Help!!Headlight terrible noise
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,268
Likes: 6
From: New Orleans La.
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06
Help!!Headlight terrible noise
Just changed headlamps and now when turning off lights they close fine but one makes a loud noise when closed for about 10 seconds or more. What's wrong? :confused:
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
Re: Help!!Headlight terrible noise (98qcksilvermom)
98
I had the same thing happen on my C4. I know it not a C5 but it soulds like one of the gears inside is stripped! The C4 and C5 light motors work about the same way and both contain nylon gears which over time wear and strip off. The motor turns the gear until the light reaches the fully raised or fully lowered position. Once it reaches one of those positions the motor rotor shaft continues to turn (a slight amount) causing the motor drive shaft to thrust in one direction or the other which in turn presses on a set of contacts which opens after a small amoumt of force is applied. The other side of the contact touches another contact which allows the motor to run in the oposite direction when you turn the switch to command the light in the oposite direction.
The force that the motor applies to the drive gear, applies it to the same spot over and over and over again which causes it to eventually wear out.
You can take the head light assembly apart, remove and disassemble the motor. If it is the gear you can get a replacement from GM or get a BRASS replacement gear from one of the supporting vendors. The brass gear will last a LONG time!
If you have any other questions, please let us know.
Bill Curlee.
I had the same thing happen on my C4. I know it not a C5 but it soulds like one of the gears inside is stripped! The C4 and C5 light motors work about the same way and both contain nylon gears which over time wear and strip off. The motor turns the gear until the light reaches the fully raised or fully lowered position. Once it reaches one of those positions the motor rotor shaft continues to turn (a slight amount) causing the motor drive shaft to thrust in one direction or the other which in turn presses on a set of contacts which opens after a small amoumt of force is applied. The other side of the contact touches another contact which allows the motor to run in the oposite direction when you turn the switch to command the light in the oposite direction.
The force that the motor applies to the drive gear, applies it to the same spot over and over and over again which causes it to eventually wear out.
You can take the head light assembly apart, remove and disassemble the motor. If it is the gear you can get a replacement from GM or get a BRASS replacement gear from one of the supporting vendors. The brass gear will last a LONG time!
If you have any other questions, please let us know.
Bill Curlee.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,268
Likes: 6
From: New Orleans La.
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06
Re: Help!!Headlight terrible noise (Bill Curlee)
Thanks for the feedback. I just can't figure out why the motors were working fine until my son-in-law changed the bulbs. Seems coincidental that they (it)
would "wear out" at just that precise moment. He is a mechanic but has no experience with Vettes. We're wondering if there is a sensor or something that is not realizing that the light is down. The **** keeps turning for a few seconds after the light is down. The lights continue to work up and down but one motor keeps making that loud noise (for a few seconds) after it is down.
He thinks he did the change procedure the same way on both sides. I was hoping it was something simple that he didn't know about. If no one has any ideas I will take it to a mechanic tomorrow. Just bought it 3 weeks ago and this is really frustrating! Thanks again for your help. :cry
would "wear out" at just that precise moment. He is a mechanic but has no experience with Vettes. We're wondering if there is a sensor or something that is not realizing that the light is down. The **** keeps turning for a few seconds after the light is down. The lights continue to work up and down but one motor keeps making that loud noise (for a few seconds) after it is down.
He thinks he did the change procedure the same way on both sides. I was hoping it was something simple that he didn't know about. If no one has any ideas I will take it to a mechanic tomorrow. Just bought it 3 weeks ago and this is really frustrating! Thanks again for your help. :cry
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
Re: Help!!Headlight terrible noise (98qcksilvermom)
Hang on,, I will look in the repair manual and see if I mised something. Dont give the repair shop the ball and $$$$$$$$$$ just yet! It might have something to do with manual operation.
BC
BC
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,268
Likes: 6
From: New Orleans La.
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Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06
Re: Help!!Headlight terrible noise (Bill Curlee)
Going to be out for awhile but will check back later this eve. Thanks! :steering:
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
Re: Help!!Headlight terrible noise (Bill Curlee)
Well ,,the only thing that I can tell you is to make sure that the manual operation **** is not hitting anything. You can also manually lower and raise the light and see if there are any places in the operating range that displays excessive looseness or lost motion. Compare both lights in the manual mode to see if you can feel the difference.
Other than that there is not much other than the motor that can be at fault.
Good luck
BC
Other than that there is not much other than the motor that can be at fault.
Good luck
BC
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,268
Likes: 6
From: New Orleans La.
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06
Re: Help!!Headlight terrible noise (Bill Curlee)
Thanks. Mechanic says it is the plastic gear and I have ordered the brass replacement gears. Wish me luck and thanks again :steering:
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
Re: Help!!Headlight terrible noise (98qcksilvermom)
If you need any help with the replacement or other recommendations PLEASE let us know and we will try to do the long distance repair. It works most of the time! :D
Please let us know how it turns out.
BC
Please let us know how it turns out.
BC
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,268
Likes: 6
From: New Orleans La.
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06
Re: Help!!Headlight terrible noise (Bill Curlee)
If you need any help with the replacement or other recommendations PLEASE let us know and we will try to do the long distance repair. It works most of the time! :D
Please let us know how it turns out.
BC
Please let us know how it turns out.
BC
