Headlight motor snafu
Headlight motor snafu Just got through installing a driver side motor. The passenger side was fine. So, did the R&R, turn them off to make sure the motor worked and both went down fine. Now, neither side will go up and only the passenger side headlamps come on. Bad motor? I checked every fuse and they were all good. There are only three connectors to take off and put back on. What might be going on here.
Not ruling out issues with your new motors...
I had similar issues recently just from simply from unplugging one of the headlight/motor harnesses on my passenger side. Applying slight pressure on the harness plug/wires made the lights come back to life but it was still a spotty connection for the lighting, and no motor operation. I had to take the headlight assembly out and plug it in and wiggle the connector to test it. The connection between the pin contacts was not good. There was a little corrosion in a few of the harness pin contacts (on the body side of the plug) and while trying to clean them one of them cracked easily resulting in zero functionality. I ended up having to replace the harness that plugged into the headlight motor from the body wiring harness. I believe it's called the Headlamp Control Module Connector (645565). They are about $20 on rockauto.
Aside from the motors themselves being problematic. The wiring harness connectors for the headlights also seem to have issues at times. At least for me. The harness area should be a good place to start searching for your problem.
I had similar issues recently just from simply from unplugging one of the headlight/motor harnesses on my passenger side. Applying slight pressure on the harness plug/wires made the lights come back to life but it was still a spotty connection for the lighting, and no motor operation. I had to take the headlight assembly out and plug it in and wiggle the connector to test it. The connection between the pin contacts was not good. There was a little corrosion in a few of the harness pin contacts (on the body side of the plug) and while trying to clean them one of them cracked easily resulting in zero functionality. I ended up having to replace the harness that plugged into the headlight motor from the body wiring harness. I believe it's called the Headlamp Control Module Connector (645565). They are about $20 on rockauto.
Aside from the motors themselves being problematic. The wiring harness connectors for the headlights also seem to have issues at times. At least for me. The harness area should be a good place to start searching for your problem.
Last edited by j498; Aug 17, 2019 at 08:38 PM.
Not ruling out issues with your new motors...
I had similar issues recently just from simply from unplugging one of the headlight/motor harnesses on my passenger side. Applying slight pressure on the harness plug/wires made the lights come back to life but it was still a spotty connection for the lighting, and no motor operation. I had to take the headlight assembly out and plug it in and wiggle the connector to test it. The connection between the pin contacts was not good. There was a little corrosion in a few of the harness pin contacts (on the body side of the plug) and while trying to clean them one of them cracked easily resulting in zero functionality. I ended up having to replace the harness that plugged into the headlight motor from the body wiring harness. I believe it's called the Headlamp Control Module Connector (645565). They are about $20 on rockauto.
Aside from the motors themselves being problematic. The wiring harness connectors for the headlights also seem to have issues at times. At least for me. The harness area should be a good place to start searching for your problem.
I had similar issues recently just from simply from unplugging one of the headlight/motor harnesses on my passenger side. Applying slight pressure on the harness plug/wires made the lights come back to life but it was still a spotty connection for the lighting, and no motor operation. I had to take the headlight assembly out and plug it in and wiggle the connector to test it. The connection between the pin contacts was not good. There was a little corrosion in a few of the harness pin contacts (on the body side of the plug) and while trying to clean them one of them cracked easily resulting in zero functionality. I ended up having to replace the harness that plugged into the headlight motor from the body wiring harness. I believe it's called the Headlamp Control Module Connector (645565). They are about $20 on rockauto.
Aside from the motors themselves being problematic. The wiring harness connectors for the headlights also seem to have issues at times. At least for me. The harness area should be a good place to start searching for your problem.
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Verdad Gallardo I just came back in from futzing with it. The first thing I did was turn the lights on. Both sides came up, only when turned to the "headlight" position on the switch. They wouldn't raise in the running light position. Also, no headlight on the driver side, but did have high beams. Checked the connector and one of the pins was completely loose and wouldn't stay in the connector. So, I removed the factory connector that had the little plastic pin that holds the wires in the connector. I swapped connectors and the lights now work, but they wouldn't raise up. I am going to get that Headlamp Control Module Connector, because now it is apparent, it is an intermittent problem.
EDIT*I just inspected the Headlight Control Module Connector and all of the terminals are clean. No corrosion. If the new motor was bad, it shouldn't prevent the other side from going up, correct?
EDIT*I just inspected the Headlight Control Module Connector and all of the terminals are clean. No corrosion. If the new motor was bad, it shouldn't prevent the other side from going up, correct?
Last edited by Double Aught; Aug 18, 2019 at 03:25 PM.
This is a common occurrence when changing motors; due to corrosion on the motor connector. That connector gets a ton of moisture and corrodes like crazy, keeping a small uncorroded spot on the terminals where contact is being made. When we disconnect the connector and then make a new connection (upon hooking up or swapping a motor), then the new contacts are made over corroded areas. Chaos ensues...
The first thing to check are the terminals on the headlight motor connectors. If they are corroded, they can be removed from the connector body and then polished up with some light emory cloth.
The first thing to check are the terminals on the headlight motor connectors. If they are corroded, they can be removed from the connector body and then polished up with some light emory cloth.
Tonight, I decided to remove the "new" motor and re-install the old one. All I was doing was observing the motor shaft as I turned on the switch. The old motor shaft turned (making its horrendous noise) and the passenger side came up on both the driving light position and the headlight position on the switch. The p.o.s. china motor is being returned as I type and will look at rock auto for a suitable replacement.
Go for the Cardone. https://ls1tech.com/forums/stereo-el...ght-doors.html
Finally got this sorted out. As suggested, bought the Cardone motor from rockauto. Installed it and the same thing was happening. Only one side, the passenger side went up. So, I used the old connector and spliced it onto the new motor harness. BINGO! Both sides now operate as they should. Of course, I did end up dropping a 10mm socket somewhere in the front end. I swear, sometimes some of the smallest jobs end up becoming the ones you are cursing the most.
Some of the motors ship with the positive and negative wires swapped in the connector. (I had this experience in my thread, linked above, and had to move them back.) I expect that when you switched connectors, this solved that problem.
When this happens on the new motor, a paper clip should allow one to remove the red and black terminals from the connector to just swap their positions.
When this happens on the new motor, a paper clip should allow one to remove the red and black terminals from the connector to just swap their positions.
When I do this, I take a step back, have a frosty beverage, and then return (with extra flashlights) with my better half for the search. It makes everyone feel like they are helping and then I usually get so frustrated by having someone else in the way; that I search harder and usually find the tool quicker.