Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

[Need4Camaro]

I was sent the wrong motors for my Firebird - I needed one for the driverside and one for the passenger side. I got TWO driverside motors instead and I destroyed the passenger side motor while removing it so I cant re-use it. Its going to take about a week for the new motor to get here and I will need my car for that period of time.

I reversed the gears so it would atleast fit, however; here's whats happening.

When I turn the headlights ON, the passenger side motor goes to the DOWN position and Drivers side comes UP. If I turn them OFF then the passenger side motor goes UP and drivers side goes DOWN.

What will happen if I invert the positive and negative wires on the passenger side headlight motor? (Positive to Negative / Negative to Positive) - will it work? or will I start a fire?

[2.8 Bird]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

That's interesting. Have you inverted them then?

That's just a straight plug in.

[firebird19_99]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

what do you mean by reversed the gears? and did you cut any of the wiring?

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

That's interesting. Have you inverted them then?

That's just a straight plug in.

what do you mean by reversed the gears? and did you cut any of the wiring?

What I did was, I took one of them, opened the gear casing and reversed the gear so that the rod with the threading that connects to the arm would be facing the opposite direction (backward) so it would be facing the correct way for the passenger side.

I inverted the gears, but not the wiring.

[2.8 Bird]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

What I did was, I took one of them, opened the gear casing and reversed the gear so that the rod with the threading that connects to the arm would be facing the opposite direction (backward) so it would be facing the correct way for the passenger side.

I inverted the gears, but not the wiring.

Just do the opposite then.

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

Just do the opposite then.

I inverted the gear because that was necessary for it to fit...but I will do the Wiring tomorrow when Autozone opens and I can get my hands on some wire cutters and tape for a temp fix until I can sauter / heat shrink later.

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

It turns out the arm was installed wrong. Reinstalled the arm and now it rises and lowers correctly but now my headlight on the passenger side wont come on.... nor will the bright light...driverside still works fine...what gives?

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

I fixxed it, as stupid as it sounds, I thought the connectors were connected into the headlights but they were dangling just outside the prongs. Everything works fine now.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

That must have looked pretty funny with one light going up and the other down. You should have shot us a video.

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

That must have looked pretty funny with one light going up and the other down. You should have shot us a video.

wasnt quite the comedian when it happened - I had everything torn apart - old motor was broken - and I needed my car for the next week to get too / from work and it takes that long for a new headlight motor to arrive.

[fishin]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

Thats what mine did before, also. It was like the polarity got switched just from unplugging it. I have to get a new gear for one now but has anyone had a problem when they disassembled the electrical portion of the motor? I reassembled the electrical portion of the motor and hooked it up to the plug and it runs fine. Is there anything special you have to do besides install gear then reinstall? Know where to get brushes for the motor? Thanks.

Update: I have had to motor assembled every possible way and I still get one up and one down. Anyone had this problem?

[fishin]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

It turns out the arm was installed wrong. Reinstalled the arm and now it rises and lowers correctly but now my headlight on the passenger side wont come on.... nor will the bright light...driverside still works fine...what gives?

How was the arm installed wrong? I think thats my problem.

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird Headlight Motor - Inverting the Wires for the motor.

How was the arm installed wrong? I think thats my problem.

Basically the arm was installed on the wrong side of the buffer tabs... it needs to be installed so the bottom of the arm is BELOW the lower ((Raised up position)) buffer tab and not ABOVE it.