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Pop-up headlight noise

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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 01:53 PM
  #1  
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Default Pop-up headlight noise

Just started getting a really terrible noise coming from one of the two pop-up headlights, specifically the passenger one, after closing them. Would like to troubleshoot it before it goes to sh*t. My pop-up headlights perform pretty much flawless except for this noise that I can only describe as a pulsating jackhammer. Headlights pop-up when activated completely normally, quick and in sync and without noise. It's only when I turn them off to close them, right after the headlight goes down and "bottoms out" and closes, it starts making the loud jackhammer noise. To clarify, since I have upgraded LED lightbulbs, I bring my headlights back down by turning the high beams on. Luckily because of this as soon as I turn off my high beams, the headlight motor stops operating and stops generating the noise. Like I said, other than this noise they operate fine, quick and in sync both going up and down.
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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by turabo87
Just started getting a really terrible noise coming from one of the two pop-up headlights, specifically the passenger one, after closing them. Would like to troubleshoot it before it goes to sh*t. My pop-up headlights perform pretty much flawless except for this noise that I can only describe as a pulsating jackhammer. Headlights pop-up when activated completely normally, quick and in sync and without noise. It's only when I turn them off to close them, right after the headlight goes down and "bottoms out" and closes, it starts making the loud jackhammer noise. To clarify, since I have upgraded LED lightbulbs, I bring my headlights back down by turning the high beams on. Luckily because of this as soon as I turn off my high beams, the headlight motor stops operating and stops generating the noise. Like I said, other than this noise they operate fine, quick and in sync both going up and down.
You either have a stripped gear in the headlight motor (They are plastic) or you are missing a rubber bump stop. Both are common issues on our C5s.
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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 03:01 PM
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Hmm interesting I wasn't thinking stripped gear yet because the headlight is completely operable. I thought maybe the noise was the motor. I'll try to upload a video of the noise. As far as I know, they could still have the original plastic gears. I have no idea if they've been upgraded ever.
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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 03:14 PM
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It may just be a bad spot in that area of the gear. Bad gears are much more common than a bad motor.
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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 04:10 PM
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These threads seriously make me wonder whether people do any research on this forum before posting. This topic has been beaten to death for 20 years. It’s getting ridiculous.

a simple search reveals the problem and the fix. And about 300 posts about the same.

or maybe just read the stickies If you’re that lazy.

Last edited by Hoganryan40; Feb 20, 2020 at 04:13 PM.
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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Hoganryan40
These threads seriously make me wonder whether people do any research on this forum before posting. This topic has been beaten to death for 20 years. It’s getting ridiculous.

a simple search reveals the problem and the fix. And about 300 posts about the same.

or maybe just read the stickies If you’re that lazy.
Replies like these make me wonder what's the point of posting a reply that's not constructive? I did do a quick search before posting and I'm aware it's a common problem. However, initially it didn't make sense to me a fully operable headlight with a stripped gear and didn't find the answer quickly based on my noise, and 98% of forum members are nice enough to not give crap about a repeated question and just point you in the right direction.
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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by turabo87
Replies like these make me wonder what's the point of posting a reply that's not constructive? I did do a quick search before posting and I'm aware it's a common problem. However, initially it didn't make sense to me a fully operable headlight with a stripped gear and didn't find the answer quickly based on my noise, and 98% of forum members are nice enough to not give crap about a repeated question and just point you in the right direction.
the 20 years and 90,000 posts about this topic says buy a new motor or buy a brass gear. It’s that simple. Google is your friend.
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Old Feb 21, 2020 | 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by turabo87
Replies like these make me wonder what's the point of posting a reply that's not constructive? I did do a quick search before posting and I'm aware it's a common problem. However, initially it didn't make sense to me a fully operable headlight with a stripped gear and didn't find the answer quickly based on my noise, and 98% of forum members are nice enough to not give crap about a repeated question and just point you in the right direction.
ok. Sorry. Here’s me pointing you in the right direction. I have about 47 other links if these don’t work for you.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ing-noise.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ing-noise.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...oise-help.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ing-sound.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...them-help.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-grinding.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...headlight.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...eadlights.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-grinding.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tor-noise.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-grinding.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...headlight.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tor-noise.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-closing.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-closing.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-comes-up.html



https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tor-noise.html

















@turabo87 you still with me?






Last edited by Hoganryan40; Feb 21, 2020 at 04:59 PM.
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Old Apr 10, 2021 | 06:37 PM
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Who peed in your Cheerios this AM.. I know I'm a new guy here to say anything may not be appropriate but I guess if a post bothers you don't bother reading it. I came here for help with my C4.. Doing a search is not always a total help for the way it was asked or answered. Your right hundreds of the same are a bit much and too much to read in full. I will search but ask too! It must have taken you quite some time to compose your last post. Thank you for your rudeness it was almost comical.
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Old Apr 11, 2021 | 11:25 AM
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The gear being problematic is the same thing as the motor.

I think it appeared above that you were seeing the motor as a separate issue to a broken or damaged gear. The gear that goes bad is inside the motor.




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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 06:50 AM
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had to replace the drivers side headlight motor last week, all i had to do was remove the headlight bezel,off and on with new motor, small ratchet and a ratchet wrench, both a pair of headlight motors from parts geek, didn't need to take everything apart, like you see in some of them videos,able to get to bolts from the front of the headlight, gonna rebuild old one later on
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