ok, so im new here and i have an 89 firebird. the problem i have is that both of the headlights pop up very smoothly, but neither go down. searching these forums ive found that its probably the isolation relay thats the issue, and even gotten the part number. the ploblem im having, tho, is where to get a new one to replace it. if anyone knows of where i can get it or maybe a way to cross-reference it to another relay, any help would be appreciated. thanks!

 

you should check on jegs, under the ignition and electrical they have lots of stuff from painless for wiring.

also you might want to check all the connections to the motor because it it goes up smooth its not a bad motor, so it might be a loose wire.

 

it definitely sounds like your headlight module is going bad (or is bad). Check it out and pop it open, you'll see the relay (its in a clear case) inside and I bet some of those wires are bad/disconnected. The headlight module is located at the left of the brake booster (its between the brake booster and wiper motor on the firewall). It has 2 sets of wires going to it...

 

so you think its more of a wiring issue than a bad relay?

 

I think its your module which contains the relay. Did you find it?

 

yea, i went out to the car yesterday and pulled the module... the relay was good but the board had definitely gotten wet at one point and some connections were corroded. my friend with an 87 z28 who deals with computers and mother boards everyday looked it over, said it didnt look good. so a new one is on order.

 

yeah, they can be had at any junkyard with a 3rd gen Firebird. Before you get the donor, make sure its the same headlight motors. GM used 2 types. A 3-wire and a 2-wire. I don't remember what years had what. But if your headlight motors only have 2-wires then get the module from the car with a 2-wire motor...

 

ok, so i switched the module out with a new unit, the proper one for my 89, and the problem is still there.... now what?

 

still same issue? wont go down? To make sure its not a wiring issue, test the pigtails that the headlight motors plug into, the one attached to the car (wiring harness). When the headlights go up one wire should be positive and the other negative, when the headlights go down (or supposed to) those polarities should switch. If that is correct then the headlight module is working like normal and it would be the motors themselves with the issue...