One headlight stays down
#1
One headlight stays down
Hey all
Have had my c5 since May and then tested my headlight and booth was working.
Now yesterday was the first time since I tested ... no light went up;
Tested a few times and suddenly left light went up .. but right light
stays in the down position .. both lights are working so the problem is that it does not go up.
Im not that good at troubleshooting so thought if someone could tell me a little bit in the troubleshooting
Thanks in advance.
Have had my c5 since May and then tested my headlight and booth was working.
Now yesterday was the first time since I tested ... no light went up;
Tested a few times and suddenly left light went up .. but right light
stays in the down position .. both lights are working so the problem is that it does not go up.
Im not that good at troubleshooting so thought if someone could tell me a little bit in the troubleshooting
Thanks in advance.
#2
Team Owner
Do a search for bump stops, buy a few and replace. They're little beige plastic caps you can easily see when you have the hood open. There's 4 per side, but you most likely won't need all 8.
I've got several just sitting here on my desk.
Also, you can move them around since they all use different contact areas. Just play musical chairs with em and you'll see the spots they rest on are in different locations depending on which one you're looking at. That will also get you back in business short term. But they get brittle over time so for the few bucks they cost, I just replaced em.
I've got several just sitting here on my desk.
Also, you can move them around since they all use different contact areas. Just play musical chairs with em and you'll see the spots they rest on are in different locations depending on which one you're looking at. That will also get you back in business short term. But they get brittle over time so for the few bucks they cost, I just replaced em.
#3
Melting Slicks
If manually relieving the pressure allows it to work and the motor works fine closing, while not producing the well known "rat-tat-tat" noise, chances are your motor is OK and, as mentioned above by K-Spaz, it is just the bump stops that limit the closing action what needs to be replaced (even though they might look fine to the naked eye). The ones that limit the opening action are probably fine, but I would replace all 4 (it might be a good idea to do the same to the left side because you mentioned that it failed to open the first couple of times as well).
The way the headlights work is not based on predetermined positions. When the headlight doors open or close and they reach the end of their travel, they press against the corresponding rubber bump stops. As a result the current through the headlight motors increases and that is sensed by the Headlight Door Control Module, which in turns cuts power to the motors.
If there are missing or damaged bump stops, or they are scored too deep, the motor might keep working longer than really needed, which could result in over torque. If that happens, the next time the motor is operated it would require more torque to perform the action. That would mean more current than normal and the possible intervention of the Headlight Control Module, shutting again the motor before the door actually moves.
If you need replacements you can order them from here.
In addition to that, there is a TSB for the driver's side headlight motor that calls for shimming it.
Last edited by GCG; 09-11-2018 at 07:16 PM.
#4
Try to manually open the right headlight using the **** on the motor. Just turn it until the door begins to open, and then go and turn them ON with the switch to see if both go up now.
If manually relieving the pressure allows it to work and the motor works fine closing, while not producing the well known "rat-tat-tat" noise, chances are your motor is OK and, as mentioned above by K-Spaz, it is just the bump stops that limit the closing action what needs to be replaced (even though they might look fine to the naked eye). The ones that limit the opening action are probably fine, but I would replace all 4 (it might be a good idea to do the same to the left side because you mentioned that it failed to open the first couple of times as well).
The way the headlights work is not based on predetermined positions. When the headlight doors open or close and they reach the end of their travel, they press against the corresponding rubber bump stops. As a result the current through the headlight motors increases and that is sensed by the Headlight Door Control Module, which in turns cuts power to the motors.
If there are missing or damaged bump stops, or they are scored too deep, the motor might keep working longer than really needed, which could result in over torque. If that happens, the next time the motor is operated it would require more torque to perform the action. That would mean more current than normal and the possible intervention of the Headlight Control Module, shutting again the motor before the door actually moves.
If you need replacements you can order them from here.
In addition to that, there is a TSB for the driver's side headlight motor that calls for shimming it.
If manually relieving the pressure allows it to work and the motor works fine closing, while not producing the well known "rat-tat-tat" noise, chances are your motor is OK and, as mentioned above by K-Spaz, it is just the bump stops that limit the closing action what needs to be replaced (even though they might look fine to the naked eye). The ones that limit the opening action are probably fine, but I would replace all 4 (it might be a good idea to do the same to the left side because you mentioned that it failed to open the first couple of times as well).
The way the headlights work is not based on predetermined positions. When the headlight doors open or close and they reach the end of their travel, they press against the corresponding rubber bump stops. As a result the current through the headlight motors increases and that is sensed by the Headlight Door Control Module, which in turns cuts power to the motors.
If there are missing or damaged bump stops, or they are scored too deep, the motor might keep working longer than really needed, which could result in over torque. If that happens, the next time the motor is operated it would require more torque to perform the action. That would mean more current than normal and the possible intervention of the Headlight Control Module, shutting again the motor before the door actually moves.
If you need replacements you can order them from here.
In addition to that, there is a TSB for the driver's side headlight motor that calls for shimming it.
Hi and Thanks
Yesterday i manually opend the right light… after that i noticed that both lights was working up and down..
But the right one now make the noise "rat-tat-tat" when going down
#5
Instructor
#6
Melting Slicks
Get a kit like this one (pay attention because there are 2 different kits: one for "97 to early 2000" and another for "late 2000 to 2004") and follow these step-by-step directions. You'll save money and they will last forever
There is a TSB, that calls for shimming the driver's side motor. The parts needed for this are included in the above mentioned kit (#2 in diagram below).
Last edited by GCG; 09-12-2018 at 01:23 PM.
#7
Drifting
Gear is ~$50 and you can replace it in an afternoon.
#8
Team Owner
Member Since: Jan 2007
Location: cookeville tennessee
Posts: 28,846
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Then you'll probably need this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
#9
I got this link erlier .. but they dont send to Sweden .. so i have to look for other site
#10
Melting Slicks
Ok Thanks
I got this link erlier .. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
but they dont send to Sweden .. so i have to look for other site
I got this link erlier .. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
but they dont send to Sweden .. so i have to look for other site
#12
Safety Car
Another option is if you send it to a forum member and he or she can ship it to you privately. I can help if that's the option you want to go
#13
Burning Brakes
You could try removing the lift arm off the motor, turn the motor 180 degrees using the manual ****, reattach the lift arm and see if it now works. I would also flip the little plastic bump stops 180 degrees while your at it. There are 4 on each headlight assembly.
#14
#15
Did the same to mine--works fine now -- cost $0. You need to get better access by removing the black cover on the headlight. I needed a small pry bar to remove the arm from the motor.