The passenger side headlight motor in my 86 firebird will not pop up. I can spin the top of the motor manually and it comes up and will go down when I hit the headlight switch. Is this something I can fix or just buy a rebuilt motor?

 

Your motor bushing are toast, ground up plastic shavings. Get these kits from Classic Industries or fleabay.

Get the metal gears, bronze, aluminum

 

possibly the isolation relay.

 

Before you start tearing into things, do you have power to the motor? If not, then possible relay, wiring, etc. If so then it is the motor.

I am not sure if 86s had the controller box on the firewall, if it does then I would look there as well. Lots of issues with those.

 

Simply suggesting this fix due to this is exactly what I experienced a few years ago with mine. Same everything, won't go up and then would go down when lights turned off. I guess a simple way to tell is to feel the motor when activated and feel for the motor chattering.

 

Your answer is confusing. You posted pictures of the kit I manufacture for Classic Industries. (TDS 209280) That is the kit to repair the 2-wire motors (1987-92) not the 3-wire motors (1982-86).

Then in the next sentance you recommend getting the metal gears. OK, that may or may not be the correct solution. First of all, metal gears are available for 3 generations of Firebird headlight motors. (1982-86, 1987-92 and 1993-2002).

I agree with the other answers to check the isolation relays. Also there is an internal limit switch inside the headlight actuator housing that can fail. There is also a plastic gear inside the headlight actuator housing that consists of two gears that often strips. There are also rubber inserts that can fail.

There are two versions of the 3-wire motor. The Fiero uses one with a helical-cut gear. Firebirds often have a weaker gear with a straight-cut gear. The kit I sell for the 3-wire motors repairs the version with the helical-cut gear. If you find yours has the straight cut geat then you can swap the double gear from a Fiero into your housing to utilize this kit. The kit also includes instructions to repair the headlight motor and a separate diagnostic guide.

I hope this clears up any confusion.

http://www.top-downsolutions.com/Bod...-firebirdfiero

Lon Salgren

 

86Firebird860.....Sorry for all the confusion.

lonsal.......Thanks for clearing it all up. My bad.