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Pop up lights problem

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Old Mar 21, 2017 | 06:44 PM
  #1  
gta_knight's Avatar
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From: England
Car: 1987 GTA
Engine: 350 TPI w/ extras !
Transmission: 700R4
Pop up lights problem

Hi all,

So the headlights on my 84 Trans Am go up if I press the switch, no problems there.

However switching them off is another matter. If I simply click the off switch the lights will go off but not down but If I push hard and hold the switch for a second the RH light will go down but the LH won't. They both went up and down a few days ago so I'm wondering if it's the actual switch that is the problem?

I can hear relays clicking when I operate the switch. I know the motors in the lights are fine too.
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Old Mar 22, 2017 | 10:28 AM
  #2  
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From: Germany
Car: 1990 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: Pop up lights problem

Look in your engine compartment along the firewall. You should see a black box with embosed letters on it, saying "GUIDE".
That box is responsible for giving your headlight motors the right signals and may have to be replaced.
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Old Mar 22, 2017 | 04:18 PM
  #3  
gta_knight's Avatar
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From: England
Car: 1987 GTA
Engine: 350 TPI w/ extras !
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Pop up lights problem

Thanks man i will take a look. I think i will also take the switch out of the dash and clean the contacts on it just incase...........but its never that simple where im concerned lol
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Old Mar 23, 2017 | 08:21 AM
  #4  
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From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
Re: Pop up lights problem

Originally Posted by NCC-2569
Look in your engine compartment along the firewall. You should see a black box with embosed letters on it, saying "GUIDE".
That box is responsible for giving your headlight motors the right signals and may have to be replaced.
You'll have a tough time finding that box on an '84.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...headlight.html
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Old Mar 23, 2017 | 10:59 AM
  #5  
gta_knight's Avatar
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From: England
Car: 1987 GTA
Engine: 350 TPI w/ extras !
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Pop up lights problem

Ha ha your right. My 87 has that module but this doesn't. So it's the 3 relays then.

I can hear them or some of them clicking if I push the switch but the light won't go down
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Old Mar 23, 2017 | 03:16 PM
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From: Germany
Car: 1990 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: Pop up lights problem

Originally Posted by deadbird
You'll have a tough time finding that box on an '84.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...headlight.html
Well, you never stop learning
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Old Mar 24, 2017 | 01:20 AM
  #7  
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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: Pop up lights problem

Originally Posted by NCC-2569
Look in your engine compartment along the firewall. You should see a black box with embosed letters on it, saying "GUIDE".
That box is responsible for giving your headlight motors the right signals and may have to be replaced.
Nope, he has the 82-86 3-wire headlight motors. The 87-92 2-wire motors used the headlight control module on the firewall with the word GUIDE molded in the cover.

One thing to try is check the tail light fuse. If it blown it prevents the headlight motors from closing.

Lon Salgren
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Old Mar 24, 2017 | 03:10 AM
  #8  
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From: England
Car: 1987 GTA
Engine: 350 TPI w/ extras !
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Pop up lights problem

Originally Posted by lonsal
Nope, he has the 82-86 3-wire headlight motors. The 87-92 2-wire motors used the headlight control module on the firewall with the word GUIDE molded in the cover.

One thing to try is check the tail light fuse. If it blown it prevents the headlight motors from closing.

Lon Salgren
the tail lights work and one of the lights goes up and down fine. Very occasionally when I try both lights go up and down fine so it's a bad connection somewhere. Just a case of finding where exactly.

I'm in the middle of cleaning the rear end up and installing new brakes and shocks so once I put all that back together I will.m
will move onto the lights
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