How To: Fix that darn headlight motor (3rd Gen)

[tri-power]

My car had both symptoms and I replaced the bushings, cleaned the case and reinstalled everything, they worked fine after that.

[cooltc2004]

Im3Good4U and drdd8, you guys should try the article above and see if it works before worring about the gears. Let us know how it turned out.

[drdd8]

Free Fix
Im3Good4U,
I found an article on on how to fix my grinding noise and it worked on my 97 firebird. It might work for you too!!! basiclly what happens is the gear that turns the shaft to raise the headlamp is worn out on one side. But the good news is that the motor only uses half the gear. This article tell you haw to turn the gear around and use the other half. Let us know if this worked for you also.

http://www.firebirdtaclub.com/ttlight.htm

[tri-power]

Originally Posted by Im3good4u

MY headlights go up and down great but when it goes does it makes the plastic cracking sound. Do i need to replace the plastic bearings or the gears as well?

To answer that, you'd have to take the gearbox apart. The bushings are uerethane. Mine were ground into small particles like Parmasean cheese. Tahke the unit apart and look at both the screw gear and the pinion gear for fractures or missing teeth. That should tell you what you'll need. I you have the opportunity, go to a junk yard and pick up a used one for parts.

[Im3good4u]

I took the motor apart before ordering anything because i thought just that and i tried to turn it around to the other half but it still failed. So I got the brass gears from rodneydickman.com as someone on this thread had said and it works beautiful until now. when the next light goes out i plan to do the same.

[DoneBeenThere]

Found a way to fix head light motor problem -- http://hawksthirdgenparts.com/firebi...s___components
sells the repair kit for both left and right motor for $25.50
Hope this can help someone. Took me 30 minutes each to fix mine.

[Zyphyer]

real dumb question....

How do you work the manual open close function on the headlights?!

Also side question, can you post for sale cars/parts in this forum? seems like a forum by forum basis...

[Im3good4u]

When you open your hood right next to the lights you see a black motor and it has a cap. Pull of the cap and turn it up or down to raise and lower lights...
I know thereis a thred were u can post parts for sales, but i dont know what it is hopefullly some one will post it here, otherwise just make a thread about whatever it is.

[LarsBars]

There isn't someone out there with good pics of this repair. If so that would be great to post. I need to do this.

[Rmbodie]

Super , I read this thread and then within a week mine was making that grinding sound . What luck !!! These motors are wired thru a motor control module which senses the current draw when they reach the stop bumper , which wears the gear out because the motor pushes harder until it reaches that current limit and shuts off . It is designed to fail and none of the national auto parts stores carry them . Dealer wants $165 for one . Rob

[LarsBars]

I did find this> http://hawksthirdgenparts.com/firebi...s___components

and some instructions here.

[Rmbodie]

Yes , I found that one also when I did a google search for headlamp motor . On the 98-02 cars the gear housing is plastic and welded or glued together very well . I don't see how anyone could seperate the case to put the brass gears in . I just ordered a reman unit from "rockautoparts.com" for $57 + core . best price I found. I put everything back together . took 10 minutes labor and twenty minutes looking for the the two hinge screws I dropped into the fender . I will just ride around with both of them up until I get the replacement . Rob

[92 Firebird]

I heard these cars were notorious for this problem, and now I believe it. I had mine replaced about 4 - 5 years ago, and for the last year or so when I turn my headlights on, the left one goes up fine, but the right one winks at people, have to get out and pull it up, and when I turn them off, the right one goes bonk, bonk, bonk for like 10 seconds before it stops. I've read each and every one of your posts, and call me stupid, but what do I do about this problem?

[MtownBird]

Nice, mines doing this also now...except ive tried to fix it using these methods people have posted...but its like japansese to me so it does me no good....=[

[Rmbodie]

And 14 months have pasted and I just replaced the reman unit with a new ACdelco unit . Don't buy a reman unit from Cardone, they're a peice of crap. There is a national shortage of these motors due the lifespan ending on them. Rob