Headlamp Door Won't Raise
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
Car: 1986 Trans Am
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: beats me
Headlamp Door Won't Raise
If I knoack on the door. it sometimes opens. Or I have to pop the hood, then flick the adjuster **** and the door magically raises. Sometimes it actually works properly on its own 
Do I need a rebuild kit? I've tried to adjust it, but nothing changes.

Do I need a rebuild kit? I've tried to adjust it, but nothing changes.
Banned
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 13
From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
Headlight Control Module on the fireawall. When they work off & on, there is a short in it somewhere. Open it up & see if you can find a cracked solder connection, causing it to work off & on.
You could just buy another one, but try fixing yours first.
You could just buy another one, but try fixing yours first.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: London, Ont, Canada
Car: 87 T-Top GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
Well if your knocking on the headlight lid and the pop-up motor to get it to raise up, and you are NOT tapping on the headlight Control Module on the fireawall to make it lift. Then it sounds like the me that you might need a rebuild kit!!!
Q. When your lights Do pop-up, do they bounce up and down a little bit when your driving? (if so, then I would have to say its time for a rebuild kit). Ebay has them for $3.00-$8.00 US.
Q. When your lights Do pop-up, do they bounce up and down a little bit when your driving? (if so, then I would have to say its time for a rebuild kit). Ebay has them for $3.00-$8.00 US.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Car: 1986 Transam/1996 Trans AM
Engine: 5.7 LT1 .030 over
Transmission: Borg-Warner T-56 6 speed
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
You should really check out this web site, it finally solved my problem,
Thanks,
Eric.....http://www.manxyanks.com/82-86%20Fir...ot%20guide.pdf
Thanks,
Eric.....http://www.manxyanks.com/82-86%20Fir...ot%20guide.pdf
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
Car: 1986 Trans Am
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: beats me
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
Well if your knocking on the headlight lid and the pop-up motor to get it to raise up, and you are NOT tapping on the headlight Control Module on the fireawall to make it lift. Then it sounds like the me that you might need a rebuild kit!!!
Q. When your lights Do pop-up, do they bounce up and down a little bit when your driving? (if so, then I would have to say its time for a rebuild kit). Ebay has them for $3.00-$8.00 US.
Q. When your lights Do pop-up, do they bounce up and down a little bit when your driving? (if so, then I would have to say its time for a rebuild kit). Ebay has them for $3.00-$8.00 US.
It always works when I give it a slight turn. Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: London, Ont, Canada
Car: 87 T-Top GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
Q. Do you need to push on both *****, or is it just the one side that keeps on sticking??? I'm starting to wonder if your problem is the motor itself...If so I don't think there's a rebuild kit for that!!!
And if there was a kit, I don't know how to fix a electric motor!
I NEVER did one before. Banned
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 13
From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
When my driver's side headlight was doing that, it was just a loose nut on one end of the lifting arm link. Tightened it up & all has been good ever since.
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: London, Ont, Canada
Car: 87 T-Top GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
Yeah, I read that post of yours on another thread somewhere. Lucky you!!!LOL That was a Cheap and Easy fix. But I think by the sounds of it that his "arm" isn't loose. I'm still leaning towards the motor.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
Car: 1986 Trans Am
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: beats me
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
LOL, yeah watch out for that.
Q. Do you need to push on both *****, or is it just the one side that keeps on sticking??? I'm starting to wonder if your problem is the motor itself...If so I don't think there's a rebuild kit for that!!!
And if there was a kit, I don't know how to fix a electric motor!
I NEVER did one before.
Q. Do you need to push on both *****, or is it just the one side that keeps on sticking??? I'm starting to wonder if your problem is the motor itself...If so I don't think there's a rebuild kit for that!!!
And if there was a kit, I don't know how to fix a electric motor!
I NEVER did one before.Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: PA
Car: 1985 trans am
Engine: 1969 chevy 350 .060 over
Transmission: 5spd
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
You should really check out this web site, it finally solved my problem,
Thanks,
Eric.....http://www.manxyanks.com/82-86%20Fir...ot%20guide.pdf
Thanks,
Eric.....http://www.manxyanks.com/82-86%20Fir...ot%20guide.pdf
thank god Im still restoring it and i dont have to do that every night.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: London, Ont, Canada
Car: 87 T-Top GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
Car: 1986 Trans Am
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: beats me
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
I took the cover off of the motor and cleaned it out with brake clean. Got a bunch of black dust and it all looked new and purdie 
It works better, but the same basic problem is there. I used a jumper wire to a different ground, but it started blowing fuses
It still acts like it need a little extra ooomph. I'm not sure if the **** needs help turning or getting pushed down so it can turn. Weird problem, but I will eventually kick it's butt...even if I have to replace the motor

It works better, but the same basic problem is there. I used a jumper wire to a different ground, but it started blowing fuses

It still acts like it need a little extra ooomph. I'm not sure if the **** needs help turning or getting pushed down so it can turn. Weird problem, but I will eventually kick it's butt...even if I have to replace the motor
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: London, Ont, Canada
Car: 87 T-Top GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Headlamp Door Won't Raise
Attached to the motor is what I like to call "the headlight Tranny" for lack of better words! I would guess that 80-90% of headlight pop-up problem are caued by the internal parts of this "Tranny", it acts like a tranmission for the motor, and inside are 3 small plastic rings that WILL wear out over time. That's why I've been asking you guys if your headlight bounces up and down a little. If it does bounce, 99% of the time it is that "Tranny". You can buy rebuild kits($3.00-$10.00 on Ebay). If it was me, I would open up the Tranny to take a look inside. If there are little bits of white plastic or white dust inside it.....Buy a kit! If not, rebuild motor or replace it!
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