My headlights

[Alfonso Gomez]

OK, here's the deal. Since the headlights in my 87 Coupe did not rotate, I did extensive testing as per forum member's recommendations. Found BOTH motors were damaged. They were in a really crappy condition since water somehow entered them. So I went to a local GM parts distributor and ordered the upgrade kit (like the one Mid America sells) to use 1988-90 motors. The 1984-87 motors are relay-driven (3 relays). 1988-90 motors are driven by a module. I read the instructions TWICE before begining the installation. The relays were eliminated as per the instruction manual, all splices were checked twice against the instructions, all work done with the battery disconnected. When finished, I turned the headlight knobs to manually close the headlights, connected the battery and turned on the lights. VOILA!!! The headlights opened. Nice, very nice. But when I switched them off, the headlights turned off but THEY DID NOT CLOSE!! So I disconnected the battery and rechecked all the connections and splices to make sure they were tight and correct according to the manual. They still open but do not close.
Any forum member tried this conversion kit? How can I trouble shoot this problem? Please help. This kit costs almost $600 and my car still looks the same with the lights popped open.

 

[Alfonso Gomez]

Today, after posting the half-assed post above, I assembled the headlight with the covers and started aligning the left side assembly. Then I realized that the head light connector that feeds electric current to the headlight was off. So I connected it and gave it another try. VOILÁ!!!!!!! BOTH sides opened and closed correctly. I could not beleive it. It seems, and my experience confirms it, that in order to close, the headlight has to be ON and then OFF. Apparently, it sends a signal to the module that tells it to close. I thought that signal was sent by the switch position.

Sorry for the inconvinience. You can all put away your manuals until the next time I goof off.

Really, owning a Corvette is a learning experience.

Now I can go have a beer and party.

The wife will be happy since it really was her idea of fixing the headlights and yesterday she came from work and found me ROYALLY ****ED OFF.

So the almost $600 spent, was well spent. Now, all I have to see is what else breaks down.

 

[Ken]

That's what this place is about - people helping people, only in this case it was you helping yourself. :L

Glad to hear the fix was easy. Good work!

 

[muddywaters]

Headlites

Hi, On my 88, the headlites come UP in the parking lite position. There is a new switch, I figured it was a good place to start, the lights don't come ON in that position, they just come UP. All other aspects work correctly. Any ideas? Module? THANKS