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Headlight wiggles when turned on

Old 11-15-2017, 04:37 PM
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Headlight wiggles when turned on

Hi all,

I have a weird problem with my headlights that I can't seem to find any info on when searching. Maybe my search terms are wrong but I've tried a few and can't find much so hoping someone can help me out here:

Car is a 91 Ponitac Firebird with the original pop up headlights/motors.

I turn on my headlights and they both go up. As soon as they reach their travel distance and are fully UP then one of them starts to wiggle / stutter. It's hard to explain so here's a video:


As you can see, it eventually stop wiggling and feels solid, however, after driving for some time it will start to slowly come down on it's own to the point where I need to flip the headlight switch on/off again to re-raise the headlight. When I do this, it will do the wiggle thing again and stay up for another interval of time...

Not sure what could be causing this problem. Any ideas?

Thank you!
Old 11-15-2017, 04:49 PM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

"wiggles when turned on"

I had a girlfriend like that once.



I've read a lot of threads on here about inop. headlamp motors of one type or another. This symptom is a new one to me. But I would not be surprised it it gets down to being "the usual suspects"...the plastic bushings.
Old 11-15-2017, 04:51 PM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

Originally Posted by DynoDave43
"wiggles when turned on"

I had a girlfriend like that once.



I've read a lot of threads on here about inop. headlamp motors of one type or another. This symptom is a new one to me. But I would not be surprised it it gets down to being "the usual suspects"...the plastic bushings.
LOL...

Probably why I couldn't find that term in my search...

Anyhow, the plastic bushings... where can I get some new ones? Are they pretty easy to replace?
Old 11-15-2017, 06:23 PM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

[QUOTE=DynoDave43;6183463]"wiggles when turned on"

I had a girlfriend like that once.



Good One Dave.


Old 12-13-2017, 01:21 AM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

Well, since Dave's situation probably did not cause a performance problem for him, I will just address the OP's headlight problem, for which I might have an answer. And if it's what I think it might be, then it will be an easy fix. But describing how to fix it might not be easy.

Assuming you've checked the four body bolts that secure the bucket assembly to the frame, and they are tight; and that the bolt that secures the motor is tight; then there is a small oddly-shaped nut that secures the motor's arm that actually raises and lowers the headight, and it could be loose. But IIRC, the entire assembly had to be removed to be able to access and tighten the nut.

Sorry for the vague description, but without pics, it's not easy to describe.
Old 12-13-2017, 06:37 AM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

Ahhhh, I remember the wiggly girlfriend years..

http://www.top-downsolutions.com/hea...ght-repair-kit
Old 12-13-2017, 07:00 AM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

Yeah...umm wiggles, shudders, quivers......Its the bushings. Ya got knock the bushings outta her and replace em.
Old 12-13-2017, 07:02 AM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

Originally Posted by DynoDave43
"wiggles when turned on"

I had a girlfriend like that once.



I've read a lot of threads on here about inop. headlamp motors of one type or another. This symptom is a new one to me. But I would not be surprised it it gets down to being "the usual suspects"...the plastic bushings.
You made my day, Dave!
Old 12-13-2017, 12:25 PM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

LOL...

Ok! UPDATE!...

It was the bushings! Knocked them out and a bunch of white crumbled cheese looking stuff came out... Put in brand new gears/bushings from a vette and everything's back to normal!
Old 12-13-2017, 01:42 PM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

Good deal.
Yeah, you really gotta watch out these days for that cheesy like substance.....could be a bad situation.....
Old 12-13-2017, 05:09 PM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

Glad you got it fixed Napster134.
Old 12-16-2017, 09:57 PM
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Re: Headlight wiggles when turned on

This thread made me laugh


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