Flightoficarus

Well, just when I thought I had this issue resolved, I'm having trouble w/my headlights on my Firebird. I just recently had the drivers side motor replaced w/a rebuilt motor, and the passenger side motor is just fine, so I don't believe the problem is the motors themselves.

They were working just fine earlier this week, but all of a sudden, when I was all stoked to get behind the wheel of my weekend beast, the headlights just didn't want to pop up. There is no mechanical movement of the motors at all when I flick the switch. However, the dash/guages will still light up in the car. It's as if everything is normal, except that the motors aren't getting a signal to flip the lights up.

Bad fuse? (I'll have to check this in the morning) Bad relays? Bad wires? Any other possibilities? I'm a little concerned since these cars are supposedly notorious for electrical issues and crappy wiring, lol. Any help is appreciated!

tazextreme3

Sounds like your headlight control module has bit the dust, or the headlight relay is bad.

Flightoficarus

Oddly enough, when I decide to take a look at the thing, the headlights magically decide that they want to cooperate and pop up!

I swear, this car's got a mind of it's own!

I'll definitely keep the relay/control modules in mind if it acts up again.

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

It sounds exactly like your headlight module to me. I had the same problem with my son's 87 bird. I had just picked up my 88 GTA, so I just swapped the modules and gave him my good one.

Later on I noticed that if you tapped the module, and/or wiggled the pigtails on the module, the headlights would come up. I took the module apart, and discovered that the solder joints along the connector pins had developed hairline cracks.

All I had to do was re-solder those joints, and the module has worked fine ever since.

Infested

Ok, sorry for my ignorance but i have been having some headlight problems randomly this week, do you know the location of the headlight relays?

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

Look on the firewall just to the outboard side of the power brake booster. The headlight module is a flat, square box about 3" by 4" and it is mounted in a bracket on the firewall. It has two plugs on it.

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Didn't want to make a new thread and i've gone through many others trying to search but they are all for older models. My driver side goes up and down no problem, but not the passenger. I'm not getting power to the passenger side pigtail. The control module is fine as I swapped it with a known good module out of a 60,000mile car. All the wiring and the ground looks fine. The fuseable link is fine. Someone mentioned a relay...where is that located? Pictures would help tremendously if you have them.

jhoffman

My head lights are stuck in the up position, when I disconnect the negative side of the battery, and then reconnect it you can hear a clicking noise inside the module. The parking lights and headlights all come on but the headlights won't go down. There are two wires brown and green that come out of the small motors ( actuaters ). On the drivers side the brown wire is hot, when connected the green wire is also hot. When I check the connecter on the passanger side I have nothing brown or green.

87Kitt_210

Problem is either one of two things. Motor is going back and gears inside need to checked or cleaned up. Second is to check that your headlight Module is not blown or shorted out. I have some spare modules i been wanting to get rid of because i bought them from salvage yard. I have a 90 and 91 firebird headlight module extra

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

Interested in the extra '91 module. What are you asking for it?

jhoffman

Yes I am interested, how much would you be asking for the module. And seeings how I am new to this whole online thing how would I go about buying the module from you.

jhoffman

There are five wires that go to the right side of the moduler, the orange wire on the bottom wasn't hot. The orange wire second from the top was hot. I made the bottom orange wire hot, the way it was only the drivers side headlight would pop up. Now they both pop up, when you turn on the parking lights which is wrong if I am correct. Them lights are suppose to pop up only when I turn the headlights on not the parking lights. Am I right about this situation and do I need a moduler still ?

87Kitt_210

thats correct. when u push only the lights buttom. The lights supposed to pop up. The modulers job is to do that. Im asking about 20 bucks total price for the extra 91' headlight module i have. I do have Paypal. Do u have paypal?

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

If jhoffman doesn't want it, I'll take it. I have paypal if that is your prefered payment method.

-Eldon

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

I just wanted to inform everyone that there were two versions of headlight control module used on our thirdgen Firebirds. They are the 87-89 version and the 90-02 version. Externally they look identical. If you open the module you'll see a date coe of when it was made (WEEK/YEAR).

Also check the plug at the headlight motor for corrosion. Use some spray or brush-on liquid electrical connector cleaner on it.

Lon

87Kitt_210

yea i know that its best to get the module for the correct year of your car. Blackshine i do accept and prefer Paypal. WOuld u like to see a pic of the module?

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

Yes, a picture would be nice. If possible, could you get a shot of the date on the part that Lon mentioned? I don't want to pull the rug out from under jhoffman since he asked for it first, but yes I do want it. Send the pictures to formula_gta@yahoo.com.

-Eldon

jhoffman

I do apreciate your help and your offer of the module, but however that wasn't the problem. What I need is drivers side headlight motor. I do apreciate the help you have given me.

jhoffman

I have a 1991 Trans Am GTA and I am trying to find the headlight door fuse #1 it should be an orange wire. There should be a box some place under the dash called a convenience center that has the two 15amp fuses to feed both doors. Does any one know where this box and fuses are located ?

87Kitt_210

the convenience center should look like this. Its to the right of the wheel next to the radio.

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

Still interested in the module. Pics forthcoming?

87Kitt_210

i have little bad news. When i opened up the module. The date the module was made was from 1990. So sorry that i thought i had a 91' . I now have 2 1990 headlight modules that are in working condition. Ebay might have some for sell. if not then gotta try finding one in 91

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

Well that sucks. Thank you for your honesty. You are a good example of why I try to buy from people on this site over others. Good luck on selling them.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

Remember my prior info? Two versions of module: They are the 87-89 version and the 90-02 version. It is correct for his vehicle.

Lon

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

Also remember that parts for 91 vehicles were being made in 90... the new cars come out in the fall.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

Actually, GM shortened the model year for the 1990 because they decided not to renew their IROC licensing agreement with the IROC racing series. As a result no 1990 Camaros or Firebirds were made after 12/89. They shut down the F-body production line early and re-tooled for the 1991 model. The 1991 models were rolled out earlier than normal in the spring of 1990.

Lon

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

I fixed the problem I was having quite a while ago. I do have an extra 91-92 headlight module(came off my car when I was trying to fix it so I know it belongs on a 91-92).

Here are the fuses under the dash. I had a blown one and that's why my headlight wasn't working. This is the location of the fuses on the 91-92 Firebirds.

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

Lon brings up a good point. I had completely forgotten that my car was actually built in March of 1990. I'll go ahead and give it a shot and see what happens. $20 isn't going to break me.

87Kitt_210

ok let me take some pics of the module tomorrow and show you how they look.

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

Did you ever send them? I never received any pictures.

-Eldon

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

If he doesn't reply I have one out of my 91 that I will sell you for $20. Worked when i took it out. Just swapped it out for one with a lot less miles.

Derek The Great

I was tooling around with my car since the headlights go up but then the passenger side wont go down and sometimes the driverside wont go down either. This is after I had Lon's kit put in. So the first thing I did was try and find those fuses everyone mentions and well I found the module but the only fuses it has is one for VATS, and the other for something else I don't remember. It didn't have twin 15's though. Is this because my car is an 89?

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

Send me the pics at formula_gta@yahoo.com.

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Yes. That is where they are on the 91-92 cars. I think yours should be on the inner fenders. But not quite sure on that. Someone with a pre 91 could tell you.

sac92transam

iTrader: (1)

my problem is almost the same as you guys but mine go uo and down fine but the lights dont turn on only some time? i have to do the running lights first the the headlight thats how they work most of the time but i have to do that a few times im thinking its the headlight switch anyone had this problem?

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Will have pictures tommorow.

Derek The Great

Thanks for the info. I figured my fuses weren't bad since the headlights will go up or down if you give the motors a manual twist in the right direction with pliers before you hit the switch. Got pulled over yesterday night because the passenger side didn't want to come up again. Frustrating. Dunno what is causing my motors to bind except for maybe the linkage. Perhaps a new module will help but nobody has posted in my thread so last thing I want to do is spend another 70-150 bucks for something I don't need when I've already spent thousands on the car this year already..

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Did you get them?

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

I got them. I was out of town for a couple weeks. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I am ready to buy it from you.

Eldon

bitchin_buick

Subscription for future reference. Thx

90FirebirdTA

Alright i need help pin pointing which one of these things is the problem with my headlights. Sometimes both my headlights will pop up fine (rarely but it happens) a lot of the time just my right side will pop up but the left will not and other times neither one will pop up all the way, but the lights are ON. So could that be the motor going bad, relay? Control module? or combination of all??

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

When you hit the switch to turn the lights on, are the tops on the motors spinning? If they keep spinning yet the lights don't pop up, I would venture to say that it is the motors. Instead of spending $75-200 to replace them, spend $1 and an hour to fix 'em yourself. Super simple to fix. I just fixed my passenger side motor last week. The ball bearings inside the casing were originally plastic bearings. Over two decades later those bearings are now dust. There are posts with step-by-step directions on how to fix it on the boards somewhere on here.

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

That sounds like a control module. The solder joints on the board inside tend to crack, so sometimes they make contact, and sometimes not. I fixed mine by taking the module apart, and fixing the cracked solder joints.

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

That's why I was asking if the motors were spinning. Could be either one of our solutions. Honestly, you might as well go ahead and swap the control module and replace the bearings. That way you won't have to worry about the issue any more.

monsterj1j1

OK can. Someone please help?!? Just bought a 91 firebird and the headlights don't work.. its not the motors because I can manuall crank them up. Please help I need it on the road now!!

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

How about giving us a more complete description of what the headlights (or headlight actuator motors) are or are not doing?

Lon

monsterj1j1

OK i don't know much about the car but I can manually put up the lights. The lights do not turn on at all. I took out the headlight switch and there is no power going to it. Any ideas? I'm thinking it could be the headlight module? ?

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

Please clarify. By "lights do not turn on" do you mean the headlights (as in the bulbs don't light up) or the headlight motorsdon't turn on? These are controlled on two separate circuits and fuses.

Lon

monsterj1j1

Neither turn on when I flick the switch

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

By "neither turn on" I'm interpreting that as neither the motor or the lights turn on when you press the switch. No surprise there since you told us that you have no power at the switch. It is not the headlight module. Start at the fuse block and look for bad fuses. Trace the wires back from the switch to the fuse block. The module comes into play downstream of the switch. If you are not getting power at the switch, then if the fuses are all OK, the problem is between the fuse block and headlight switch.

Lon