My passenger side headlight no longer pops up with the switch, and I'm getting tired of manually opening it. It will go down with the switch, however the lights aren't in sync anymore (the passenger side light lags a bit when going down).

I found some how-to's in the archives on replacing the motor and replacing those nylon bushings, but before I go digging the motor out I want to check the actuator relay for the motor first. If the relay is bad there's no need for a new motor (or the hassle of repairing one). Plus the headlights have never given me any problems until Monday when the passenger side light wouldn't pop up.

Thanks in advance.

 

The relay that powers the headlight doors is a four pole single throw relay. It activates both doors at the same time. If one door lags behing then thats a mechanical problem and not an electrical one. Also the relay is built in to the Headlight Door Module.
You could check the power to the individual motors to see if they get power as soon as the lights are turned on. To check their mechanical operation have someone turn the lights on and look at the motor to see if it both start at ther same time(they should).
If all else fails then break into them gears. Thats just what most people have problems with anyways.
If you need to look at some stuff I wrote on fixing the doors, got to: http://home.talkcity.com/ProjectPl/o...dlight_fix.htm
Try to ignore the pop-ups.

Ozzy

 

Thanks Ozzy, but I've hit a new roadblock --

The other night I went out to my car and the headlight motor in question was on fire (even with the car off). Smoke was coming from the solenoid. I pulled the motor out today and the wires from the solenoid on top of the motor assembly are torched, and that area of the motor is badly burned.

I opened the gear assembly and surprisingly enough that part is fine. The nylon bushings/shock absorbers are intact and there is no damage on the gear itself.

Can I just replace this solenoid (that's what it looks like, but I'm not 100% that it is one.. so if it's not, please correct me.. =) ), or is this one of those situations where I've gotta replace the whole assembly?

Thanks!!

 

I am not sure what part you are refering to as the solenoid. There is just a motor with a worm gear that drives the big gear in the assembly. That's if the 89 is the same as the 88.
As far as replacement goes, I would just try the junk yard first. These parts are hard to find since lots of them have failed. Next would be the dealer and you know how that goes. They either want to sell you the whole headlight assembly or none at all. And that will tend to drive the price up pretty high. You may also check the classifieds on this board to see if anyone is parting out a bird.
Good luck,
Ozzy

 

I have successfully replaced the headlight motor with a used (but known to be working) motor. Install was quick and easy. However, my headlight still won't flip up.

Is it possible that whatever caused my old motor to catch fire shorted out a relay somewhere? Most of the posts on the board say that the relay controls BOTH motors, but the driver side headlight flips up just fine and there's no smoke or burning smell as there was on the passenger side before it caught fire.

Currently I have the passenger side headlight motor disconnected. At least this way I don't risk another fire and I can flip up the headlight manually if need be.

Any ideas as to what's the problem here? I'm stumped. Thanks!

 

I have included the wiring diagram for the headlight motors. You are right about the relay powering both lights, but if the contacts that activate one side are burned up then that light will not go up. As you can see each wire to the motors have their own contacts. Try troubleshooting by checking the voltage on circuits 901 and 902 (right hand side motor) as the light switch is turned on. If you get no power then there is a break in the circuit, or the contacts are burned up, or the Solid State module is fried.
Hope this helps you.
Ozzy



BTW, there are also 2 fusible links that connect to terminals B and E (top left of module diagram). I have no idea where these are located but the wires that connect them to terminals B and E are red. As you can see in the diagram they supply power to the "open" contacts for circuits 901(right hand) and 903(left hand). Terminals A and C receive power from the headlight switch (A=yellow wire, C=white wire).