88 firebird formula headlight problem
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Joined: May 2010
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88 firebird formula headlight problem
hi guys. i tried using the search and wasnt able to find my issue in the first few pages and am in a bit of a rush on this one.
attempting to fix my buddys driver side headlight on his 88 formula. before i got to it, he had the headlight suspended by a zip tie to keep it up since the motor ran but wasnt controlling anything. ordered the motor repair kit from TDP with the delrin bushings and did the reapir according to the enclosed instructions. put everything back together after turning the manual **** and watched everything spin and work fine. tried the headlight and it didnt go up. called TDP (who was very helpful by the way) and the guy i spoke to told me he had seen this a few times before that the 3 "grippers" in the nylon gear itself were worn down and werent grabbing the motor shaft, and told me to drill and install a set screw in the metal gear insert. half hour later, set screw installed and headlight went back in the car. tried it up and down a couple times, and on the 3rd try the headlight wouldnt go up anymore, and while looking at the motor shaft noticed that it wasnt spinning again. also noticed that when we first installed the refurbed motor back in the car, it ran for a few seconds before it engaged the light on the up and for a few after it settled on the down. ran out of light today and he had to get home with his kid, so he's coming back tomorrow so we can get back into it. going to check the set screw first, but i doubt thats the problem since the headlight will now stay locked in the up, which it wouldnt do before the new bushings and set screw.
would you guys recommend checking the relay on this or just go with replacing the motor head? thanks in advance for any info.
attempting to fix my buddys driver side headlight on his 88 formula. before i got to it, he had the headlight suspended by a zip tie to keep it up since the motor ran but wasnt controlling anything. ordered the motor repair kit from TDP with the delrin bushings and did the reapir according to the enclosed instructions. put everything back together after turning the manual **** and watched everything spin and work fine. tried the headlight and it didnt go up. called TDP (who was very helpful by the way) and the guy i spoke to told me he had seen this a few times before that the 3 "grippers" in the nylon gear itself were worn down and werent grabbing the motor shaft, and told me to drill and install a set screw in the metal gear insert. half hour later, set screw installed and headlight went back in the car. tried it up and down a couple times, and on the 3rd try the headlight wouldnt go up anymore, and while looking at the motor shaft noticed that it wasnt spinning again. also noticed that when we first installed the refurbed motor back in the car, it ran for a few seconds before it engaged the light on the up and for a few after it settled on the down. ran out of light today and he had to get home with his kid, so he's coming back tomorrow so we can get back into it. going to check the set screw first, but i doubt thats the problem since the headlight will now stay locked in the up, which it wouldnt do before the new bushings and set screw.
would you guys recommend checking the relay on this or just go with replacing the motor head? thanks in advance for any info.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 48
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From: Garfield Heights, Ohio
Car: 1987 BMW 325is
Engine: M20B25
Transmission: Getrag 260
Axle/Gears: 3.73 LSD
Re: 88 firebird formula headlight problem
hi guys. i tried using the search and wasnt able to find my issue in the first few pages and am in a bit of a rush on this one.
attempting to fix my buddys driver side headlight on his 88 formula. before i got to it, he had the headlight suspended by a zip tie to keep it up since the motor ran but wasnt controlling anything. ordered the motor repair kit from TDP with the delrin bushings and did the reapir according to the enclosed instructions. put everything back together after turning the manual **** and watched everything spin and work fine. tried the headlight and it didnt go up. called TDP (who was very helpful by the way) and the guy i spoke to told me he had seen this a few times before that the 3 "grippers" in the nylon gear itself were worn down and werent grabbing the motor shaft, and told me to drill and install a set screw in the metal gear insert. half hour later, set screw installed and headlight went back in the car. tried it up and down a couple times, and on the 3rd try the headlight wouldnt go up anymore, and while looking at the motor shaft noticed that it wasnt spinning again. also noticed that when we first installed the refurbed motor back in the car, it ran for a few seconds before it engaged the light on the up and for a few after it settled on the down. ran out of light today and he had to get home with his kid, so he's coming back tomorrow so we can get back into it. going to check the set screw first, but i doubt thats the problem since the headlight will now stay locked in the up, which it wouldnt do before the new bushings and set screw.
would you guys recommend checking the relay on this or just go with replacing the motor head? thanks in advance for any info.
attempting to fix my buddys driver side headlight on his 88 formula. before i got to it, he had the headlight suspended by a zip tie to keep it up since the motor ran but wasnt controlling anything. ordered the motor repair kit from TDP with the delrin bushings and did the reapir according to the enclosed instructions. put everything back together after turning the manual **** and watched everything spin and work fine. tried the headlight and it didnt go up. called TDP (who was very helpful by the way) and the guy i spoke to told me he had seen this a few times before that the 3 "grippers" in the nylon gear itself were worn down and werent grabbing the motor shaft, and told me to drill and install a set screw in the metal gear insert. half hour later, set screw installed and headlight went back in the car. tried it up and down a couple times, and on the 3rd try the headlight wouldnt go up anymore, and while looking at the motor shaft noticed that it wasnt spinning again. also noticed that when we first installed the refurbed motor back in the car, it ran for a few seconds before it engaged the light on the up and for a few after it settled on the down. ran out of light today and he had to get home with his kid, so he's coming back tomorrow so we can get back into it. going to check the set screw first, but i doubt thats the problem since the headlight will now stay locked in the up, which it wouldnt do before the new bushings and set screw.
would you guys recommend checking the relay on this or just go with replacing the motor head? thanks in advance for any info.
idk if this will help or not, but the box im talking about is on the drivers side above the steering column right below the hood cowl. good luck fixing your problem. if you cant seem to find the problem, id just go to a pull a part or local junkyard and try to get the whole assembly or something. i know at pull a part theyre pretty cheap
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 5,964
Likes: 37
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
Re: 88 firebird formula headlight problem
If it does turn out to be the module, you'll need one from a 87-89. The 90-2002 modules won't work on that 88 Firebird Formula.
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