I have a 84' Firebird remarkably with functioning pop ups. The drivers side always works fine though the passenger side will get stuck up. If I give whatever mechanism the black spinning cap Is, a very light tap, it goes down. Also works fine if I flip the switch on and off fast, making them go down before getting all the way up. Any google search I try to make only gives results for completely dysfunctional motors. I have greased everything that looks greasable, and checked connectors. Just a worn motor?

 

There are a couple of failure point with this system, most common of which seems to me to be the Guide control module, and the small little bushings or pucks inside the motor. I have not had the pleasure of diagnosing this failure (yet), so no first hand experience.

If it is the bushings, Lon from Top Down Solutions (an active forum member) has a kit for that, and some other third gen. specific parts.

TDS - Top Down Solutions

 

Those only work on the newer design 87 and up.

The 84 uses a different design.



Headlight Motor Kit: 82-86 Firebird or Fiero (top-downsolutions.com)

 

Drives me nuts when people let those go. They are pretty easy to disassemble, if you wanted to take the time, and you have pretty good DIY skills. I went through mine completely when I was assembling the car... If i remember correctly, I think they have bolts holding the halves together?

Just keep them flipped on one side when opening up, to keep anything from falling out. You can spray with Deoxit and lube with new dielectric grease. Reassemble the motors and run back and forth by hand several times.

 

Hi Dave,

I'm not being nit picky here, but I wanted to remind you that 1984 didn't use the infamous Guide module, it was still the early system with the limit switches and three relays (One isolation relay and two actuator relays).

With the Op's description of moving the manual up / down **** on the headlight motor causing it to work, I'm left wondering if a dirty or worn limit switch could be the culprit.....

The OP's wiring diagram for 1984

 

So I'll take everything apart, clean it, pray, and put it back together.
Will add what I find to this post afterwards

 

Not nit picking at all. Glad to have some members set the record straight. My knowledge (what little there is of it) is limited to the later cars, like my '88. I just saw the OP had posted twice, with 50-some views between the two threads, and no replies. So I wanted to get the ball rolling.