I searched for a little bit for a thread on this but I found none, I apologize if one already existed but the search feature is not my friend...

i hope im in the right area of the forums for this but here is the problem. my headlights work very well, i changed the 3 plastic "bushings" in the gear not too long ago and they open and close well. on my way home from college for xmas break i stopped somewhere and when i shut off my headlights, there was an awful "cranking" noise in the passenger side headlight. It lasts for about 4 or 5 seconds then stops. i opened the hood to see if i could identify the problem but im not too savvy to know what the problem is.

like i said the lights open and close like they should, the only problem is this loud noise after the passenger side lid closes. its quite embarrassing in public so any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

thank you,

chris

 

Sounds like the gear in the headlight mechanism is stripped itself....

 

wouldnt that cause the lid not to even function at all? or is that inevitable to happen with time?

 

... the lids will still open, in fact, the same noise is still very prevalent on my wife's '98 Trans Am because of the stripped gears, and the lids not only open when the lights are on, but when the alarm is triggered as well. Very embarrassing noise! I tell people who constantly look at us in confusion when they here the noise that it's my "electric hood lock".


-Rob

 

that sucks... i assume if it were an easy fix you would have fixed hers. is there anything that could be done?

 

It is a pretty easy fix, I've just been very lazy about it (we rarely drive that car anymore). I've purchased a set of metal gears for the headlights (the stock ones are plastic), I'm just waiting for the weather to get a little warmer before I start removing things. In your case, you can either get your hands on new gears, or simply grab a new headlight assembly (they're very cheap nowadays, check the for sale forums)....

 

ok cool, thanks a lot!!

 

curious, where did u get the metal gears. i think i can handle that task. your talking abotu the nylon gear that needs the 3 bushings correct?

i found one on ebay for 46.95 which includes a new gasket, 3 busings, and silicone grease. does this sound reasonable?