Well, I was having an issue with my headlight motor: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ight-down.html

After changing the motor today the headlight goes up and down just fine. No issues at all, BUT the headlight wont come on.

I have Radio Flyer Headlights and everything was working just fine before the headlight motor change. Any thoughts?

I swapped the connectors just to be sure and when I did so, the high beam came on. Swapped back. High beams will work. Also changed the headlight fuse just in case.

 

Today must be "Lets fix our C5 headlights day"
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-2000-c5.html

If you have some electrical cleaner try spraying those two connections when separated. Maybe they are dirty?
Try a little dielectric grease too after they are cleaned to put in the plugs.

 

I appreciate the thought, but the connectors with the motor are new. The connectors on the headlight are from the HID kit and Radio Flyer. Nothing looked dirty. (And I don't have electrical cleaner spray-I was tempted to pay a shop to do this because when I do something there is always an issue)

I just can't help but think I did something stupid. But since the headlights come up and the high beams work, I can't imagine what.

 

It was a bit of a boneheaded mistake...but it's RadioFlyer's fault. LOL

After watching some TV I started reading directions on the installation of some of his headlights-found PDFs online and one of the directions said that the HID kits had reverse polarity vs the OEM harness. You have to plug it in backwards. I spent so much time making sure everything was plugged in correctly and totally forgot about this. Had not touched my headlights in years. Ran out to the garage and turned the plug around and BOOM. Everything working. Time for a celebratory bowl of chili for dinner.

Side note-when changing fuses I didn't have any 10s-used a 15. Any harm in that staying in there?

 

Dielectric grease is not a conductor, so curious why one would put it in the plugs…

 

Glad you were able to figure it out.

To protect the connections after they are cleaned because if they were bad / oxidized or something it will help protect them from what may have caused them to go bad the first time...

Sometimes seals go bad, people wash their engine bays, leave their vettes outside... etc. There are all kinds of reasons to use dielectric after cleaning an electrical connection or even putting it on new connections to protect them.

 

Just saying it’s an insulator. Putting it on connection surfaces can interfere with the flow between the two.

It’s ok to spread it over an already connected surface, if that’s what you were thinking, like a cable already attached to a battery post, and there is also such a thing as conductive grease for the purposes you describe. Just sharing something I learned not too long ago myself.

 

You are good. However, I'd swap back when you have time. I'm kind of an OE guy so I "Respect the specs."

 

Moved to C5 Tech for further discussion.

 

I think you are misunderstanding what I have been saying. I did not describe a conductive grease.

Lets say the OP's connections in his headlight plugs were dirty / corroded on the harness attached to the car (not the new plugs that come with the new motor) then that means maybe the plug has some broken plastic or the rubber in the old plugs on the headlight motor wore out or got dry and moisture more than likely made it's way into the plug. Could happen for many reasons such as parking the car outside, excessive engine washing, car exposed to extreme temperature change... etc. After the plugs are cleaned or even new plugs if the car is going to stay exposed to the elements or get a washed a lot of times, you can use dielectric grease to protect those connections. Like I mentioned in my last post sometimes seals go bad for those reasons. I never said you wanted to stuff the connections in a plug with the grease. It is used as a protector and if someone didn't know what it was they could look up how to use it or ask here.

I never suggested to use in improperly, I offered as a suggestion for after the plugs are cleaned as a way to keep them clean. And yes, you can use it on plugs like the ones in the headlight assembly with the rubber gromets. The orange rubber on the connections in the picture below to help seal the connection from water and moisture.

 

^Ok, thanks for clarifying. So, using it to seal a plug, not directly on contact surfaces. Totally agree. Cheers!