I am the new owner of a 1986 trans am. Well, the headlights won't go up when i turn them on so i have to get out of the car and pull them up....puting them down i have to turn the lights off then pop the hood and turn them down by hand. what can i do to fix it, how much are new motors? Can they be rebuilt? How much are new ones? Thanks

 

Well, first, do you turn the **** by hand to put them up or do you actually pull them up? If you do, then the gearing may be shot, that may be fixed.

If not, then:

-The relays could be bad. There are 3 relays, one for each motor and one isolation relay.

-The fusible links may be bad.

-The motor itself is bad.

-The headlight switch is bad(doubtful on this one though, doesnt usually happen)

Check for +12 volts on the red/white wire running to the relays on the inner fender on each side. These are headlight motor relays. If there is 12 volts then the relays should be checked.

If the relays are missing the 2 headlight motor relays can be bought at Autozone or Pepboys or someplace like that. They are simply headlight motor relays. GP Sorenson makes them I think there part number is MR86 I think. The 3rd relay is on the passenger side radiator baffle. It is COMPLETLY different then the other ones. It is a dealer only part. It is called the Headlight Motor Isolation relay. It can't be swapped with any other.

Also, make sure all fuses and connections are good.

If you need more help let me know.

Matt

 

They can be rebuilt.

I see them on eBay for sale all of the time and at reasonable prices. Just check to see if yours are 2 or 3 wire units. I believe that there were only two types made.

I also believe that Fiero and Firebird/Trans Am headlight motors are the same and interchangeable. I am not 100% certain, but pretty sure.

Junkyards are also a good place to check for the relays.

What Matto'85TA says is a good place to start.

Good luck,

Steve

 

The Fiero motors are interchangable, as long as they are the same style as your motors. You will need the 3-wire units. '84-'86 Fieros used the same motors as '84-'86 Firebirds/TA's. The only thing is the gearing inside is slightly different. The the ratios don't match. Also, the motors are switched on the Fiero, the driverside motor on the Fiero matches up to the passengerside on a Firebird or TA and vice-versa.

There are actually 3 styles of motors. '82-'83 are physically and electronically similiar as '84-'86 motors except they use 4 wires opposed to 3 of the '84-'86 motors. Both '82-'83 and '84-'86 use the relay style method for control. '87-92 used 2 wires and and a computer module to control up/down motion.
If you buy motors or parts for them make sure you specify '84-'86 style.

Matt

 

Do the motors on the lights turn, but the lights don't move. Or do the motors no work at all? If they are turning without moving the lights you can fix them, but I'm not sure without more info.

 

so on my 82 t/a probably the reason why the wiring for one headlight is spliced and other is not is cuz one headlight could be from a later firebird up to 87 ?

thanks