Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

headlight mod?

Old Sep 8, 2009 | 10:30 PM
  #1  
99formula1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Default headlight mod?

On the 98-02 firebirds, is there anyway to "turn off" the headlight from flipping open and then closing right back up when the car is unlocked/locked?
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 11:08 PM
  #2  
99'CajunFirehawk157's Avatar
TECH Addict
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (57)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,771
Likes: 18
From: USA
Wink

Originally Posted by 99formula1
On the 98-02 firebirds, is there anyway to "turn off" the headlight from flipping open and then closing right back up when the car is unlocked/locked?
Um, Sorry to tell you, its not supposed to do that. When working correctly they do not do that. Read the t/a headlight faq all 31 pages and stock up on beer too.

BTW-WELCOME to the forum.
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2009 | 09:43 AM
  #3  
ArkBird96's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Ricerville
Default

One (or probably both) of your headlight actuator motors are bad. Is it grinding? Are they coming up when you turn on only the parking lights?

Mine was doing all of those things. I ended up having to replace both motors, but from what I have seen on here and heard elsewhere, there are cheaper alternatives like the brass gear, or turning the motor so the "good side" of the gear is turning the headlight, although that is very much a "band-aid" fix IMO.
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2009 | 08:53 PM
  #4  
95TAJade's Avatar
TECH Regular
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Edmond, OK
Default

^ it's not the actuators...the plastic gear in the headlight motors wear out over time. You could always replace the pop-up headlights with non-pop up kind of headlights. Pro: weight savings, no longer an air brake. Cons: potential to be called RICE. I've got them on my car and they get more compliments than flame. But, to each their own.
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2009 | 09:09 PM
  #5  
cbailey's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by 95TAJade
^ it's not the actuators...the plastic gear in the headlight motors wear out over time. You could always replace the pop-up headlights with non-pop up kind of headlights. Pro: weight savings, no longer an air brake. Cons: potential to be called RICE. I've got them on my car and they get more compliments than flame. But, to each their own.
How about some pics!?
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2009 | 10:10 PM
  #6  
ArkBird96's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Ricerville
Default

potential to be called RICE
How can replacing those headlights with something that works be rice? I think some of the 98 Firehawks (or prototypes) had them.

That's what I meant about the gears. If mine ever go bad again, I will be taking that route myself!
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2009 | 11:08 AM
  #7  
95TAJade's Avatar
TECH Regular
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Edmond, OK
Default

I'll get some pics up this evening but to answer the RICE questions...before I got mine a few of my fellow local F-body friends flamed me saying that the pop up lights were what made the TA/Firebirds stand out. But you're right about the 98 Prototype Firehawks, they had the original design and they would've been awesome if they made it to production. The ones I've got are from Breatheless Performance. I thought I'd get them to just be different but I love them now that they're on the car!
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2009 | 02:20 PM
  #8  
spydog's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: green bay
Default

whar can i see some prices on the non pop up lights?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 10, 2009 | 02:24 PM
  #9  
pheer's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx
Default

look around on ebay? there was a set of the prototype ones going for only 25,000$

EDIT: i do like the look of the stationary ones, but not for 1k$...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-UP...ht_1158wt_1095

Last edited by pheer; Sep 10, 2009 at 02:33 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2009 | 05:29 PM
  #10  
95TAJade's Avatar
TECH Regular
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Edmond, OK
Default

breathlessperformance.com

I got lucky and bought a used set from a member on the board here. didn't pay anywhere near the MSRP.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2009 | 09:01 PM
  #11  
95TAJade's Avatar
TECH Regular
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Edmond, OK
Default

Pics as promised!
Attached Thumbnails headlight mod?-photo0168.jpg   headlight mod?-mine-.jpg   headlight mod?-photo0301..jpg  
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:56 PM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE