Firebird Headlights--ALL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS REGARDING HEADLIGHTS GO IN HERE
#1501
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Seems like most people on here replace the nylon gear in the headlight with aluminum or brass, but when I did mine a while back I just bought another nylon one. My thinking was that the nylon gear was intended to wear in order to save the worm gear from wearing instead. Seems like that would be a lot harder to replace if it went out. Has anyone with the aluminum/brass replacement gear had the worm gear wear out?
#1502
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Driving home tonight, and my dash lights wouldn't work. I thought wtf something to play with tomorrow. Then All the sudden randomly, the headlights started popping them selves up and down.
I have an extra headlight module I may try, I already replaced the headlight switch with a spare i had and no change. Kinda at a loss here.
I have an extra headlight module I may try, I already replaced the headlight switch with a spare i had and no change. Kinda at a loss here.
#1505
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I had do to do some work on the head light motors and needed to remove the head light covers. Any tips on how to get them back on and seated right? They are going back on crooked and thus not allowing my to close the hood or are hitting the "nostril" curves on the bumper.
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I had do to do some work on the head light motors and needed to remove the head light covers. Any tips on how to get them back on and seated right? They are going back on crooked and thus not allowing my to close the hood or are hitting the "nostril" curves on the bumper.
#1507
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Just replaced my passenger side headlight motor (stripped gear issue), and now I can't get my lights back in-sync. When I turn the lights on the driver's side comes up but the passenger side (with the new motor) stays down, then the passenger side comes up when I turn the lights off.
Tried manually lowering the light and resetting, no dice, just stays down and waits to come up when I cut the switch back off. Tried remounting the arm, no dice, same thing.
Read an older post that said they fixed it by unplugging the motor and plugging it back up with the switch on. No dice, same problem.
Tried just flipping them on and off hoping they'd sync up, didn't work.
Everything I've tried has been a dead-end so far. Only thing I haven't tried is disconnecting the battery and hoping the computer resets or something. Any ideas, guys?
Tried manually lowering the light and resetting, no dice, just stays down and waits to come up when I cut the switch back off. Tried remounting the arm, no dice, same thing.
Read an older post that said they fixed it by unplugging the motor and plugging it back up with the switch on. No dice, same problem.
Tried just flipping them on and off hoping they'd sync up, didn't work.
Everything I've tried has been a dead-end so far. Only thing I haven't tried is disconnecting the battery and hoping the computer resets or something. Any ideas, guys?
#1508
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Alright so I picked up a WS6 today the drivers side headlight is getting stuck in the down position. It's like it's tightening itself down too far. If I open the hood and manually turn it a little, when I flip the lights on it'll open fine. But after they close, it won't open again unless I get it started manually again. Is this a sign of a bad motor or gear? Also it's missing the little rubber nipple thing that covers where you put the wrench on that side.
So if this is a newbie question. I'm a Camaro guy, so I know diddly about these things.
So if this is a newbie question. I'm a Camaro guy, so I know diddly about these things.
#1509
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Just replaced my passenger side headlight motor (stripped gear issue), and now I can't get my lights back in-sync. When I turn the lights on the driver's side comes up but the passenger side (with the new motor) stays down, then the passenger side comes up when I turn the lights off.
Tried manually lowering the light and resetting, no dice, just stays down and waits to come up when I cut the switch back off. Tried remounting the arm, no dice, same thing.
Read an older post that said they fixed it by unplugging the motor and plugging it back up with the switch on. No dice, same problem.
Tried just flipping them on and off hoping they'd sync up, didn't work.
Everything I've tried has been a dead-end so far. Only thing I haven't tried is disconnecting the battery and hoping the computer resets or something. Any ideas, guys?
Tried manually lowering the light and resetting, no dice, just stays down and waits to come up when I cut the switch back off. Tried remounting the arm, no dice, same thing.
Read an older post that said they fixed it by unplugging the motor and plugging it back up with the switch on. No dice, same problem.
Tried just flipping them on and off hoping they'd sync up, didn't work.
Everything I've tried has been a dead-end so far. Only thing I haven't tried is disconnecting the battery and hoping the computer resets or something. Any ideas, guys?
its a common problem with new motors ive read... im guessing its a Cardone one..... ive read the wires in the connector are backwards... im actually having the same problem.... looks as simple as pulling the wires from the connector on the motor and reversing them...... i pushed the leads out on my old motor too see how hard it was and it was easy
#1510
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Alright so I picked up a WS6 today the drivers side headlight is getting stuck in the down position. It's like it's tightening itself down too far. If I open the hood and manually turn it a little, when I flip the lights on it'll open fine. But after they close, it won't open again unless I get it started manually again. Is this a sign of a bad motor or gear? Also it's missing the little rubber nipple thing that covers where you put the wrench on that side.
So if this is a newbie question. I'm a Camaro guy, so I know diddly about these things.
So if this is a newbie question. I'm a Camaro guy, so I know diddly about these things.
#1512
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I replaced my headlight gears and am putting them back together. This seemed to have been my issue before when they were ******* up not opening too but didn't realize it. Anyways, the piece that restricts the arm from going backwards seems like it isn't back far enough? And it is making the arm open too far causing it to over extend and won't close unless I turn it manually with a pair of pliers.
Pictures of what I mean:
https://i.imgur.com/sbv3M2P.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tOLadyY.jpg
How can I fix this?
Pictures of what I mean:
https://i.imgur.com/sbv3M2P.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tOLadyY.jpg
How can I fix this?
#1513
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from those pictures it looks like the nut that holds the swing arm to the shaft of the motor isn't on tight enough and so the arm is not "engaged" onto the "keyed" part of the shaft that makes the arm move with the motor shaft so instead the motor shaft is spinning free and the arm is not moving.
#1514
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from those pictures it looks like the nut that holds the swing arm to the shaft of the motor isn't on tight enough and so the arm is not "engaged" onto the "keyed" part of the shaft that makes the arm move with the motor shaft so instead the motor shaft is spinning free and the arm is not moving.
#1516
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Sorry - for the picture I had the nut opened because I was gonna take it off and put it back on. Didn't recognize that I still had it loose when I took it off. When I tightened both, they were TIGHT. The driver's side works fine, the passenger side is the one having issues.
#1518
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Oh I tightened it. I tightened it so much the goddamn stud broke. Sigh.
The other issue I'm having (which is why I pulled them apart again in the first place) is both headlights seem to get stuck - they get super hard to turn and the only way they will is by using a tool like pliers to start the motor, then they seem to work. They'll work sometimes just once after or multiple times. I thought this was due to bad installation and taking it apart I noticed the epoxy didn't hold one of the housings...the driver's light seemed to be fine but I did both and this just happened with the driver's light. I turned it manually then opened and closed a few times and it was fine, but now I need a new motor for the passenger side.
These new gears have given me nothing but problems so far. I really ******* hate pop up headlights.
The other issue I'm having (which is why I pulled them apart again in the first place) is both headlights seem to get stuck - they get super hard to turn and the only way they will is by using a tool like pliers to start the motor, then they seem to work. They'll work sometimes just once after or multiple times. I thought this was due to bad installation and taking it apart I noticed the epoxy didn't hold one of the housings...the driver's light seemed to be fine but I did both and this just happened with the driver's light. I turned it manually then opened and closed a few times and it was fine, but now I need a new motor for the passenger side.
These new gears have given me nothing but problems so far. I really ******* hate pop up headlights.
#1519
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Oh I tightened it. I tightened it so much the goddamn stud broke. Sigh.
The other issue I'm having (which is why I pulled them apart again in the first place) is both headlights seem to get stuck - they get super hard to turn and the only way they will is by using a tool like pliers to start the motor, then they seem to work. They'll work sometimes just once after or multiple times. I thought this was due to bad installation and taking it apart I noticed the epoxy didn't hold one of the housings...the driver's light seemed to be fine but I did both and this just happened with the driver's light. I turned it manually then opened and closed a few times and it was fine, but now I need a new motor for the passenger side.
These new gears have given me nothing but problems so far. I really ******* hate pop up headlights.
The other issue I'm having (which is why I pulled them apart again in the first place) is both headlights seem to get stuck - they get super hard to turn and the only way they will is by using a tool like pliers to start the motor, then they seem to work. They'll work sometimes just once after or multiple times. I thought this was due to bad installation and taking it apart I noticed the epoxy didn't hold one of the housings...the driver's light seemed to be fine but I did both and this just happened with the driver's light. I turned it manually then opened and closed a few times and it was fine, but now I need a new motor for the passenger side.
These new gears have given me nothing but problems so far. I really ******* hate pop up headlights.
also it looked like there was a lot of metal shavings below them in the picture which would indicate the arm either wasn't positioned on the motor shafts "keyed" area or the end of the arm is rusted out and the keyed part of the arm is no rounded out, could you get some pictures of those parts?
#1520
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The metal shavings are from the ratchet contacting the body while tightening the nut. The arm was positioned correctly and tightened on the shaft of the motor. All I really need is the metal piece that is inside the motor. I'd rather try finding that before spending $80 on a new motor.
Oh **** it whatever I'm just gonna grab a new one. I want to be able to enjoy this car again without worrying.
Oh **** it whatever I'm just gonna grab a new one. I want to be able to enjoy this car again without worrying.
Last edited by Guitar; 07-06-2014 at 02:27 PM.