1985 Corvette Healights Wont Go Down
11-09-2018, 01:11 PM
#1
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1985 Corvette Healights Wont Go Down
Hello everyone, i am new to this forums and happy to be here. My 1985 Corvette's headlights wont retreact into their housing, the headlights come on but when i shut the headlights off the headlights won't retreact. Any idea's of what could be wrong would be greatly apprecated. Thanks
11-09-2018, 01:47 PM
#2
Check the plugs for the motors, they could be loose or corroded. On my 93 the previous owner disconnected the motor ground because the gears were stripped instead of fixing them.
That brings me to another solution, try turning the ****. If that doesn't move the headlights, you'll have to take the motor apart and replace the bushings and possibly the gear. They were nylon and over the years age and heat take their toll and they disintegrate. Takes maybe 45 minutes to change them yourself, and there are several videos on youtube that go through the process. Best part is you can remove them from the hood and work on a bench. You'll need Torx bits and I believe a punch to completely disassemble.
That brings me to another solution, try turning the ****. If that doesn't move the headlights, you'll have to take the motor apart and replace the bushings and possibly the gear. They were nylon and over the years age and heat take their toll and they disintegrate. Takes maybe 45 minutes to change them yourself, and there are several videos on youtube that go through the process. Best part is you can remove them from the hood and work on a bench. You'll need Torx bits and I believe a punch to completely disassemble.
11-09-2018, 02:01 PM
#3
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Check the plugs for the motors, they could be loose or corroded. On my 93 the previous owner disconnected the motor ground because the gears were stripped instead of fixing them.
That brings me to another solution, try turning the ****. If that doesn't move the headlights, you'll have to take the motor apart and replace the bushings and possibly the gear. They were nylon and over the years age and heat take their toll and they disintegrate. Takes maybe 45 minutes to change them yourself, and there are several videos on youtube that go through the process. Best part is you can remove them from the hood and work on a bench. You'll need Torx bits and I believe a punch to completely disassemble.
That brings me to another solution, try turning the ****. If that doesn't move the headlights, you'll have to take the motor apart and replace the bushings and possibly the gear. They were nylon and over the years age and heat take their toll and they disintegrate. Takes maybe 45 minutes to change them yourself, and there are several videos on youtube that go through the process. Best part is you can remove them from the hood and work on a bench. You'll need Torx bits and I believe a punch to completely disassemble.
11-09-2018, 02:07 PM
#4
Hello everyone, i am new to this forums and happy to be here. My 1985 Corvette's headlights wont retreact into their housing, the headlights come on but when i shut the headlights off the headlights won't retreact. Any idea's of what could be wrong would be greatly apprecated. Thanks
Last edited by Joe C; 11-09-2018 at 02:13 PM.
11-09-2018, 02:43 PM
#5
Safety Car
Please be advised: Many people, (even on this very educational forum!) aren't aware that the headlight design for the '84-'87 Corvette is ENTIRELY DIFFERENT than the '88-'96 Corvette. Be very careful of any suggestions from someone who owns an '88 & up Corvette!
How long have you owned this car? Did both headlight motors quit at the same time?
How long have you owned this car? Did both headlight motors quit at the same time?
11-09-2018, 02:46 PM
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Please be advised: Many people, (even on this very educational forum!) aren't aware that the headlight design for the '84-'87 Corvette is ENTIRELY DIFFERENT than the '88-'96 Corvette. Be very careful of any suggestions from someone who owns an '88 & up Corvette!
How long have you owned this car? Did both headlight motors quit at the same time?
How long have you owned this car? Did both headlight motors quit at the same time?
11-09-2018, 03:20 PM
#8
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11-09-2018, 03:43 PM
#9
Team Owner
The early C4 headlamps have 3 relays. One for each lamp motor and an "isolation relay". The isolation relay changes the current polarity so that when you turn off the headlamps, that relay changes the polarity so that the motors run in reverse which then closes the lamp buckets. The 3 relays are located at the left front of the car under a metal plate. They are attached to the front of the left side wheelwell.
The isolation relay is the smaller of the 3; You my want to remove that relay and clean the harness contacts and the contacts on the relay. If that doesn't work, a replacement relay may be the solution. I don't think they are very expensive
The isolation relay is the smaller of the 3; You my want to remove that relay and clean the harness contacts and the contacts on the relay. If that doesn't work, a replacement relay may be the solution. I don't think they are very expensive
11-09-2018, 04:08 PM
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The early C4 headlamps have 3 relays. One for each lamp motor and an "isolation relay". The isolation relay changes the current polarity so that when you turn off the headlamps, that relay changes the polarity so that the motors run in reverse which then closes the lamp buckets. The 3 relays are located at the left front of the car under a metal plate. They are attached to the front of the left side wheelwell.
The isolation relay is the smaller of the 3; You my want to remove that relay and clean the harness contacts and the contacts on the relay. If that doesn't work, a replacement relay may be the solution. I don't think they are very expensive
The isolation relay is the smaller of the 3; You my want to remove that relay and clean the harness contacts and the contacts on the relay. If that doesn't work, a replacement relay may be the solution. I don't think they are very expensive
11-13-2018, 09:15 PM
#11
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I put a new isolation relay in and the headlights still won’t go down, I don’t think it is the headlight motors or gears because how could both of them break at the exact time. Any thoughts???
11-14-2018, 03:38 AM
#12
here is a few pics of the headlight door diagram and diagnostics.
Last edited by Joe C; 11-14-2018 at 03:43 AM.
11-15-2018, 11:06 AM
#14
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I have the same problem on mine. Headlights stuck up, but if I tap the drivers side housing I can hear the motor trying to turn for a second, then it'll stop. Thinking the motors are blown?