headlight motor rebuild? yes or no? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

9014josh · 05-07-2009, 09:39 PM

i had a headlight motor go bad on my 87 and was wondering if anyone had rebuilt one of these before? it looks pretty simple and the parts are dirt cheap on ebay... any comments would be great!

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gcgarner · 05-07-2009, 09:47 PM

Get the rebuild kit from Lon at Top Down Solutions.

http://www.top-downsolutions.com

It's very straight-forward and easy. His kit comes with full instructions that are very helpful. The hardest part is pulling the brushes back to get the motor reassembled. It's a nice, easy job.

9014josh · 05-07-2009, 10:00 PM

alright thanks man...my motors are still good its just the busings in the bottom that turned into a pile of dust so im just gonna do those til the motors die then ill attempt that.

Thirdgen Ranch · 05-07-2009, 10:22 PM

Yes, you just need new bushings and you'll be fine. We have bushings sets available on our website if you need them.

gcgarner · 05-07-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

alright thanks man...my motors are still good its just the busings in the bottom that turned into a pile of dust so im just gonna do those til the motors die then ill attempt that.

That kit is for the nylon bushings. Mine were crumbled in my driver's side. The rebuild kit made the job easy.

SanFranCyco · 10-02-2009, 07:31 PM

Use dental floss. just put dental floss around the braided wire in a loop so you cann pull it out when done.do both sides then fit motor back and when the brushes clear pull it out.

SlashXIII · 10-04-2009, 12:35 PM

i didnt see any kits on that site foe an 86... where would i find one for that year?

Thirdgen Ranch · 10-04-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlashXIII

i didnt see any kits on that site foe an 86... where would i find one for that year?

The earlier style motors (82-86) don't use bushings so your motor would have some other problem. What problem do your motors have?

strc09 · 10-04-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcgarner

That kit is for the nylon bushings. Mine were crumbled in my driver's side. The rebuild kit made the job easy.

It wasn't too difficult? I'm probably going to have to fix mine, but I'm having difficulty with mine as well. They come up sometimes and most of the time...not. I hate having to crank them manually.

1ATony · 10-05-2009, 12:18 PM

We carry new motor kits too for the 87-92,here's a link to them.

Trans AM headlight motor kits

SlashXIII · 10-11-2009, 12:49 PM

sorry it took so long to answer... I don't really know how the headlight motors work really... mine wont open or close automatically... i have to pop the hood and turn that knob once it starts getting dark... didnt have time to take them apart or anything, just thought i could rebuild them somehow...

strc09 · 10-11-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ATony

We carry new motor kits too for the 87-92,here's a link to them.

Trans AM headlight motor kits

Ouch...$436.90

Advance has reman motors for half that for the pair ($169.08). Are the ones sold thru 1A OEM motors or remans?

Is there a relay or module for the headlights like there is for the foglights?

rhyspat · 10-15-2009, 01:30 AM

I fixed both of mine with some air line hose. Found that fix on the Internet somewhere (they used a hot melt glue stick).

Basically what you do is remove the headlight motor from the assembly. Open motor up and the old pulverized bushing dust will just fall out (the only reason your headlights go up and down sometimes is because enough dust collected together to form a clump and raise the light).

Now cut 3 bits of air line (about 1/2" lengths if I remember). Pop those in to the little cutouts where the old bushings used to be and grease her up in there.
Reasemble and put it back on the light assembly. Job done (and it cost nothing).