Headlight Motor Woes
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Nazareth, PA
Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1
Headlight Motor Woes
Hello,
I think my headlight motors are starting to go, but maybe it something else. When I turn them on, the spin and spin and spin, but the headlights barely come up, and usually never fully park, and then fall back down. Then when I just turn my parking lights on and off the headlight motors start spinning, but they are going down, as if I had my headlights on.
I am wondering if the headlight switch is bad or the motors are screwed up. I did not have gauge lights when I turned on the switch, so I just ran a 12v ignition wire to them, so now the turn on when I key the ignition. Anyone else ever have these problems?
Thanks,
Jason
I think my headlight motors are starting to go, but maybe it something else. When I turn them on, the spin and spin and spin, but the headlights barely come up, and usually never fully park, and then fall back down. Then when I just turn my parking lights on and off the headlight motors start spinning, but they are going down, as if I had my headlights on.
I am wondering if the headlight switch is bad or the motors are screwed up. I did not have gauge lights when I turned on the switch, so I just ran a 12v ignition wire to them, so now the turn on when I key the ignition. Anyone else ever have these problems?
Thanks,
Jason
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 5,964
Likes: 37
From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Car: 90 RS 'Vert, 88 IROC-Z, 88 Firebird
Engine: 305 ci tbi, 305 ci tpi, 350 ci tpi
Transmission: WC-T5, WC-T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.27, 3.27
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,565
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From: Texas
Car: 1992 Formula Firebird
Engine: 305CID (LB9)
Transmission: World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt, 4.10 gears
The headlight repair kit will indeed solve that very problem. I just purchased one from TDS and it was extremely easy to do the work.
The problem with the headlight motors actually has nothing to do with the motor itself. They are actually really reliable. The worm gear isn't the problem. It's those stupid delrin rod things. They turn to dust after awhile. Then the gear that turns the pin that raises and lowers the headlight is free to move around. This causes the worm gear to slip and not turn the assembly. Which in turn causes your headlights not to raise and lower properly.
Some people don't mess with it to much. Especially people who don't know squat about the cars. They either raise them manually or they buy a whole new motor assembly from the dealership and have them install it. What
It is a really easy repair. The instructions from Lon's kit are real easy to fallow. If I had known how easy it was going to be to fix my problem I would have bought the kit along time ago.
$18.00 for the kit, or $35.00 a motor on Ebay. Don't even ask what the dealer cost is. You might have a heart attack.
The problem with the headlight motors actually has nothing to do with the motor itself. They are actually really reliable. The worm gear isn't the problem. It's those stupid delrin rod things. They turn to dust after awhile. Then the gear that turns the pin that raises and lowers the headlight is free to move around. This causes the worm gear to slip and not turn the assembly. Which in turn causes your headlights not to raise and lower properly.
Some people don't mess with it to much. Especially people who don't know squat about the cars. They either raise them manually or they buy a whole new motor assembly from the dealership and have them install it. What
It is a really easy repair. The instructions from Lon's kit are real easy to fallow. If I had known how easy it was going to be to fix my problem I would have bought the kit along time ago.
$18.00 for the kit, or $35.00 a motor on Ebay. Don't even ask what the dealer cost is. You might have a heart attack.
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