Firebird "flip open" headlights

[Roger in Kensington]

One of the headlights on my '98 Bird refuses to open. No noise, just nothing. But the lights are on.

I've already had one motor replaced. That motor did not have a replaceable gear (though the gear did not seem to be the problem).

My question: Assuming that the motor needs to be replaced, can a motor with a replaceable gear as used on Corvettes with similar "flip open" lights be used?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[35th_camaro_ss]

I havent personally worked on them, but I know some change the gears, sometimes can be flipped as they wear on one side, some even change with brass gears...maybe someone with more knowledge will post.
Al

[FTA1995]

The only way ou would need to do some gear work when they aren't moving or making any noise would be a completely jammed situation where either the worm or ring would be so mangled you would probably need a new assembly. Try cranking the grey knob a few turns open with them on, then turn them off and on again, sometimes my driver side light pulls the arm too far down and gets stuck, I have to 'reset' it every other 6 months or more. Doesn't make any noise when this happens too. All of these are assuming you are getting power to the unit properly, check that with a test light.

[FTA1995]

I've already had one motor replaced. That motor did not have a replaceable gear (though the gear did not seem to be the problem).

My question: Assuming that the motor needs to be replaced, can a motor with a replaceable gear as used on Corvettes with similar "flip open" lights be used?

The gears are always replaceable, you just need to get the assembly back together again with epoxy. I rarely see one let alone two flip up motors(not gears) go bad on a single vehicle, anything from saturns to corvettes

[Black97]

As FTA1995 mentioned try to manually raise the light. It sometimes helped to "reset" it and work again for a while. Sometimes unplugging and plugging the motor back in helped also.

Also as said the gears are easily replaced on the motor if the 180 degree fix has already been performed.

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

http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headl...earinstall.htm

[Roger in Kensington]

Thanks, everyone.

Very helpful.

[Roger in Kensington]

The saga continues . . .

Made arrangements to have the motor replaced. Went out this morning to take the car in, started the engine and -- just to make sure -- turned on the headlights.

Both sets of lights flipped open.

Okay, not a motor problem.

Took it in anyway to have it checked out.

Got it back this evening. There was some corrosion on the wires to the lights themselves, but no corrosion on the wires to the motor itself. The shop checked out the control unit to make sure everything was okay there.

A fluke? A developing problem? Don't know, but everything seems to be working.

Thanks for the help, folks.

[FTA1995]

Welcome to the world of electrical gremlins, just wait until you have a tail light ground go out -_-

[benny]

flip open headlight repair

Repaired both of mine, 1989 formula, for $10.00. There are actually 3 plastic bushing that will need replacing. Found them and a very well written how to on ebay back in 2007 Here is the address of the guy reinhart@lafn.org subject: 87-92 Pontiac Firebird Headlight Motor Repair Kit(2set) (250072898514)

[benny]

Headlight motor bushing

Still on ebay I used the guy from Fountain Valley CA Very well written instructions

[Injuneer]

Sounds more like a problem with the headlight door control module.