Need Help Troubleshooting Headlights ('92 Firebird)
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 119
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From: Virginia, USA
Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: 3.1L LHO
Transmission: Tremec TKX
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Torsen
Need Help Troubleshooting Headlights ('92 Firebird)
Howdy,
I'm hopin someone can provide some insight for me on my headlight motors. I replaced the gears and bushings in both motors about 7 years ago (brass gears, new TDS bushings). Also resoldered my headlight control module. Around 2021, the driver's side motor started spinning, not moving the headlight assembly. It stays locked in the upright position, been like that since. I took the motor out, checked everything, didn't see any issues with the internals (including bushings). A few months ago, pass side started doing the same. Just took it apart today, same story. Bushings are fine, gear is fine, and the gear meshes with the motor worm gear just fine as well. Bought a new set of bushings from TDS a few months back, when the pass side got stuck up. Put em in, followed the instructions and greased everything that needed to be greased. Now it'll lower the headlight, but won't raise it. Motor just spins until the 6 second cutoff shuts it down. I'm at a bit of a loss now for both motors, don't understand how or why they won't work right. I scoured the forums already, and all I could find was people saying to replace the bushings. Like I said, already did this, so the issue stems from elsewhere. For the pass side, the shaft that goes through the gear and cap that holds the bushings in did come out of place the 2nd time I pulled it apart (my gear got vacuumed onto the gear because I used too much grease, shaft popped out while I was bangin on it trying to get it loose). Did get it loose, cleaned the grease out, followed the instructions on another thread to lightly grease the inside of the gear/ bushings, and now it just spins without moving the assembly at all. The shaft is still affixed to the secondary piece solid, doesnt spin in the slot at all; splines still look good. I gave up for today, but I'm hoping someone here can provide some help with where to troubleshoot next. It isn't super important to have working lights, since they both stay upright and I can pass state inspection, but I would like to fix them.
Apologies for the long post, tried to pack as much info and backstory on the issue in here as I could.
I'm hopin someone can provide some insight for me on my headlight motors. I replaced the gears and bushings in both motors about 7 years ago (brass gears, new TDS bushings). Also resoldered my headlight control module. Around 2021, the driver's side motor started spinning, not moving the headlight assembly. It stays locked in the upright position, been like that since. I took the motor out, checked everything, didn't see any issues with the internals (including bushings). A few months ago, pass side started doing the same. Just took it apart today, same story. Bushings are fine, gear is fine, and the gear meshes with the motor worm gear just fine as well. Bought a new set of bushings from TDS a few months back, when the pass side got stuck up. Put em in, followed the instructions and greased everything that needed to be greased. Now it'll lower the headlight, but won't raise it. Motor just spins until the 6 second cutoff shuts it down. I'm at a bit of a loss now for both motors, don't understand how or why they won't work right. I scoured the forums already, and all I could find was people saying to replace the bushings. Like I said, already did this, so the issue stems from elsewhere. For the pass side, the shaft that goes through the gear and cap that holds the bushings in did come out of place the 2nd time I pulled it apart (my gear got vacuumed onto the gear because I used too much grease, shaft popped out while I was bangin on it trying to get it loose). Did get it loose, cleaned the grease out, followed the instructions on another thread to lightly grease the inside of the gear/ bushings, and now it just spins without moving the assembly at all. The shaft is still affixed to the secondary piece solid, doesnt spin in the slot at all; splines still look good. I gave up for today, but I'm hoping someone here can provide some help with where to troubleshoot next. It isn't super important to have working lights, since they both stay upright and I can pass state inspection, but I would like to fix them.
Apologies for the long post, tried to pack as much info and backstory on the issue in here as I could.
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