Hey all, I did some searching but couldn't find a post with my problem, it's not just a bad motor or two...

So I turn on my headlights and they don't pop up...but they don't try to light either...as I flipped the switch on and off I noticed I could hear the motors or something actuating when I hit it. I tried raising the headlights manually and turning the headlights on and they stayed up but did not light up...when I turned it off they promptly went down like normal.

Well I was intrigued so I kept playing. If I hit the switch on enough times I noticed that they popped up! But then they still didn't light. The second time I flipped it on they popped right up and after a couple seconds lit up.

The next time I got them to pop up (several on/off cycles later) they came right up with the lights on just like normal. In each case they went down like normal too.

But it's still not reliably popping up/on....the car was stored for the last 6 months, battery left connected (whoops) and then charged up and driven once last weekend.

All other lights and functions work...it's almost like it's just getting "worked out" which doesn't usually go with things electrical...anyone have any ideas of what is happening or what to do?

Thanks in advance
Rich

1988 GTA 5.0

 

Check the relay box on the firewall. About 4" square, behind the driver's side valve cover, just to the right (as your facing it). That controls the up/down activation.

Mine did the same thing a couple years ago. Lights wouldn't come on, come up...Nothing. If they had at least turn on, I'd have turned them up manually. Trying to get home, I got pulled over. No ticket, but way too dark where I live to be driving with just fog lights. Had to ditch my car at a parking lot & catch a ride home. Next day, they worked perfectly fine & have ever since. No idea why they wouldn't that night.

 

The 4" square part Stephen referes to is called the headlight control module. From my experience the headlight control module is fairly consistent. What I mean is, they will either work or not, but consistently. On rare occasions I've seen a stuck reley in the module become freed up by multiple times of hitting the headlight switch, but from that point forward they consitently worked properly. So, from your description I doubt it is the module itself that is the problem I'd insted suspect either a headlight switch problem or a wiring issue (corroded connectors). Remove all the connectors and check them for corrosion. Spray them with electrical connector cleaner too while you're at it. If that doesn't solve it, then replace the switch. I like to work at least expensive to most expensive in trying to solve the problem. The module is the most expensive, since you've pretty much eliminated the headlight motor assemblies themselves as the problem. We have a local club member that gets corroded wiring within a few months on a regular basis on her firebird.

Lon

 

Thanks guys,

I took her out last night and the inconsistencies remained. However, it seemed to work more frequently (1 out of 4 times or better) and as I went on it was even better (2 of 3)...I left them on and up to be sure they continued to work.

I had thought against the switch because I could hear things happening when I turned it on and off but last night when I thought it was working 100% of the time it failed so I hit the switch harder and it worked. Then I tried lightly (nothing) then harder (worked) until I got the point where I would just leave it on and press it harder to get them to pop if they didn't. The switch it must be!

I'll play tonight and try to confirm my conclusions and report back.

 

The switch powers both the light bulbs and the motors (through the headlight control modules). The modules power JUST the motors. I think you have your answer.

Lon