C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Weak Headlight Motor?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 08:13 PM
  #1  
Too Slow '90's Avatar
Too Slow '90
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 58
From: God's Country The Old Dominion
Default Weak Headlight Motor?

The passenger side headlight on my '04Z would only raise about 3/4 of the way so I raised it the rest of the way with the manual adjuster. I removed the cover and bezel and it raised completely. I reinstalled the cover and bezel and it would only come up 3/4 again. I can't find anything binding. Would a weak motor cause this?
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 09:52 PM
  #2  
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
Vetteman Jack
Administrator
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,319
Likes: 24,777
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Default

Moved to C5 Tech.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2018 | 01:47 PM
  #3  
Bill Curlee's Avatar
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

The head light motors are controlled by a head light control module. The module senses when the head light motor reaches peak current (fully raised or fully lowered) and it turns the motor off.

The module feeds each headlight with a control signal for up or down. There is a FUSE for each head light motor in the under hood fuse center.

Fuse 4 is for the HDLP MOT LH
Fuse 5 is for the HDLP MOT RH

Get a DC Volt meter and make sure that you have full battery voltage at both of those fuses. There is a test slot on top of the fuse that you can use to read the fuse to chassis ground. Those fuses should be hot at all times. Look for full battery voltage on those test points.

I woulld also pull the fuse and make sure that the blades are clean and fit tight into the fuse slot.

The ground for that module is at G-102 and that is aft of the passemgeds head light assembly on top of the frame. The ground is for both of the headlight motors so, I do not think its the issue unless you are having issues with both motors.. If all that checks out, you may have a bad head light motor OR the module could be bad.

I can send you the schematic if you provide an e-mail to send it to.

Last edited by Bill Curlee; Oct 26, 2018 at 02:26 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2018 | 03:29 PM
  #4  
Too Slow '90's Avatar
Too Slow '90
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 58
From: God's Country The Old Dominion
Default

Thanks for the help with the procedure. I will give it a try this evening.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2018 | 04:14 PM
  #5  
GCG's Avatar
GCG
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Default

Originally Posted by Too Slow '90
The passenger side headlight on my '04Z would only raise about 3/4 of the way so I raised it the rest of the way with the manual adjuster. I removed the cover and bezel and it raised completely. I reinstalled the cover and bezel and it would only come up 3/4 again. I can't find anything binding. Would a weak motor cause this?
I know you mentioned you couldn't find anything binding, but I would suggest to take a 2nd look.

You said you manually raised it from the ¾ point until totally open. It would be good to repeat this, but going from totally closed to totally open, paying extra attention to any difference in required effort around the ¾ point.

Since it works fine with the cover and bezel removed, that makes them good candidates for being the cause of a potential interference.

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 (provided there's no abnormal interference/binding). 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.

Last edited by GCG; Oct 25, 2018 at 05:30 PM.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Weak Headlight Motor?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:32 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE