headlight trauma need help!
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: el paso tx
headlight trauma need help!
I have a 97 C5 and the driver side headlight motor keeps running after I switch the lights off. It runs for about 5 seconds after the light is down and sounds like a small chainsaw. Does anyone know what causes this? The motor cranks the light up and down just fine.
Burning Brakes
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Re: headlight trauma need help! (stevep69)
I just got mine back from my dealer. I had the same problem and they ended up replacing the motor. The diagnosis on the work order said, motor stripped. Labor shown as .6 hours to replace.
This seems to be a common problem. Mine was the driver's side as well. If your out of warranty, I don't know how much they get for a new motor, but I think I've read somewhere on the forum that it's just a nylon gear that gets stripped out. You might be able to replace just the gear, I don't know.
Rick :cheers:
This seems to be a common problem. Mine was the driver's side as well. If your out of warranty, I don't know how much they get for a new motor, but I think I've read somewhere on the forum that it's just a nylon gear that gets stripped out. You might be able to replace just the gear, I don't know.
Rick :cheers:
Former Vendor
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From: FL
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: headlight trauma need help! (stevep69)
The nylon motor gear is stripped inside the motor :yesnod: You can replace the gear on a 97-98 if you can find one (99-02 is a sealed unit)...The gear is not available from GM :nonod:
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: DFW
Re: headlight trauma need help! (stevep69)
sorry to hear that and C5-tech is right. Mine went south a few months ago but i managed to find one on the "parts for sale" section and all was good after that. best of luck
tito
tito
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Re: headlight trauma need help! (C-5 TECH)
The nylon motor gear is stripped inside the motor :yesnod: You can replace the gear on a 97-98 if you can find one (99-02 is a sealed unit)...The gear is not available from GM :nonod:
Rick :cheers:
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St. Jude Donor '13
Re: headlight trauma need help! (Jigsaw)
The nylon motor gear is stripped inside the motor :yesnod: You can replace the gear on a 97-98 if you can find one (99-02 is a sealed unit)...The gear is not available from GM :nonod:
Hey C-5 TECH, is there any reason why/how the gear gets stripped? Any way to extend it's life other than never using headlights? :eek:
Rick :cheers:
Hey C-5 TECH, is there any reason why/how the gear gets stripped? Any way to extend it's life other than never using headlights? :eek:
Rick :cheers:
The C6 is supposed to have non pop-up lamps...There goes my job security :D
Pro
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Re: headlight trauma need help! (stevep69)
I just had to replace the driver side headlamp actuator/motor capsule on my car. Mine was out of warranty and the dealer wanted about $500.00 to replace the motor. (Mine is a 2000 and has a sealed unit). The part lists for $237.00 from GM (the dealer). You can get it much cheaper from GMParts Direct ($167.00 I think), or you can get it even cheaper from a forum member where I got mine. ($100.00, same GM part new in the box, including shipping). If you can't find a gear and need the complete assembly and decide to change it yourself (It isn't hard, if I can do it a blind man can), let me know and I'll put you in touch with the right guy.
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Burning Brakes
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Re: headlight trauma need help! (EBSDallas)
Interesting....all driver's side too. I wonder what's so different about the driver's side motor?
Rick :cheers:
Rick :cheers:
Burning Brakes
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Re: headlight trauma need help! (Jigsaw)
Mine's going in next week when the service advisor recommended to me gets back from vacation. 2100 miles on the clock when it happened. :(
Melting Slicks
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Re: headlight trauma need help! (billjax)
My passenger side did this. One common cause is manually raising or lowering the headlight and going a little to far. It will crack the gear.
This is an easy DIY job if out of warranty. One warning is to get it fixed while you can still raise the light. It is possible for the gear to get stuck in the down position and this makes replacement much more difficult.
[Modified by gonbad, 1:25 PM 8/21/2002]
This is an easy DIY job if out of warranty. One warning is to get it fixed while you can still raise the light. It is possible for the gear to get stuck in the down position and this makes replacement much more difficult.
[Modified by gonbad, 1:25 PM 8/21/2002]
Drifting
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From: I hate you and I dont even know you
Re: headlight trauma need help! (stevep69)
Had the drivers side replaced on my '01 last month. They replaced the entire assembly including the headlight. Good thing it was under warranty.
Pro
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Re: headlight trauma need help! (billjax)
Hey Bill,
Steve's on vacation, huh? That's the first one I think he's taken in about two years. If I'd been in town when mine expired, I'd of had them do it instead of tackling it myself, but Bill Heard in Huntsville, AL wanted about 500 bucks to do it. For that, I figured I could learn how! I was just loafing at my sister's anyway and my nephew has a set of world class tools! I couldn't resist the challenge. Boredom makes us all do dumb things!
[Modified by redriverjohn, 4:29 PM 8/21/2002]
Steve's on vacation, huh? That's the first one I think he's taken in about two years. If I'd been in town when mine expired, I'd of had them do it instead of tackling it myself, but Bill Heard in Huntsville, AL wanted about 500 bucks to do it. For that, I figured I could learn how! I was just loafing at my sister's anyway and my nephew has a set of world class tools! I couldn't resist the challenge. Boredom makes us all do dumb things!
[Modified by redriverjohn, 4:29 PM 8/21/2002]