Head lights Problem

[Black97]

I had a ram air hood installed on my 97 T/A and had the whole car repainted while it was at the body shop.

When I picked it up, I pressed the unlock key on the remote and the one head light made this horrendeous noise which I think is the gear gone bad. I guess I have to order the brass gears.

Well it didn't have that when I brought it in but I can live with it that it might just went when it was in the shop. Once I got home I pressed the Lock button on the remote and the head lights flipped up and down and the horn sounded. Once again that terrible sound.

Since it didn't do the lights flipping up and down before when I pressed the remote I took out the manual and found a section on how to reprogram. Eventually I realized that I switched on the lights quickly, parking first, and then the head lights already came up, to see if it made the noise too.

Now instead of the parking lights flipping on and off when pressing the remote, the head lights do. Is it possible for them to have switched the wires to the lamps since they had most of them removed? It's pooring outside and I don't really want to uncover it right now.

Any words of wisdom?

Rene

[Joe 1320]

The problem is with the motors themselves. They have a current sensing feature.... when the lights go up or down, the load increases at the full up or down position. That is what sends a signal to turn them off. When the gear strips, the signal is never sent and every time you lock or unlock, the headlight motor is actuated in order to complete the cycle. Basically it thinks the headlight isn't fully into position. The only way to fix is to repair the gears or replace.

[DJ Taso]

Post some pics, let's see that bad boy with the R/A hood!

[Black97]

Wanted to take better ones but couldn't wait. Here's a quick frontal shot. Got this hood from Kevin (FastTA). Now I just have to get all the parts in for the ram air box to finish the conversion.

Thanks Joe for your insight.

[DJ Taso]

DAMN, nice paint job!

[fastTa]

Looks awesome Rene!! Kinda funny seeing my ex-hood in black!

More pics Rene.

[DJ Taso]

Yes, more pics please! Also, Rene, grab the Ram Air decals for the hood here, http://www.suncoastcreations.com/hoo...7_firebird.htm. Just email them for the decals, they make the best ones!

[Joe 1320]

Looks familiar. You might be able to fix the headlight for free. The gears are loaded for 180º. The same side of the gear rises and lowers, ad nausium. Eventually the gear wears out, but the other half of the gear is still unused. It is possible to unbolt the actuator arm, manually rotate the gear 180º using the adjustor knob and reattach the actuator arm to start using the unused portion of the gear. Mine first went out 4 years ago and I did this quick fix and it worked fine until earlier this year. Now I have to do the brass gear. Not a bad fix for free.

[Black97]

Thanks again Joe. I forgot about the quick fix. I thought I still had to take this damn thing apart so I was about to order the brass gears. Will give it a try for sure. Much rather spend the money on some better stuff.

I actually unplugged the light this morning and it fix the popping up thing when pressing the remote buttons. So I don't have to listen to this mind numbing crunching for now.

[Black97]

Yes I'm pretty happy the way the paint job turned out. It had some nicks here and there and a crakced rocker panel plus the hood of course. After going back and forward between partial painting and full paint job I went with the full one.

I found this local shop about 1/4 mile down the street from where I stored the T/A.

He gave me a good price and since he had the oven to dry the paint I went with him. I brought it in and he told me about 7 - 8 days. I went by a couple of days later, the hood was fitted and the rear lights, mirrors and wing were gone. Two weeks into it I went again and they had the rest of the lights removed and the whole car was sanded down. I told them from the beginning that I wasn't in a rush. After three weeks I called since I really wanted to drive it and after just 3 1/2 weeks I was able to get it.

Looks really nice. I have to clean the wheels and tires to get better pics first. I'm not sure yet if I will add some stickers to the car. You may noticed that the Trans Am logo on the doors are missing too. Contemplating to install blackouts all over and / or install the 98+ tail lights. Just would like to keep the car as dark as possible besides the rims. Here's some more pics I took today.

[Bond Hawk]

Sweet! Now you need some 17" chrome Firehawk or WS6 rims and you are set!

[Black97]

Originally posted by Bond Hawk
Sweet! Now you need some 17" chrome Firehawk or WS6 rims and you are set!

Yeah I know but I think the exhaust (probably Borla) will have priority

[Black97]

Did the free head light fix yesterday. Now it's working like a charm again and no annoying grinding either.

Boy if everything would be that easy / simple to fix.