Flip up head light question - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

Samdweezel05 · 05-17-2009, 02:33 PM

I have solved most of the problems with this car on my own but I am lost with this one due to my lack of knowledge of how the flip up headlights should work. The battery goes dead all on it's own after about a week of sitting. I have done all kinds of things to figure out what is causing the drain. Disconnected the ground on the battery and checked for amp draw with the key off. These was .01 amps of draw and no fuse I pulled made a difference. I noticed when ever I have to charge the battery when it's dead as soon as I turn on the charger the head light motors start to spin but the head lights don't move. They will do this for about 15 seconds and then stop. With the key off, I turn the parking lights on and then off and the motors will spin. with the key off and the lights off I can push the "off" side of the light switch just a little and the motors start to spin. I realize that there is a problem with the switch but could this be the cause of my battery going dead? I have been chasing this problem for a year and I have never used the headlights on the car since I have owned it. And where the hell is the fuse for the headlight motors?

Phil

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Maverick H1L · 05-17-2009, 03:36 PM

1. No fuse exists for the headlight motors.
2. Your motors are shot. You need to replace the 3 nylon bushings inside the gear assembly.
3. You can crank the motors up manually and then disconnect them from the wiring harness until you can fix them.

Samdweezel05 · 05-17-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick H1L

1. No fuse exists for the headlight motors.
2. Your motors are shot. You need to replace the 3 nylon bushings inside the gear assembly.
3. You can crank the motors up manually and then disconnect them from the wiring harness until you can fix them.

The headlights work fine when I push the headlight switch on. They pop right up and go back down when I shut them off. I am trying to find out why the motors run when they are not needed. I will have to get a video of what they are doing so it can be better understood what is going on. Thank's for the help though.

Phil

Maverick H1L · 05-17-2009, 10:41 PM

Well, as far as I know, anyways, if the motors are running for 15 seconds before they trip the reversing switch inside the module, that means the bushings are either going or already gone, and it's a miracle they are working. However, I can get you a flow chart for your problems if you need...

Samdweezel05 · 05-18-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick H1L

Well, as far as I know, anyways, if the motors are running for 15 seconds before they trip the reversing switch inside the module, that means the bushings are either going or already gone, and it's a miracle they are working. However, I can get you a flow chart for your problems if you need...

It's weird because there is no delay when you turn the lights on or off. They work as they should. If I unhook the battery and then hook it back up the motors will run on there own for about 15 seconds and then stop. Never even touching the light switch. Same when I turn just the parking lights on. When I shut them back off the motors will run for a wile and stop on there own. Any diagrams or charts would be great as I really don't even know how they work inside the motor. I do believe there is a problem with the light switch as I can wiggle it a little and the motors start throwing there fit. Any info on where to get a replacement switch and parts that may be needed to rebuild the motors would be great. Thank's

Phil

enswrob · 05-18-2009, 01:16 PM

the light switch can be found at any autoparts store for about 20 bucks and about 15 min to replace. headlight replacement parts found at www.top-downsolutions.com
also a website sponsor.

Scooby Doo · 05-18-2009, 04:06 PM

The fact that the headlight motors run for 15 sec. mean your headlight motors are not fine.
Can you turn on your parking lights with out you headlights raising, if not then your headlight motors most likely need the bushing replaced. Very easy job.
Also if you think your headlight motors are the drain just disconect them from the wire harness, there are plugs about 4 inches from the H/L Motor on both side, if after unplugging your battery no long drains down that is your problem, but I bet it has nothing to do with it.
Replace the bushings and you 15 sec run on problem will go away, they work of resistance and with worn bushing they don't feel the resistance and get confused.
I have replace the bushing in both of mine, I also had to replace a shaft once as the part that the bushing go to be driven by the gear was spinning on the shaft.

The crumbs in the pic below are the bushings...

In the one below you can see the new bushing going in the three white pieced in the front of the picture.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

Samdweezel05 · 05-18-2009, 06:40 PM

I can turn on the parking light and the head lights stay down and the motors don't run. When I shut the parking lights off the motors start to run. I will get a vid of this ASAP and you all can see what it's doing. Hard for me to explain when I don't know how they work.

Phil