HELP!! With pop up headlight please!

[nitrox28]

My passenger side headlight goes up and down fine, but when it's up, it shakes around a bit. And when it's down, I can lift it up about a 1/4-1/2 inch with my finger. The other side is rock solid. Is there any way to fix this?? Tighten something up maybe?? THANKS! This is driving me NUTS! 1999 Firebird btw.

[Clayton]

i had a similiar problem with my new 99. This problem is obviously infamous for our cars. check this site:

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

It will give you info on how to take the motor out of your healight and change the gear. my gear was stripped with a few broken teeth, sometimes you have to replace the gear (luckily that site will sell you a brass replacement) but all i had to do was reverse it and my problems were fixed. It wouldn't hurt to look at that gear, it worked for me.

[ChameleonGreen]

The headlight fix is mostly for when the motor keeps turning after you lower the lights and it makes a loud grinding sound. That might work for you, but chances are it has something to do with the actual metal arm that raises and lifts the assembly itself. I'm not sure on the 98's, but probably if you remove the black trim around the lights you will see it connected to the motor, it will have a pivot in the middle, and the other side will be connected to the assembly. Check the pivot and where it connects to the assembly for any play.

[need4speed]

The arm has play in mine and has been that way for some time now. But does anybody know how you disconnect that arm from the headlight unit? I have a replacement arm that came with my new headlight motors and I want to change it. It looks like there is a metal snap ring or something holding it on, but the space is so small and I don't have many tools. If anybody knows how to get that arm off, please speak up!

[nitrox28]

THATS MY PROBLEM!!!!!!!!! Turns out, it's NOT the motor at all, but the arm doohicky. I tried forever to tighten this thing uo, but nothing worked. I am going to get some snap rings from my factory I work at and put those on to firm it up. If it works, I will let you know and ship you some free of charge with instructions. My old Celica never had this problem! ;)

[ChameleonGreen]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by nitrox28:
THATS MY PROBLEM!!!!!!!!! Turns out, it's NOT the motor at all, but the arm doohicky. I tried forever to tighten this thing uo, but nothing worked. I am going to get some snap rings from my factory I work at and put those on to firm it up. If it works, I will let you know and ship you some free of charge with instructions. My old Celica never had this problem! ;) <hr></blockquote>

I could definately use a couple of those snap rings. Both my lights wobble big time, and those are the culprits. If the fix works, please do contact me at nin@austin.rr.com

[DrFix2Fly]

I think the problem you guys are having with your headlights is improperly set travel stops. I you look closely you will find several screws with white plastic tops that are used to set travel stop and steady the assembly in whichever position you are in. These are a pain to adjust and you will porbably be unsatisfied with the way the light lines up with the hood and fender after you are done, so you will have to adjust it after that. Again, look for several of these adjusting screws. Makes me want a camaro.

[need4speed]

I looked and couldn't find those screws with the plastic top. Do I have to take off the plastic housing to see them? And some of those snap rings sound great. Hope they work!

[ChameleonGreen]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by DrFix2Fly:
I think the problem you guys are having with your headlights is improperly set travel stops. I you look closely you will find several screws with white plastic tops that are used to set travel stop and steady the assembly in whichever position you are in. These are a pain to adjust and you will porbably be unsatisfied with the way the light lines up with the hood and fender after you are done, so you will have to adjust it after that. Again, look for several of these adjusting screws. Makes me want a camaro.<hr></blockquote>

Could you go in to a little more detail about the travel stops? That might be a problem on one of my lights, but I know on the other one it's the snap ring, because there isn't even one there. The motor arm is just being held into the assembly by the black plastic bezel.

[DrFix2Fly]

It's been a while since I adjusted mine to take the "shake" out of mine, but I remember having to take the black cover off and looking for them. You may have to manually move the headlight up and down to be able to reach and see them. It's not easy, but you will find them. What you need to do is to draw them out a little at a time, manually move the headlight and see if it holds the headlight assembly solid.

[apiccola]

The last time I had a headlamp problem, there was a white plastic bushing on one of the shoulder bolts that retain the housing that had disintegrated. The headlamp shook like it was ready to fall apart. I replaced the bushing with a bronze piece that I found at Ace hardware. Works fine now.

I don't think that the screws with the white caps adjust the travel stop. On my bird, they are used to align the headlight door with the body line. However, I could be wrong ... and I could be referring to an entirely different set of screws.

Good luck.

[satellite98]

SHould've gotten a Camaro. [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Dan Clark]

i rotated the gear and it worked for about 2 months and now it's back. where can i get a new gear? i think i'm goin to try and replace that before i screw with anything else cause it can't be that expensive. btw, is anyone havin trouble with the driver side one, or the passanger one like mine??

[need4speed]

To Dan Clark: check out this page http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm

metal gears so you don't have to replace them again...much cheaper than a new motor assembly from GM

[Dan Clark]

thanks need4speed, this looks like its just what I need