Headlights "freezing" shut

[hzl6cm]

For the second time in two weeks I had a headlight not want to open after the car had gotten snowed on and the snow had melted somewhat. First time it was the right side light, wouldn't come up before I went to work but after the sun had been on it all day it came up with no problem - so I assumed the water from melting snow had gotten inside of the mechanism and frozen it. Yesterday, I swept the snow off since I planned to drive it today and I checked the lights, this time the other light would come up. I popped the hood and tried the manual control and the light came right up - no evidence of it being frozen at all. I then screwed it back down and tried the light switch again and it still wouldn't pop up. So I screwed it up manually so I could drive it in to work this morning. Any ideas? It seems like the motor itself is freezing or at least the mechanism is freezing between the motor and the manual lift screw. Thanks.

BTW, before I catch a bunch of grief, the car is normally in the garage but was outside while I was using the lift to put new brake lines on my daughter's Pontiac 6000. Also, I am still driving it a day or two a week in the winter because I bought it to drive - not to park.

 

[hzl6cm]

By the way I am talking about the Z06 not the "shark".

 

[gbik]

hlz6cm, The manual knob that you turn is mounted directly on the electric motor that spins to open the head lights. After I had worked mine the light would not open the fuse was blown. each headlight has its own fuse to the opening motor. They are in the fuse box under the hood by the battery. if you alraedy checked the fuses i got nothing. Jay

 

[hzl6cm]

I checked the fuses and they are fine. After sitting all day in the 40 degree sunny weather in the parking lot at work, both headlights worked fine when I left work without me having done anything to them. This morning when I left for work they also worked. Thanks for the info that the knob is hooked to the motor, it ust be an electrical issue realted to melting snow getting in to the assembly and freezing again.

Kevin

 

[silver98]

The owner's manual addresses this. It states that you should manually open the headlamp doors to prevent them from freexing shut.

I had an 83 Firebird with haedlamp doors. It always sat outside, but there were only a handful of times that they would not open due to freezing.

HTH
Joe