Headlight / electrical problem

**h0rsepwr** · 05-11-2007, 04:12 AM

Last week, my drivers headlight wouldn't pop up when I turned the lights on. So I raised it manually, then it all of a sudden would come up and down, but now has that grinding sound after it goes down.
(Stripped gear right?)
Then I go outside this morning, hit the UNLOCK button on the remote and both headlights pop up, and go right back down. Weird. So I start it up, put my parking lights on only, and they both pop up again but this time they stay up!
Is my baby possesed?

**MegaMan** · 05-11-2007, 05:41 AM

Your baby is possessed, lol. But yes, the grinding noise is nearly always a stripped gear when you hear it after the light goes down.

**TACE02** · 05-11-2007, 06:11 AM

You need to get the motor replaced on the drivers side. Same exact thing happened to me. Both pop up when you unlock the car or set the alarm and when it goes down it grinds for a second or two after it is all the way down. Yep, replace it.

**h0rsepwr** · 05-11-2007, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by TACE02

You need to get the motor replaced on the drivers side. Same exact thing happened to me. Both pop up when you unlock the car or set the alarm and when it goes down it grinds for a second or two after it is all the way down. Yep, replace it.

What's the cost of a new motor usually?

**TACE02** · 05-11-2007, 07:03 AM

here are some on ebay, looks to be anywhere from $75 and up. Or you can just call local auto stores or worse case scenario the dealership.

http://search.ebay.com/Trans-Am-head...ageNameZRC0021

**TACE02** · 05-11-2007, 07:10 AM

GM direct quotes $120.43 + $26.49 shipping = $146.92.

P/N 12335999 for LH or drivers side
P/N 12335998 for RH or passenger side

or here is a deal http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-02...spagenameZWDVW

**RU-AGK** · 05-11-2007, 07:11 PM

You might decide to take this route as well:

http://my.execpc.com/C4/4A/rodney1/firebird/

I recently received my gears in the mail and they arrived quickly and seem very, very sturdy. They come with pretty detailed instructions as well. If the weather cooperates this might be a project for this weekend. I'll post my results.

I had the stripped gears problem before when the car was still under warranty so you can imagine my frustration when I started to get that annoying grinding noise again a few weeks ago. For $94 and some time invested the problem should be solved for good.

**USMC-TA** · 05-14-2007, 11:21 AM

I replaced my gears over 1 year ago, and no more problems. Make sure that you buy the kit with the extra brace, since it will make sure that if the glue does not hold, you don't lose the side plate. I do recommend the brass gears, they are great and cheaper than buying a new motor.

**JehalinTA** · 05-14-2007, 06:52 PM

I had the exact same problem.. replacing the motor is a waste because you are getting a plastic gear inside that and are risking another strip... You can either flip the existing gear to make a quick fix... but I replaced mine with the brace gear which costs around $45.. The website comes with a video guide which is very clear and it does not take much effort. Only few moer extra steps than replacing the whole motor.

**JehalinTA** · 05-14-2007, 06:52 PM

brass gear* .. not sure of the website

**lx24** · 05-15-2007, 10:15 PM

i used the brass gears, and those stripped too, the problem was because the plastic gear housing came loose from the metal motor housing. So i recomend just buying them new, i found them on eBay for 198$ for both. One link is for passenger, and the other is for the driver side.

http://item.express.ebay.com/Vehicle... ZExpressItem

http://item.express.ebay.com/Vehicle... ZExpressItem