Headlight motorfuter
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 100
Likes: 13
Headlight motorfuter
Hi all. I'm new to C5s (just bought an 02Z to park next to my 78 pacecar) I love the car but unfortunately it came with the notorious headlight clicking so I hit the forums and quickly bought a brass gear kit. Everything seemed to go fine but now the headlight (driver side) only goes up halfway AND its in opposite motion of the passenger side. So lights on, drivers side goes down. Lights off, driver side goes halfway up.
Any thoughts on what went wrong?
Any thoughts on what went wrong?
Last edited by vetpace78; Feb 9, 2020 at 07:22 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 159
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Yep. You got the bend in the in control arm backward on the driver side. Take it loose at the motor and reverse it. Welcome to C5 world.
Glad you kept your C3. I sold my '79 and still sometime regret that. Good luck.
Glad you kept your C3. I sold my '79 and still sometime regret that. Good luck.
Last edited by UM Rebel; Feb 9, 2020 at 09:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 100
Likes: 13
I'll take another look I'm obviously missing something (other then the nut I dropped and have looked 20 minutes for)
Thanks Um Rebel.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 100
Likes: 13
Ordered a new motor. What a waste of time and money with the brass gears. I'm sure the gears work great but there's definitely something else wrong here.
Last edited by vetpace78; Feb 10, 2020 at 12:24 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
What happens if you MANUALLY position the misbehaving light to the fully lowered position when the other light is in the fully lowered position and then cycle them?
Can you manually fully raise that light?
Bill
Can you manually fully raise that light?
Bill
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 100
Likes: 13
Yes I can manually move it. I tried both down and both up disconnecting the battery between both. I'm baffled at this point. Especially since it worked fine before I started. It was just clicking after it went down.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 100
Likes: 13
It acts like the wires are reversed. I don't think it was even possible to put back together any other way but if the brushes were switched could it change direction? Or the metal housing was put on 180 the wrong way?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
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Seriously it's not the arm! I totally understand that could happen especially to someone new to the c5 headlights like me.
I just pulled the motor out of the housing (again)
I might have put the bushings in upside down.
It does fit either way. When I first pulled it apart I was more concerned about the tiny springs that got away from me more then the direction the plastic piece that held them and the brushes in place. I put it back together and it even seems to turn more freely. I don't have time to put it all back together tonight but I'll be sure to let you all know the verdict.
I just pulled the motor out of the housing (again)
I might have put the bushings in upside down.
It does fit either way. When I first pulled it apart I was more concerned about the tiny springs that got away from me more then the direction the plastic piece that held them and the brushes in place. I put it back together and it even seems to turn more freely. I don't have time to put it all back together tonight but I'll be sure to let you all know the verdict.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
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It's official, I'm an idiot. I had put the brushes in upside down. It now works perfectly! 
Unfortunately I live in Minnesota and we just got a foot of snow. It will probably be another 2 months before i can put the headlights to use.
Thanks for the support!
Unfortunately I live in Minnesota and we just got a foot of snow. It will probably be another 2 months before i can put the headlights to use.
Thanks for the support!
Last edited by vetpace78; Feb 11, 2020 at 09:38 AM.