Headlights stopped popping up! Viagra maybe?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg Ms
Headlights stopped popping up! Viagra maybe?
I 'searched" through the threads and never really found one that just quit working, both at the same time. Geeze, man, when it rains, it pours! Basically, Backed out of the garage and headlights popped right up when I turned them on. Went to the store and headlight went back down normally. I came out of the store, turned on the lights and nothing happened! I have been manually raising them now for about one month since the local Chevy dealership bent me over on the steering lock situation. Since they both quit working at the same time, the law of odds would tell me that it is not the motors or gears. Unfortunately, I live in a small town and this car might as well be a Ferrari of sorts to the local shops. Thanks for any direction you can lead me!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg Ms
Wow, hey thanks very much for taking the time posting that! We are building a plant in Kinston that is currently on hold for the economy. Have you heard about ALOT of chickens coming to town? I used to fly up there about every other day and sit at the airport ALL day. Thanks again
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 13
From: Kinston North Carolina
Fuse #3 and #4
After grounds and fuses check good, get out the voltmeter and we'll check inputs to the Headlamp Module.
Last edited by byronhunter; Mar 3, 2009 at 12:18 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Do the lamps turn on but just not come up or do they not turn on at all? If they don't come on, then its probably the headlamp switch. If they turn on, but don't rise, its most likely the headlamp controller. Be sure to check those grounds and fuses before buying anything.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Escondido CA
Try turning on the Twilight Mode in the configuration menu. If the lights then work properly when it's dark out, I vote for the multifunction (turn signal) switch on the steering column. If I remember correctly there is a separate set of contacts inside the multifunction switch that tells the computer to open the headlights before the headlights actually come on. Do a search for "multifunction switch" if you want to try repairing or replacing the switch yourself.
Last edited by Don Lindeman; Mar 3, 2009 at 01:16 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg Ms
The lights will come on bright or dim, they are just not popping up or down. Possibly the headlight controller? I will get in the garage tonight and clean all grounds and connections and then price the controller i guess. Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
It could still be either the switch or the controller, but sure sounds like the controller too me. Check the connectors to it,..two of them. Make sure they are plugged in all the way. Its mounted on the front of the right forward frame rail. Be careful accessing this area too... I suggest you disconnect the headlamp connector first. Should you activate the headlamp motor while your arm is in there, you are going to be hurting badly and maybe stuck!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Escondido CA
Check out this link:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...f-replace.html
Notice that one of the pics shows a contact in the switch for the Headlamps UP function. Something has to tell the controller that you want to raise the headlamps. That signal comes from the contacts in the switch.
Before you start tearing into it, try activating the Twilight function using the Configuration Menu on the Driver Information Center (DIC). If the headlamps pop up and turn on automatically when it's dark outside, you've confirmed that the switch is bad because they wouldn't pop up in the Twilight mode up if the controller was bad. If they don't work in the Twilight mode either, then I'd go for the controller.
Don
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...f-replace.html
Notice that one of the pics shows a contact in the switch for the Headlamps UP function. Something has to tell the controller that you want to raise the headlamps. That signal comes from the contacts in the switch.
Before you start tearing into it, try activating the Twilight function using the Configuration Menu on the Driver Information Center (DIC). If the headlamps pop up and turn on automatically when it's dark outside, you've confirmed that the switch is bad because they wouldn't pop up in the Twilight mode up if the controller was bad. If they don't work in the Twilight mode either, then I'd go for the controller.
Don
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg Ms
OK, I feel like a leech here with all the questions! The grounds are good and tight, the fuses are good, the relays I am not sure how to tell if they are bad. Where is the headlamp module located? I cant get my headlights to work and to think I may have flown some of you guys in the past on the airlines, pretty scary huh??
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
OK, I feel like a leech here with all the questions! The grounds are good and tight, the fuses are good, the relays I am not sure how to tell if they are bad. Where is the headlamp module located? I cant get my headlights to work and to think I may have flown some of you guys in the past on the airlines, pretty scary huh??
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Escondido CA
Sorry Guys, 
I mistakingly called the optional "Daylight Running Lamps (DRL)/Automatic Headlamp Control" (AHC) the Twilight (Sentinal) Mode which is also an optional related configuarable option. When the DRL/AHC is activated using the Driver Information Center (DIC), a light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the AHC work. When it's dark enough outside, the sensor causes the DRLs to go off and the headlamps to pop up, and come on along with all the other lights associated with the headlamps.
These are optional features, and you may not have them on your particular car.
For further info, check out your users guide in the glove box and look up "Automatic Headlamp Control" in the index. Also refer to "Driver Information Center (DIC) Controls and Displays - Options" also in the index.
Sorry for the confusion. If your car doesn't have these options, then it will be a little more difficult to troubleshoot the headlamp problem. However, I would still lean towards the multifunction switch as the problem. A lot of folks have had problems with this switch including myself recently.
Don
I mistakingly called the optional "Daylight Running Lamps (DRL)/Automatic Headlamp Control" (AHC) the Twilight (Sentinal) Mode which is also an optional related configuarable option. When the DRL/AHC is activated using the Driver Information Center (DIC), a light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the AHC work. When it's dark enough outside, the sensor causes the DRLs to go off and the headlamps to pop up, and come on along with all the other lights associated with the headlamps.
These are optional features, and you may not have them on your particular car.
For further info, check out your users guide in the glove box and look up "Automatic Headlamp Control" in the index. Also refer to "Driver Information Center (DIC) Controls and Displays - Options" also in the index.
Sorry for the confusion. If your car doesn't have these options, then it will be a little more difficult to troubleshoot the headlamp problem. However, I would still lean towards the multifunction switch as the problem. A lot of folks have had problems with this switch including myself recently.
Don
