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Old May 7, 2019 | 12:02 AM
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Default Head light issue

I am sure this has been covered many, many times.. I however can not find an answer.. I have a 1998 C5 convertible, the head lights will not pop up. If I rotate the head light switch over and over then they will eventually both pop up. I do not hear the motors running, When I turn the switch the parking lights will work, I can hear the relay #44 in the passenger foot well click when I rotate the switch , the fog lights will come on but the head lights will not illuminate or pop up. I checked the fuse #6 in the passenger foot well fuse box as well and it is good. I am thinking if it was the switch then the parking/running lights and fog lights would not illuminate. I'm am thinking the head light control module ?

Thank you for your assistance.
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Old May 7, 2019 | 12:08 AM
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Moved to C5 Tech.
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Old May 7, 2019 | 12:46 AM
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It depends. Does your headlights turn on when you turn the switch to headlights on? Also, do you have twilight sentinel on?

The headlights can get stuck when your headlight bump stops are worn down. If they are stuck and the HCM detects the surge of current draw that is characteristic of stalled motors, it will shut off power to the motors. Check your bump stops and make sure they're in good condition.
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Old May 7, 2019 | 01:26 AM
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I am new to owning a c5 , so please bare with me, although I did own a c4.. The head lights do not turn on when I turn the switch to the head lights on. I am not sure if I have the twilight sentinel, I think it was not offered in the 1998's. I will check my bump stops.. thank you for the tip..
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Old May 7, 2019 | 01:35 AM
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No headlights most likely means fuse 54 in the passenger footwell fusebox is blown. The headlight door open signal and headlight power is the same source.
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Old May 7, 2019 | 05:00 AM
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Check if you get 12 v( battery voltage ) to the control module whenyou switch the headlight switch on .
Maybe the headlamp switch need replacement


Last edited by oelarse; May 7, 2019 at 10:00 AM.
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Old May 7, 2019 | 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by rlg4675
...the head lights will not pop up. If I rotate the head light switch over and over then they will eventually both pop up... ...the fog lights will come on but the head lights will not illuminate or pop up...
Most probably it is the multifunction switch (MFS). It is a known point of failure.

As mentioned above, power to the headlight bulbs is also the signal to the headlight door control module (HDCM) to open the doors. No headlights turning ON means no signal to HDCM.

In addition to that, the fact that sometimes you get them to work after actioning the MFS multiple times, means that no fuses are blown and more likely the contacts inside the MFS are defective.

Getting parking lights and foglights doesn't mean the MFS is fine. Remember that it has multiple contacts for different functions inside, and not all of them go bad at the same time.

Last edited by GCG; May 7, 2019 at 09:52 AM.
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Old May 7, 2019 | 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by GCG
Most probably it is the multifunction switch (MFS). It is a known point of failure.

As mentioned above, power to the headlight bulbs is also the signal to the headlight door control module (HDCM) to open the doors. No headlights turning ON means no signal to HDCM.

In addition to that, the fact that sometimes you get them to work after actioning the MFS multiple times, means that no fuses are blown and more likely the contacts inside the MFS are defective.

Getting parking lights and foglights doesn't mean the MFS is fine. Remember that it has multiple contacts for different functions inside, and not all of them go bad at the same time.
Absolutely! I agree 100% That MFS is going bad!

Bill
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Old May 7, 2019 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by GCG
Most probably it is the multifunction switch (MFS). It is a known point of failure.

As mentioned above, power to the headlight bulbs is also the signal to the headlight door control module (HDCM) to open the doors. No headlights turning ON means no signal to HDCM.
In my case - the lights are on - in the down position - and the door won't open. I can see that when I turn the headlights on the motor is still trying to spin clockwise "to close it even further" but it can't as its up against the bump stops (which are OK)….
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Old May 7, 2019 | 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by jjc508520
In my case - the lights are on - in the down position - and the door won't open. I can see that when I turn the headlights on the motor is still trying to spin clockwise "to close it even further" but it can't as its up against the bump stops (which are OK)….
Have you tried to manually relief the pressure against the rubber bump stops before turning ON the headlights?

To do this, manually open both headlights using the **** on the motors. Just turn it until each door begins to open, and then go and turn them ON with the switch to see if both go up now.
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Old May 7, 2019 | 09:49 PM
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I manually relieved the pressure against the bump stops and still no dice! I then opened the head lights manually fully open and if I pull back on the stalk for the flash to pass, the high beams work. I checked the under hood fuse box . both #3 and #4 fuses(R&L head light )motor fuses are good and both have power with the head light switch turned on. I then checked the L&R high and low beam fuses all have power and are good.
I then started to turn the head light switch off and on with the engine off .. nothing.. then I started the engine and after turning the head light switch of and on repeatedly the head lights will turn on and raise. and when switched off they will retract. I then tried repeatedly to turn them off and on and they would open and retract with the head lights working! I then shut off the engine and the lights would illuminate and open and retract few times , then they would not open again until the engine was running .. Both still require a multitude of twisting action to work..
I am in agreement that the MFS switch must be the culprit. I am not sure other than more amps why they will not open when the engine is not running.
I will order one and install it as the weather permits.
I thank you all for the information and guidance.
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Old May 7, 2019 | 09:52 PM
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When the engine is running, the voltage available is higher, which means it has more "energy" to jump across a bad connection.

Yes, from your description, the MFS is the most likely culprit.
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