Headlight motor question.

[dillon1414]

I just replaced the little plastic inserts in the gear assembly of my 1988 Corvette. The gears work fine now however my drivers side motor will not stop when it gets to the open position and binds up. I can manually loosen it but it continues to open and bind again. It will not reverse and close. When replacing the plastic inserts, the drivers side motor was the only one that we actually took apart. Can anyone tell me how to make the motor stop before it binds and reverse directions so it will close?

Thanks

 

[RoyalViking]

I am not sure I understand you post. Are you saying that after replacing the inserts, the headlight door opened when you turned the headlights on and will not close when you turn the headlights off?

 

[dillon1414]

Let me try and clarify. We replaced the inserts in both motors. They are now fine. Both motors run fine. However, the passengers side motor does not stop when it is fully opened so it ends up binding the motor. You can manually turn the motor back to un-bind it but when you push the headlight switch off, the drives side closes but the passengers does nothing. Turn it on again and the drivers side opens and the passengers side opens again and the binds up. It never gets to the point where it completes it cycle and is ready to close the headlight door as it should.

As I said previously, the drivers inserts were changed without taking apart the motor assembly. We did take apart the passengers motor and probably screwed something up but I am not sure what.

That is where I am at.

 

[JimBobC4]

Let me try and clarify. We replaced the inserts in both motors. They are now fine. Both motors run fine. However, the passengers side motor does not stop when it is fully opened so it ends up binding the motor. You can manually turn the motor back to un-bind it but when you push the headlight switch off, the drives side closes but the passengers does nothing. Turn it on again and the drivers side opens and the passengers side opens again and the binds up. It never gets to the point where it completes it cycle and is ready to close the headlight door as it should.

As I said previously, the drivers inserts were changed without taking apart the motor assembly. We did take apart the passengers motor and probably screwed something up but I am not sure what.

That is where I am at.

Maybe you put the arm off the motor ( where the pin is ) upside down ?

 

[skitch]

Try looking at the thin medal piece on the outside of the motor. I had this happen when I rebuilt mine. Look at the other side to see how it need to be oriented. I think it serves as a stop. Its about 2 inches long and it will be on the inboard side towards the engine. It just kind of hangs there. Once I got mine in the right place , it didn't give me anymore problems. I hope this helps.
Skitch:cool

 

[JimBobC4]

Try looking at the thin medal piece on the outside of the motor. I had this happen when I rebuilt mine. Look at the other side to see how it need to be oriented. I think it serves as a stop. Its about 2 inches long and it will be on the inboard side towards the engine. It just kind of hangs there. Once I got mine in the right place , it didn't give me anymore problems. I hope this helps.
Skitch:cool

Also, the bushing in that metal piece should be checked as well. If the hole for the bushing arm is disfigured from wear it could put that piece at an odd angle and cause a bind.

 

[vetteoz]

There is a limit switch at the end that shuts off power.If the motor is continuing to run , it has not engaged the limit switch.
Long time since I played with it , but recall a adjusting screw with lock nut on end of motor.

 

[JimBobC4]

There is a limit switch at the end that shuts off power.If the motor is continuing to run , it has not engaged the limit switch.
Long time since I played with it , but recall a adjusting screw with lock nut on end of motor.

I think that screw and lock nut is a gear preload adjustment.

 

[vetteoz]

I think that screw and lock nut is a gear preload adjustment.

Have to pull my FSM out but recall the preload adjusts the armature movement; at full travel the armature backs up against the limit switch shutting off power.

 

[clok1966]

I have an 87 so the headlighst are different (i think) but I have been fighting Fiero flipup motors and now my 87. On the 87 there is a plastic nub right on front (or back , i cant rembere) of the actual motor, it hangs down and there are metal leaf switchs, these are what tells the motor to stop running. I have somewaht the ame problem with mine, I orginal tore it apart expecting it needed to be rebuilt ( it had been so all parts where good) but hte magnet on the motor was lose, I reglued it and ASSUMED it was fixed. Nope, I need to take it apart again. Mine goes down fine, but doesnt know its to the bottom. it Tries to run clicks, tries to run and clicks. So those leaf switchs are not working, thankfully its easier to take out then my fiero's. Good luck and report back when you get it fixed.

Clok

 

[clok1966]

Ok I solved my problem tonight, was simple, but hard to find. I dont remeber if the 88 and 87 are the same. The spring at bottom of motor was my problem. I thought i had it in right, but it was not. I had the spring over the top edge of the plastic, (hard ot expalin and I didnt have my camera with ) Basicly the spring was in wrong, and its very easy to do (put it in wrong). The spring si spose to center the motor back in between the leaf swithc (points like switchs) once the motor is done running. the whole motor shaft move up or down depending on direction and the plastic part by the switchs moves with it to break the contact. WHen i put the spring in i put it so one (very top) coil was ove the plastic edge it was suposed to go behind.. it kept he motor from being able to move far enough one direction to make the leaf switch break contact. When you put motor together before you put top on take a screwdriver and make sure the motor shaft moves far enouhg to push the switch open, the spring should push it back to closed when you relieve the presure. Solved my problem afte i made sure it had new gears and all esle seemed fine.. Mine would not know it was down and keep trying to run. Wish i had taken a picture.. Im going to have to leave my camera in my car Im working on it so much. Hopemy horrilbe explination helps some.


Clok