As in the title, my headlights pop up but don't come on when I turn on the parking lights. Didn't use to do this. I searched for similar thread, found one, but no replies. Anyone have similar problem and a solution?

Also, has anyone replaced the headlight motor gear with a metal one? Do you have to remove whole headlight assembly to get at it?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

A more extensive search revealed some hints. I think I have a plan.

Time will tell.

 

I'm not sure about the lights not coming on while in the up position.
I have replaced several headlight gears with brass gears instead of the
chessy plastic ones that fall apart. I use one 10mm
wrench and one 10mm ratcheting wrench to remove the motors only. Once you get the
motor loose the headlight will need to be held up so it doesn't fall down.
Good Luck.

 

If you turn your headlights on, then turn it to park lights, the headlights are supposed to stay up, but not on. Maybe you're accidently turning the switch too far then turning it back to park???
Jeff

 

Hey Tom. I have the exact same problem... plus more. I turn the switch to parking lights and the headlamps come up - and I'm not turning it all the way either.
This problem is the result of faulty rewiring I think. Since my car has been back from the shop, both headlamp motors grind when they retract....
Battery won't hold a charge....
Right turn signal flashes faster than the left....
Service column lock on HUD....
PIAA fogs won't light unless the headlamp switch is all the way up...

I'm not sure yet (just got back from vacation and haven't talked to the shop owner) but I think part of the issue with mine is that the shop used the stock light wiring harness with the PIAAs and it shorted out somewhere... in fact, I know there's a short because I smelled an electrical short shortly after I picked it up from the shop.

I'm having it inspected this coming week and let you know what I find out.

 

Dizzy, I talked to someone at a Fiero site that says its the plastic gears in the headlight motor. When they are replaced with metal ones it stops the grinding, and the headlight popping up in the parking light position, will go away. It has to do with the twilight sentinel option. I don't understand it, but I will have the metal gears in by the end of next weekend to see. I see you have the same year as mine, so maybe its a common problem. (Site is rodneydickman.com $39/gear $78/pair) Real nice guy and open on Saturday. I will post the results on this thread.

By the way, I moved from Dana Point last year after 15 years of looking at the ocean to the armpit of Florida. I sure do miss your weather.

 

I was thinking that all the other problems I've been having might have been related but I guess I'll try the new gears first - At least I can get rid of that godawful sound. Thanks for the tip!

I used to live in Atlanta and Florida also.... I really DONT miss the humidity in summer - It's a killer. Take care and steer clear of Ivan.

 

You've got a burned out bulb.

 

Hmmm.... The only bulb out that I noticed out was the 3rd brake light. I'll check the turn signals again....

 

I've got a DRL that's out and the turn signal acts like it's on speed.

 

I did my 2000 with gears from Rodney and they workgreat! Take the motors out of the car, it will be much easier in the long run. Secondly on the drivers side GM uses 3 washers stacked on each other as spacers, but on the passenger side there isn't any need for spacers. Get rid of the washers and replace the 3 stacked washers with a single nut. The nut will keep the bolt in place, and won't fall off while you are trying to re-install the motors. Thirdly, don't rush to test the motors. The epoxy is a a fast setting type, but I would still wait over night to test them out. I waited only a couple of hours and had to re-do the epoxy job all over again. It meant having to rip the motors out and clean the epoxy off. What a pain. I was getting really good at taking the motors out and putting them in. Lastly....make sure the plastic is really clean before you epoxy them. I cleaned them with denatured alcohol and ruffed up the edges with a little sandpaper. I believe 1999 and earlier models don't need epoxy, but have screws instead....they should be much easier. Make sure you put some lubricant inn the housinig. My housing had a hole that I could squirt some aerosol lithium grease into....my suggestion is to lube them through the hole after you assemble them to prevent the grease from getting in the glue joint if you have to glue them. The whole project was not too much of a pain and should last a lot longer than the stock junk plastic gears. - Ron

 

Installed the new metal gears (both) and now the parking light position doesn't work the headlights. Back to the way it was originally. Good fix and thanks for the help from everyone.

Job took me about 2 hours plus epoxy dry time. Pain in the *** to get my big hands in those small places, but it all worked out and I didn't even scratch the paint.

 

Mine did exactly what you describe when the gear was shot. But when I would switch off the lights the doors would shut but one motor would still run for a few seconds. When the gear was replaced the lights would no longer pop up on park.