1997TA

I have a 97 TA. Today, my headlights started acting strange. When I lock my car with remote, the headlights pop up then go back down, then it makes a terrible grinding noise. It seems the right headlight motor is making the noise. Then, when I turn on my lights one click (foglights only) the headlights come up too. THen when it closes, it makes grinding noises again. ANy ideas?

camaro_dakota

your headlight motor/gear has gone bad either replace the motor or the plastic gear inside the motor (with a metal one). Your headlights will return to normal and the grinding will stop... I recommend going to autozone and picking up a reman or aftermarket one for 100 bucks as they come with a lifetime wty

Z28_LT1

iTrader: (2)

headlight motor. Mine does the same thing.

NC01TA

My old '96 Formula did that too and the above advice is correct. Hopefully you can find someone to do it for you if you can't do it yourself. The dealership quoted me $300 for that repair but fortunately I found a car guy that changed it out for me for $50 plus the part(s). Whew!

M_juntti2001

i believe they make brass gears for the headlight assembly. thats what i would replace it with instead of the oem plastic gear

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

It's the gear. Buy a bronze one or flip the plastic one 180* and keep on going til it strips.... I'd search the guy for you who sells the bronze one but he is not a sponsor so I can't direct link you....

CoastieWS6

iTrader: (1)

you don't have to replace it, only half the gear is used to open and close the headlight. So just pull it out and use the other half of the gear

link to help you
https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-f...s-go-here.html

N20zuki

I just did this, given my car is a 02... But un hook the linkage from the motor, then use the manual **** to roll the motor 180 degrees and hook the linkage back up. Should take you 5 min to do as it did me and ive had no issues at all.

71novaguy

iTrader: (2)

how would replacing the gears keep them from moving on their own as he described? I dont believe the lights are supposed to pop up when you lock the car.

ls6firebird

one side is slipping and one isnt so it kinda freaks out i guess. mine did the same thing when the gear was stripped. i tried the temp fix, but it was stripped too far around. went ahead and replaced both with the metal gears and havent had a problem since. i would definately get those instead of another motor with the plastic gear. i think the metal gears are about 40 each, but not positive

zaaronz

iTrader: (13)

I seen this vid on youtube showing what was mentioned above on using the other side of the gear instead of replacing it. check it out, give it a shot.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuolISwRJJg

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

IDK but it does. It is well documented....

fyrflt

I just did the 180 fix yesterday. works fine for now.

bad2dbone

iTrader: (37)

headlight gear/motor is out happend to me kinda freaks ya out lol

ska4life07

iTrader: (2)

The lights freak out because the gear slips.Thats it. There is a thread specifically on headlights, but you need new gears. The 180 fix doesnt work for long and then you'll be back under the hood working on it again. So go ahead and knock out your problems by replacing the crappy plastic gears with metal ones.

http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/

Also, check the rubber stopper at the linkage that stops the headlight in the up and down postions.