Headlight issue

**VtBandit** · 10-06-2009, 03:26 AM

Hey has anyone here had this prob before? My driver side headlight when i put it down today just started making noise like it was just not stopping. Had to pull the fuse.

**zahn33** · 10-06-2009, 03:50 AM

Your gear is stripped in the motor, more than likely. The easiest way to fix it is to pull the whole assembly, unhook the arm that lifts the headlight from the motor. Then using the manual knob on the motor rotate it 180 degrees. Put it all back together. This is the cheap quick and easy fix.

**Too Fast** · 10-06-2009, 03:53 AM

^^^yup that will buy you some time. Then you need the real fix, brass or aluminum driven gear, there are lots of references to this in this section, a quick search will show good results.

**VtBandit** · 10-07-2009, 02:17 AM

Thanks for the pointers. I checked out the page on turning the gear. Will def. try that first.

**qwk93ta** · 10-07-2009, 03:05 AM

That's an irritating sound....I had this on my 93 T/A. Do a search, there are a few good write-ups on how to fix this.

**PyroPornStar** · 10-18-2009, 11:29 AM

I turned it 180 and it worked. I understand this is a temp fix, are there any post on how to replace those gears?

**herculesrider1** · 10-18-2009, 01:40 PM

Yes, there is a site that sells kits to fix this issue permanently. GM put plastic gears inside your headlight actuator motor. These headlight actuator motors come to the end of their travel through torqueing out and the motor stops. This torque puts alot of pressure on the plastic teeth of the gear assembly. Over time, the torque on these same teeth over and over again eventually wears out the teeth and they break. This website provides brass gears with epoxy to glue the gear housing cover back on with and assembly instructions along with a cover support bracket to reinforce the epoxy glue joint. Word to the wise, make sure your motor is attached securely to the gear housing. There are four tabs that you will need to use a hammer and chisel or a pair of channel locks to squeeze these tabs back down tight in order to secure the motor to the gear housing. If this motor is not "tabbed" securely, you will still have play from the motor screw gear which turns the brass housing gear. Once you put it all back together, it should be tight and no play whatsoever. The kit also comes with washers and grommets that normally don't come with the factory motor/housing assembly. It also comes with gear lube. It's the best kit on the market. I just replaced my drivers side motor actuator gear and it's been working like brand new ever since. God bless.
http://my.execpc.com/C4/4A/rodney1/firebird/