Need clarification on headlight actuator
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 350
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From: Lexington, SC
Need clarification on headlight actuator I'm totally frustrated with my drivers side headlight gear. Plastic gear stripped once, did the 180 fix and it stripped again. Installed the brass gear and it stripped too. Did the 180 fix on it and stripped it again. Put another new brass gear in and now it's stripped AGAIN! Passenger side has never given me one bit of problems in the 7 1/2 years I've owned the car. I'm just going to buy a new headlight motor and see if I can get lucky like with the passenger side. Anyway, here is the part number listed in the sticky:
Firebird headlamp actuator (98-02), LH = 16524229
My question is, what exactly does the actuator consist of? Is it just the motor or just the gear/gear case...or is it the whole assembly?
Firebird headlamp actuator (98-02), LH = 16524229
My question is, what exactly does the actuator consist of? Is it just the motor or just the gear/gear case...or is it the whole assembly?
I wish people would start calling them headlight motors rather than accuators. When I got my 1st headlight problem I was like what the hell is the difference between a motor and accuator. I think headlight motor is a much easier term to understand. Anyway,it the entire motor to answer your question. I had a similar problem. I tried and tried to get the motor to work, but it was beyond my repair skills so I bought a new one and I have a brass gear waiting for it when the plastic gear wears out. Always make sure you don't over tighten the 2 bolts that hold the headlight from the top. You don't want the motor to over work itself
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,012
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From: Beaumont, TX
" 'the' parts diagram" = from GM's 'books' of thousands of pages of parts diagrams. It's not allowed to be discussed on this site because GM has gotten pissed about spreading the 'books' around here previously. 
There are a few places out there they can be found if you search hard enough at google, but every single site that has hosted them and been linked to here in the past has been shut down by GM.
There are a few places out there they can be found if you search hard enough at google, but every single site that has hosted them and been linked to here in the past has been shut down by GM. Trending Topics
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,012
Likes: 1
From: Beaumont, TX
I found a photo of the actuator:
And next time I update the parts list thread, I'll be changing those to say "Firebird headlamp actuator (motor)" to make it less confusing
Firebird headlamp actuator (motor) (93-97), LH = 16516653
Firebird headlamp actuator (motor) (93-97), RH = 16516654
Firebird headlamp actuator (motor) (98-02), LH = 16524229
Firebird headlamp actuator (motor) (98-02), RH = 16524230
GM list price is currently $158.79 for 98-02 left, $156.66 for 98-02 right.
And next time I update the parts list thread, I'll be changing those to say "Firebird headlamp actuator (motor)" to make it less confusing
Firebird headlamp actuator (motor) (93-97), LH = 16516653
Firebird headlamp actuator (motor) (93-97), RH = 16516654
Firebird headlamp actuator (motor) (98-02), LH = 16524229
Firebird headlamp actuator (motor) (98-02), RH = 16524230
Originally Posted by vAN5150
What does a new headlight motor cost?
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Verdad Gallardo You can find them on ebay anywhere from $60 to $90. There use to be a guy that sold them for about $50 but he doesn't sell them anymore. 93-97 will work, you just have to swap out a part from your 98-02 motor on to the 93-97 one. I know cause I had to do that. I thought I messed up when I recieved the motors, but I gave it a closer look I realized I just had to change one part on it. And if you get a 93-97, I believe you have to get the opposite side. For example, if you need the driver's side then you would buy a passanger side 93-97 motor. But I would do a search on that just to conform it. I can't remember if that's how it was when I installed the 93-97 motor
Last edited by thebatman411; Nov 8, 2005 at 12:35 AM.
I just looked on ebay and man the prices on 98-02 motors have really gone up. Next time my motor is beyond repair, I'm buying the 93-97 motors. Like I said you only need to change one thing to make it compatible with your car.
