can replace yourself in about 2 hours or less. i got a plastic gear at the local parts store for $6 but the brass ones are better if you can get one. i am sure you can find a post on here on how to do it.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Orange CA
Five years ago I installed new brass gears in both headlamp actuator assemblies. ( http://rodneydickman.com/catalog/pro...products_id=92 ). This page also has links to installation guides, including one here on the forum. All was well until recently when the left hand lift operation again became erratic. Exploration revealed that the plastic gear housing had badly cracked where the metal motor housing was attached to it. The result was that the worm gear attached to the motor shaft was only making intermittent contact with the large brass gear inside the gear housing. I ordered a brand new AC-Delco actuator assembly from RockAuto.com for $188.79 installed it myself (3rd time is a breeze). Now everything works again.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 44
Likes: 2
From: Fayetteville NC
DIY:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...orialized.html
This guy even fixed his Firebird by reusing the good half of the old gear:
http://www.freewebs.com/headlight/headlightmotorfix.htm
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...orialized.html
This guy even fixed his Firebird by reusing the good half of the old gear:
http://www.freewebs.com/headlight/headlightmotorfix.htm
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
If you want to test it or just be cheap then take the arm off the motor and rotate it 1/2 turn and put the arm back on. That will move the end stops to a different spot on the gear and it'll likely start to work fine again.