Healight motors and other questions

[sparkyws17]

I just recently bought a 1994 Pontiac Trans Am with a 350 LT1 V8 and a 6-speed manual and whenever I turn off my headlights and they flip all the way down the motors make this annoying grinding sound until the motors time out by the computer. I know that it is a gear that is stripped inside but there are some motors that you can open up and flip the gear around so it is using the non-stripped side but unfortunately it is not mine. My motors are glued shut by the factory and there is no way to access the gears. If anybody knows where I can find those headlight motors for cheap or even better, headlight motors that I can access, please reply. Also I have another question, when I am on the freeway and I am doing between 65-70 mph and I push in the clutch to downshift and pass someone there is a shuddering feeling, it only happens at high speeds. If anyone knows why it does that please reply and let me know.

Thanks,
Sparkyws17

[cndctrdj]

you can break open the motor you just need to remmeber to glue it back together when you are done.
if not go to a junkyard near you and find someone elses motor, thier is a place online that sells metal gears for the head light too, just another option.

that noise sounds like it could be your throwout bearring, if you are doing 100 or so does your car vibrate?

[tomminajar]

Question: 1995 Pontiac Firebird 3.4L v 6 mileage: 80,000. I have constantly had troubles with the driver's side headlight of my 1995 Firebird. It recesses just fine, but after it has recessed fully, a very loud noise starts and lasts for about 15 seconds. It sounds like it might be a motor noise. I have taken it into the dealer to be repaired once and they said it was the actuator, I believe. I have also heard from others that have Pontiacs with recessing headlights that they have had similar troubles. Have you heard of this before, and do you know if it can be fixed by someone who isn't a mechanic? If this is a problem with the car that is going to keep occurring, I would like to fix it myself instead of paying the dealer $250 - $300 every time to fix it.
Answer: There is a gear in the motor for the headlight doors that strips out which would cause the problem you described. There may be a kit available that will have the replaced gear in it. Check with your local Pontiac dealer. A Mitchell, Chilton, Haynes, dealer auto repair manual or a specialty repair book for your make of car will have step-by-step instructions so you can judge for yourself the difficulty based on your level of experience. Also, most public libraries will have books on the subject you are searching for or you can visit the 2Carpros Bookstore for specialty books the might also assist you. Just click the hyperlink above and then click on your make of vehicle below the books displayed.

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http://www.2carpros.com/makes/pontiac/firebird.htm

[sparkyws17]

I took out one of my motors and tried to pry open the top but I think the first time this problem occured, the last person who owned it glued it shut again with a different kind of glue that is permanent, so I have to buy two new motors and put in the brass gear that is available for them so I won't have to worry about the problem again. Also I talked to my dad, which is a really excellent mechanic, about the clutch pedal shuddering when I push in the pedal and he said that what I am feeling is the vibration of the flywheel spinning really fast and it is normal doing that high of speeds. But I will check it out anyways just to make sure.

Thanks for your help!
Swade

[cndctrdj]

i havn't felt the shuddeer in my car sinced i replaced my clutch.....

http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm

here is the page with the metal gears and how to fix the motor