Help! Problematic headlights

[LastOfTheV8's]

My passenger side headlight has started misbehaving, it struggles to flip into position and shudders for a few seconds before finally settling into the correct position (sometimes!) but more often into a lower position than the driver's side headlight. Apart from being very embarrassing, this probably makes driving my car at night illegal with the lights unevenly positioned:ugh

Is there a way to troubleshoot a faulty mechanism in the headlights? ?

There is a rumbling, or clunking sound that continues for a about 5 seconds after both swtiching on and switching off the lights, it seems to be the mechanism on the faulty side, rumbling even after the light has flipped into its closed position under the hood.
Has anyone else experienced this ? ;help
Cheers.

 

[gmjunkie]

My passenger side headlight has started misbehaving, it struggles to flip into position and shudders for a few seconds before finally settling into the correct position (sometimes!) but more often into a lower position than the driver's side headlight. Apart from being very embarrassing, this probably makes driving my car at night illegal with the lights unevenly positioned:ugh

Is there a way to troubleshoot a faulty mechanism in the headlights? ?

There is a rumbling, or clunking sound that continues for a about 5 seconds after both swtiching on and switching off the lights, it seems to be the mechanism on the faulty side, rumbling even after the light has flipped into its closed position under the hood.
Has anyone else experienced this ? ;help
Cheers.

Your Durlin Bushings need replaced in the gear,takes about 1 1/2 hours a side!! Cost about $12 for the bushings!

 

[LastOfTheV8's]

It takes so long? Wow.. it seems to share that time consuming factor with most tasks in maintaining these cars, thankfully it is also cheap! Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Will order those right away.

 

[Edmond]

When I had a C4 and did it, it was a big PITA. I only did it on one side as I did not want to tackle the project on the other side as well. :L

 

[gmjunkie]

It takes so long? Wow.. it seems to share that time consuming factor with most tasks in maintaining these cars, thankfully it is also cheap! Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Will order those right away.

Actually,I was giving you the benefit of the doubt!!I've done it so many times that I've got it down to about 45 min-1 hour each side blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back!!:L:L:L

 

[LastOfTheV8's]

Oh I certainly won't be doing it I have no skills whatsoever around an engine, if my hands are on my vette I am either driving her or polishing her! Thankfully I know a guy here who worked on Corvettes for years in New York, the answer to my prayers!

 

[John Robinson]

You might want to look and see it yu\ou have the same problem I had with the passenger side headlight. I only found the problem after I had done the rebuild.

Headlightclip006.jpg picture by John-68 - Photobucket

Headlightclip004.jpg picture by John-68 - Photobucket

Headlightclip001.jpg picture by John-68 - Photobucket

Headlightclip007.jpg picture by John-68 - Photobucket

If you look carefully at the pictures you will see that the clip that held the radiator over flow tube Had come loose and that allowed the clip to catch the headlight and keep it from fully flipping up

 

[LastOfTheV8's]

You might want to look and see it yu\ou have the same problem I had with the passenger side headlight. I only found the problem after I had done the rebuild.


...the clip that held the radiator over flow tube Had come loose and that allowed the clip to catch the headlight and keep it from fully flipping up

Thanks for posting this John, I was praying that this was what had happened under the bonnet of mine too, sadly, on inspection the clip was intact, so the problem is something I can't fix as easily.. probably the Delrin bushings in the gear as suggested by GMJunkie... Cheers for posting the links to your pics, very helpful

 

[roger longman]

Hi, I found the first one I did to be tricky. They get a lot easier after that. You'll find quite a few threads on here that show step by step how it's done. Roger.

 

[air1jpg]

I found the pictured instructions on the CAC when I did mine. Saved me probably $190 and only took me about an hour with being careful. The only problem I had was when I put the headlight assembly back in the car, the headlight would get caught in the wirring. I just had to secure the wirring down using the factory tie downs.