. If so, then it appears that the motor is jammed and may need to be replaced.
My 81yr old neighbor mentions statements like urs all the time.
Headlight won't go up manually
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 661
Likes: 2
From: New England
Headlight won't go up manually
I've got a 2004. The drivers side headlight wouldn't go up, so I tried turning the manual ****. It turns just to a certain point till it's too tight to turn anymore. And nothing happens with the headlight......doesn't go up at all.
Any suggestion? I need to bring the car in for it's 2 year inspection.
Thanks for any help.
Any suggestion? I need to bring the car in for it's 2 year inspection.
Thanks for any help.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,765
Likes: 938
From: Orlando Florida
I tend to find that when working with stripped or misaligned threads — and by association gears — that adding or modifying preload can be the key. The headlights don’t exactly rotate, but the rear lid edge does go down when the front edge goes up. Try backing off the jack screw, then adding some pressure to the back of the lid while turning the jack screw. If we get the lid moving earlier perhaps we can eliminate that binding point.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 627
Likes: 181
From: west coast of Canada
HTHStart with insuring the battery is at full charge. A battery at full charge will measure between 12.7 and 12.9 volts or more when measured across the battery posts with the neg cable disconnected. Don't bother with the dash voltage gauges as they report the state of health of the charging system and NOT the state of health of the battery. I would also get the battery load tsted. Most parts stores will do that free.
Once the battery is KNOWN good you can check the condition of the headlight control module. It is the HCM that senses current flow in the headlight motor circuit and shuts off the motor when the current rises to a set amount. The HCM is known for having the plastic case of the module fail allowing moisture and dirt into the electronics. HCM looks like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/97-98-99-00-...5Y0ETl&vxp=mtr
and is located on the passenger side below the headlight assembly.
Nope... Not weird at all. Pretty common C5 headlight problem.
Close bump stops are worn/damaged or missing. When the motor closes the headlight doors the bump stops are contacted causing the current in the motor circuit to begin to rise. The headlight control module senses the current rise and shuts off the voltage to the motors. If the bump stops are missing or damaged the motor over rotates the doors before the voltage is shut off causing them to have excess tension on the gears that will shut off the motors on the OPEN because the current in the circuit rises before the doors open and the control module thinks they have opened and hit the bup stops for open.
Examine the bump stops for CLOSE and turn them around if they can be or order replacements. Here is a link to a thread that shows both the open and close bump stops:
http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/...ght-shake.html
GM no longer has replacements so order from the only source I know of:
http://rodneydickman.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=309
Last edited by 8VETTE7; 10-11-2017 at 07:03 AM. Reason: Sp
Once the battery is KNOWN good you can check the condition of the headlight control module. It is the HCM that senses current flow in the headlight motor circuit and shuts off the motor when the current rises to a set amount. The HCM is known for having the plastic case of the module fail allowing moisture and dirt into the electronics. HCM looks like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/97-98-99-00-...5Y0ETl&vxp=mtr
and is located on the passenger side below the headlight assembly.
Nope... Not weird at all. Pretty common C5 headlight problem.
Close bump stops are worn/damaged or missing. When the motor closes the headlight doors the bump stops are contacted causing the current in the motor circuit to begin to rise. The headlight control module senses the current rise and shuts off the voltage to the motors. If the bump stops are missing or damaged the motor over rotates the doors before the voltage is shut off causing them to have excess tension on the gears that will shut off the motors on the OPEN because the current in the circuit rises before the doors open and the control module thinks they have opened and hit the bup stops for open.
Examine the bump stops for CLOSE and turn them around if they can be or order replacements. Here is a link to a thread that shows both the open and close bump stops:
http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/...ght-shake.html
GM no longer has replacements so order from the only source I know of:
http://rodneydickman.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=309
Last edited by 8VETTE7; 10-11-2017 at 07:03 AM. Reason: Sp
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,765
Likes: 938
From: Orlando Florida
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,004
Likes: 723
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