drivers headlight occasionally goes up
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Joined: Sep 2009
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Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73 posi
drivers headlight occasionally goes up
The drivers side head light will occasionally go up, but a lot of the time i have to hand crack it a little bit then i can flip the switch and then the light will go up. What can cause this? i have replaced both the head light gears and bushings on the driver and passenger side
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Joined: Jan 2013
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Re: drivers headlight occasionally goes up
There is a relay called an isolation relay located behind the battery and behind the right hand light on the passenger side within the engine compartment. That relay may be going bad. Since you have an 88, I am not sure if it is in the same location as mine an 83 but it possibly could be. Also, check and trace the wiring and connection for the ground for each headlight. Let me know if you discover something.
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 5,964
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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
Re: drivers headlight occasionally goes up
The drivers side head light will occasionally go up, but a lot of the time i have to hand crack it a little bit then i can flip the switch and then the light will go up. What can cause this? i have replaced both the head light gears and bushings on the driver and passenger side
If you are certain that the bearing is still in place, then you can just adjust the stub-shaft. The end of the stub-shaft has a slot. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to hold the stub shaft in place. Loosen the locknut that is on the stub-shaft. Once you've loosened the locknut, turn in the stub shaft until you feel a slight pressure. Now tighten the locknut.
If you don't recall that the bearing is there, then you'll need to disassemble the motor from the actuator housing and check for the bearing. Once you have the bearing installed in the cup on the end of the worm-drive and the motor reassembled, then you can use the instructions I gave.
Lon Salgren
PS: Stallion, the 1987 -92 is a 2-wire motor. The isolation relay was used on the 1982-86 3-wire motor.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73 posi
Re: drivers headlight occasionally goes up
Wow thanks that helped a lot, it was a few years ago when i rebuilt the motor so everything is a little blurry but ill have to take a look at it and maybe take it apart again
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 28
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Re: drivers headlight occasionally goes up
The problem is the small bearing on the end of the worm-drive shaft of the motor. This bearing is supposed to be captured between the cup on the end of the worm-drive shaft and the cup on the stub-shaft on the opposite end. If it is not captured between the two bearing cups, then the worm-drive of the motor can climb the OD of the gear causing it to jamb. This is why you are having to manually turn the **** to free it.
If you are certain that the bearing is still in place, then you can just adjust the stub-shaft. The end of the stub-shaft has a slot. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to hold the stub shaft in place. Loosen the locknut that is on the stub-shaft. Once you've loosened the locknut, turn in the stub shaft until you feel a slight pressure. Now tighten the locknut.
If you don't recall that the bearing is there, then you'll need to disassemble the motor from the actuator housing and check for the bearing. Once you have the bearing installed in the cup on the end of the worm-drive and the motor reassembled, then you can use the instructions I gave.
Lon Salgren
PS: Stallion, the 1987 -92 is a 2-wire motor. The isolation relay was used on the 1982-86 3-wire motor.
If you are certain that the bearing is still in place, then you can just adjust the stub-shaft. The end of the stub-shaft has a slot. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to hold the stub shaft in place. Loosen the locknut that is on the stub-shaft. Once you've loosened the locknut, turn in the stub shaft until you feel a slight pressure. Now tighten the locknut.
If you don't recall that the bearing is there, then you'll need to disassemble the motor from the actuator housing and check for the bearing. Once you have the bearing installed in the cup on the end of the worm-drive and the motor reassembled, then you can use the instructions I gave.
Lon Salgren
PS: Stallion, the 1987 -92 is a 2-wire motor. The isolation relay was used on the 1982-86 3-wire motor.
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