Headlight motor?
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
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From: Stratford, CT.
Headlight motor? 00 T/A. Left headlight wont go up...I see the light on but it just wont come up. I did some research and it looks like the motor. It makes no noise like its dead....not even trying to go up.
WTF to do next.
Buy from the dealer or maybe on here?
Is it easy to install?
Any help would be appreciated and I am continuing my research...
Thanks!
WTF to do next.
Buy from the dealer or maybe on here?
Is it easy to install?
Any help would be appreciated and I am continuing my research...
Thanks!
TECH Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 991
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From: harrisburg, pa
well i dont know if you know this but firebirds headlight motors have a nylon gear and the teeth get stripped off but you should still hear something.. Well you can manually put it up.. But i would first replace the gear, you can buy a metal gear.. Im going to find the links and post them to you. Theres a video on the steps to taking the gear out and putting the new one in. Dont buy anything from the dealership they will **** you over and youll pay 3x too much. Give me like 5 minutes.
TECH Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: harrisburg, pa
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm
i believe there may be a video link somewhere on that page.. the directions are very good i had to do this on my 99 ta.. which i sold the following week haha.
i believe there may be a video link somewhere on that page.. the directions are very good i had to do this on my 99 ta.. which i sold the following week haha.
Usually you can here it grind and what not, Also your keyless entry will be all messed up and cause the headlights to go up and down on you when you hit the button.. You check all the connections 1st?
That acutually sounds like the motor died which is rare. Definetely check your connections. The very first thing I'd do is crank it up manually. You'll have to remove the rubber boot over the manual crank. I used needle nose pliers and pulled it through the hole. I then used my cordless drill with a 1/4 inch hex/allen attachment. You can crank it manually also. Once it is up try the lights again. It might actually work again. It probably will make the dreaded grinding noise. Just do the free fix. If no luck with that I'd go buy another one. The brass gears last awhile but a new motor will last longer. I have gone through two brass gears before I broke down and bought a new motor. Granted this was over the course of two years. Good luck.
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Thread Starter
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From: Stratford, CT.
so....Me and my buddies just went out in my garage to take a look at the headlight and I was gonna change my fog light on the same side because it was out too. I decided to wash the car first....After washing the car and checking the fluids etc. I open the hood to start looking and my buddy hit the light switch and the damn thing came up and my fog light that was "out" started working? My head exploded. I dont know what is going on?
Do I have some kind of electrical issue or something?
Has anyone ever had an issue like this?
TTT and thanks.
Do I have some kind of electrical issue or something?
Has anyone ever had an issue like this?
TTT and thanks.
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Check the wire harness that is on the backside in the worlds smallest body panel. You will have to pull it out of there to check it. If there is no sound then maybe the harness is loose or something got crimped.
Get someone to switch the headlights on while you watch whats going on in there also. Its hard to know without seeing if there is action on the arm.
Try free 90 degree rotation fix first then try the gear flip if still a no-go.
Its scraped hands and a few hours of trouble but heck free rocks
Last resort look for a new motor
I bought a new motor like 7 years ago (when I was foolish). Paid FULL price and labor on it. 375$ Hey guess what the bastards did? They went inside and rotated the gear 90 degrees I found out last month when I did my free fix. Flipping it has so far held up. !Beware the screwball dealerships!
Get someone to switch the headlights on while you watch whats going on in there also. Its hard to know without seeing if there is action on the arm.
Try free 90 degree rotation fix first then try the gear flip if still a no-go.
Its scraped hands and a few hours of trouble but heck free rocks
Last resort look for a new motor
I bought a new motor like 7 years ago (when I was foolish). Paid FULL price and labor on it. 375$ Hey guess what the bastards did? They went inside and rotated the gear 90 degrees I found out last month when I did my free fix. Flipping it has so far held up. !Beware the screwball dealerships! 