Headlights pop up when running lights selected?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 13
From: Redding California
Headlights pop up when running lights selected?
Out of the blue my headlight units now pop up when I turn on my running/parking lights! Plus when I turn the lights off the headlight units stow, and the right unit makes a dreadful grinding noise, which stops after about 5 seconds.
I assume the grinding noise is an indication that I need to replace the nylon headlight gears with brass ones, but why would the headlight units pop up when I select running lights only??????????
I should add that when the headlight units pop up when running/parking lights are selected, the headlights are not illuminated. When the headlight position is selected the headlights illuminate as normal.
(Twilight Sentinel is turned off, and always has been)
Advise appreciated.
.
I assume the grinding noise is an indication that I need to replace the nylon headlight gears with brass ones, but why would the headlight units pop up when I select running lights only??????????
I should add that when the headlight units pop up when running/parking lights are selected, the headlights are not illuminated. When the headlight position is selected the headlights illuminate as normal.
(Twilight Sentinel is turned off, and always has been)
Advise appreciated.
.
Last edited by allred; Nov 11, 2014 at 07:29 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 54
Likes: 2
From: Alexandria Pa
Out of the blue my headlight units now pop up when I turn on my running/parking lights! Plus when I turn the lights off the headlight units stow, and the right unit makes a dreadful grinding noise, which stops after about 5 seconds.
I assume the grinding noise is an indication that I need to replace the nylon headlight gears with brass ones, but why would the headlight units pop up when I select running lights only??????????
I should add that when the headlight units pop up when running/parking lights are selected, the headlights are not illuminated. When the headlight position is selected the headlights illuminate as normal.
(Twilight Sentinel is turned off, and always has been)
Advise appreciated.
.
I assume the grinding noise is an indication that I need to replace the nylon headlight gears with brass ones, but why would the headlight units pop up when I select running lights only??????????
I should add that when the headlight units pop up when running/parking lights are selected, the headlights are not illuminated. When the headlight position is selected the headlights illuminate as normal.
(Twilight Sentinel is turned off, and always has been)
Advise appreciated.
.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 13
From: Redding California
A programmable option which will automatically turn on your headlights if natural lighting is dim/dark. Designed to automatically turn on your lights at twilight, it can also be a pain because your lights will come on automatically when lighting is dim..........like when you start your car in the garage. Many owners turn this option off for that reason.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 13
From: Redding California
I ordered a replacement brass headlight gear kit from Rodney Dickman and installed the passenger side yesterday...............works perfectly, all problems cured. (there were two teeth broken on the plastic gear) Even though the driver's side currently works fine I will replace that side today.
The passenger side took about an hour to do, but now that I know what I am doing the driver's side should only take about 30 minutes.
.
The passenger side took about an hour to do, but now that I know what I am doing the driver's side should only take about 30 minutes.
.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,774
Likes: 66
From: SoCal
I ordered a replacement brass headlight gear kit from Rodney Dickman and installed the passenger side yesterday...............works perfectly, all problems cured. (there were two teeth broken on the plastic gear) Even though the driver's side currently works fine I will replace that side today.
The passenger side took about an hour to do, but now that I know what I am doing the driver's side should only take about 30 minutes.
.
The passenger side took about an hour to do, but now that I know what I am doing the driver's side should only take about 30 minutes.
.
It is weird it does that. I had the exact same thing happen to me. turned out to be the passenger side gear as well. Replaced and all has been well since.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
When your headlights come up when your parking lights are turned on it IS A GEAR PROBLEM. This happened to me and I fixed it by replacing one of the gears.
There is a current sensor that turns off the headlight motors when the headlights hit there stop and the current spikes. When some gear teeth have worn/stripped, there is not enough of a spike, and a secondary timer turns off the voltage. However, when this happens, the "timing" gets off and the headlights will raise when the parking lights are turned on.
BTW, the current sensor is why you need a resister when installing lower current HID bulbs to have headlights operate properly.
There is a current sensor that turns off the headlight motors when the headlights hit there stop and the current spikes. When some gear teeth have worn/stripped, there is not enough of a spike, and a secondary timer turns off the voltage. However, when this happens, the "timing" gets off and the headlights will raise when the parking lights are turned on.
BTW, the current sensor is why you need a resister when installing lower current HID bulbs to have headlights operate properly.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 79
Likes: 3
About 4 hours it took me cause I had inverted the acuator arm direction on the right side. U get that one head light up and one down. Common mistake just change the arm opposite direction fixes this problem. Don't forget to grease well the parts inside the gear and don't hurt to add little grease to outside moving parts. My headlights work like new. If u have the plastic housing instead of all metal u going to need that t shaped bracket for added strength.