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Headlight Relay Question??

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Old Mar 20, 2006 | 02:17 PM
  #1  
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From: Wilson, North Carolina
Headlight Relay Question??

I know this has been a frequent question and I wouldn't normally beat a deadhorse to death! But I think when I asked it before....I was misunderstood at the fault of no one.

so here it is....

I got a (new to me) headlight motor, it works, fine. The arm turns and everything. The problem is, when I go to hook it up...as soon as I touch the blue wire (power wire) together, it starts spinning without the lights being turned on!

So does that mean my relay is bad?

My other side works fine...any help would be appreciated.
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Old Mar 21, 2006 | 11:04 AM
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From: Wilson, North Carolina
Anyone??
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Old Mar 21, 2006 | 12:40 PM
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Car: 91 Trans Am
Means its getting power aka your switch is on - bad switch
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Old Mar 22, 2006 | 06:24 PM
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I hooked up the motor bolted in with the headlights on. Now, The headlights are on and both headlights are up, I cut off the switch in the car, both headlights go down as intended. Then when I cut the power switch in the car on...the driver's side headlight goes up, but the passenger side comes on, but does not pop up. So I can go roll it up manually, hit the off siwtch and it goes back down.

So now the headlight does not go up now.

Any ideas!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 02:10 PM
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So I installed the headlight back in the car, with the headlights on, Both headlights are on and both headlights are up. then I cut the switch off, and they drivers side goes down and the passenger side goes down as well, then I cut the power switch back on, and the drivers side goes up, but the passenger one comes on, but does NOT pop up??

So I found through the help of a friend that I may need to replace my fuselinks for the headlight on the drivers side of the engine compartment.

I checked them, and one was shot, so I replaced both of them. Now I get 12 Volts going all the way to the relay, but the passenger side headlight still does not go up.

Any Ideas?? HHEELLPP!!
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 07:50 PM
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From: NC
Car: 91 Trans Am
What year firebird?

82-86 had one relay per light (availible at advance auto or wherever cheap)

Small black plug with numbers on the top similar to the ones along the firewall

85-92 had a single larger relay on the firewall (junkyard or dealership only)

Only parts in the popup light system are the motors (obviously working) wiring (might be the culprit still but doubtful) relay(best bet) and switch(switch doesnt command them individually, it sends power out to go up and its split to go to as many as you have)

Hope that helps some
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 08:38 PM
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From: Antelope California
Car: 1989 Black Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: Stock Crap
Agree with Pocket, Sounds like a relay...What year? I have a used spare one for a 89 BIRD if you need it I'll send ya. .
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 07:40 PM
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You guys are exactly right! I tested it with another relay today. You know would think that would be the first thing I would check, but I had just bought it from Advanced, so I just assumed that it was working properly.

Thanks for your help guys.
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 09:54 PM
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From: Antelope California
Car: 1989 Black Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: Stock Crap
Originally Posted by mjjmike
You guys are exactly right! I tested it with another relay today. You know would think that would be the first thing I would check, but I had just bought it from Advanced, so I just assumed that it was working properly.

Thanks for your help guys.

GOOD DEAL another HAPPY Bird one the road
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 03:38 PM
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From: West Portsmouth, OH
Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: N2O 355CID
Transmission: T-56
whats the part number for that relay? i know its a gp sorenson because i work at Advance, i just need it real quick so i can see if thats my problem.
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 07:51 PM
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From: So MD
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305 tpi
Transmission: T-5
I have a 1990, when i turn on the switch at the dash, the headlights come on but do not come up. I replaced the square box under the master cylinder but that didnt help. Is there another relay i should look for ???
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 08:41 PM
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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
There were two headlight control modules used for Thirdgen Firebirds. The 1987-89 used a different module than the 1990-92. Externally they look identical. I'd suspect you either used the wrong one or it too is bad.

Lon
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 08:42 PM
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From: So MD
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305 tpi
Transmission: T-5
thanks, i ordered it from top down solutions, and specified the year,but could be a mix up...thanks
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 09:36 PM
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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
I wasn't aware there were two relays used until recently. It appears you bought one from me before then. Contact me and I'll swap you the correct one for yours.

Lon
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 09:43 PM
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From: So MD
Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305 tpi
Transmission: T-5
Great, if you could email me what you need me to do, that would be great. My car is 350 miles away right now,but i will be there at the end of april....
jonesbw@co.cal.md.us
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 10:23 PM
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From: Verona Va
Car: 86 Trans Am,03 Yukon,92 Z28
Engine: 5.3, 5.3, lb9
Transmission: th350,4l60e,700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73,3.73,2.73
ive been having a similar problem with my 86. i went outside the other day and the driverside headlight was up and i checked and the switch was off. so i replaced the whole motor/headlight assembly and still was not working right. well i finaly got that side working right but i guess its the relay for the pass side motor next to the batt. was smoking and caught on fire! so i unpluged it and then the headlights would work but now the fog lights wouldnt and the pass side still would just either stay up or down. depends on how i had it set manualy. well i checked and i had blown a fuse under the dash so i replaced it now fog lighs and headlights work but i have to still manualy raise the pass motor up and down! so i tryed reinstaling the little black box thing again and it did the same blew a fuse and the lil box caught on fire again. so is this the relay and will this fix my problem with a new one or are my problems much worse?
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Old Apr 24, 2006 | 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Screamin86
ive been having a similar problem with my 86. i went outside the other day and the driverside headlight was up and i checked and the switch was off. so i replaced the whole motor/headlight assembly and still was not working right. well i finaly got that side working right but i guess its the relay for the pass side motor next to the batt. was smoking and caught on fire! so i unpluged it and then the headlights would work but now the fog lights wouldnt and the pass side still would just either stay up or down. depends on how i had it set manualy. well i checked and i had blown a fuse under the dash so i replaced it now fog lighs and headlights work but i have to still manualy raise the pass motor up and down! so i tryed reinstaling the little black box thing again and it did the same blew a fuse and the lil box caught on fire again. so is this the relay and will this fix my problem with a new one or are my problems much worse?
Hello!!!

I bought my son an 86 for his 8th birthday last year. Everything worked fine when garaged for the winter. Now neither headlight will "pop up" automatically. Manually they come up and when I turn the switch off they go down. I went to a pontiac dealer but didn't have any luck. No one there even knew where the relay(s) are located. So if you could offer me any suggestions I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks
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Old Apr 25, 2006 | 04:40 PM
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From: Verona Va
Car: 86 Trans Am,03 Yukon,92 Z28
Engine: 5.3, 5.3, lb9
Transmission: th350,4l60e,700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73,3.73,2.73
for now i just took the relay on mine off and i have to raise the light manualy. the relay is the little black box looking thing that is next to the bat. on the fender there is also one on the drivers side. the dealer wanted $30 for one and i dont wanna pay that much for one unlessi know that it is exactly the part that wwill fix this problem. i will try the local yards. too bad i dint thinkto get the relays off of my 85 parts car i had before i sent it away i got EVERYTHING esle. no i got to figure out when my left turnsignal does not blink and the arrow stays lit with the lights on.
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