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Posted by: David Stowers Jul 16 2013, 12:14 PM

One of my lights doesn't come up. You can wind it up but if you go all the way up it then puts itself away again. If you wind it most of the way up it will go away if you switch them off. I've swapped the relays over and it makes no difference.
I'm rubbish with electrics so be gentle with me! Any suggestions?
Thanks

Posted by: 7TPorsh Jul 16 2013, 12:21 PM

start by checking around the lights for loose brown wires...those should be grounded.
Only one light? Bet it's the driver's side. Power goes to driver's side first then piggybacks to passenger side.

Posted by: David Stowers Jul 16 2013, 12:24 PM

Passenger side!

Posted by: 7TPorsh Jul 16 2013, 02:48 PM

Is the driver's side normal?

Posted by: ripper911 Jul 16 2013, 02:51 PM

Mine did that for a while. I think I just jiggled the wires a bit (maybe cleaned the connections a bit but I don't remember) and it worked itself out.

Posted by: David Stowers Jul 16 2013, 03:03 PM

Drivers side is normal, I think I'll have to give all the connections/earths a really good clean.

Posted by: euro911 Jul 16 2013, 03:32 PM

Has it always done this, or just recently?

Mine were only a little bit out of whack when I acquired the car and I had to physically adjust the mounting plates.

Posted by: David Stowers Jul 16 2013, 03:38 PM

I've not had it on the road yet since getting it in January, it's always done it since I got it but have been busy having the hellhole and floor replaced

Posted by: mrholland2 Jul 16 2013, 03:42 PM

For headlights that won't "pop up", see Alice.

Posted by: David Stowers Jul 16 2013, 03:46 PM

Eh?

Posted by: Eric_Shea Jul 16 2013, 05:18 PM

He's in the UK...

Round relay under the cover. Four Philips screws and swap the relay with the other side. Fix it?

Posted by: 76-914 Jul 16 2013, 05:30 PM

Erc, are you hitting the coffee again? Re-read first post.

Posted by: Eric_Shea Jul 16 2013, 05:37 PM

Oh....

("read" being the operative word here) Carry on.

Posted by: Drums66 Jul 16 2013, 06:53 PM

....This is the drill!

Posted by: jeeperjohn56 Jul 17 2013, 01:29 PM

Had the same problem ended being a bad wire connection and head light switch. John

Posted by: mrholland2 Jul 17 2013, 01:35 PM

'Twas a joke. Say it out loud then think about TV ads with couples on the beach in separate bathtubs.

Posted by: David Stowers Jul 17 2013, 03:48 PM

Must be an ad over there

Posted by: euro911 Jul 17 2013, 09:00 PM

I was joking with my cardiologist, told him I was having a hard time pointing out the constellations anymore

He said 'see Alice' (and prescribed Cialis). Being the wise-ass I am, I did ask to see Alice at the drug store ... took a second for the pharmacist to get it, then he laughed - mainly because one of the girls working there was named Alice.

Posted by: 7TPorsh Jul 18 2013, 11:59 AM

Alice doesn't live here anymore...

Posted by: David Stowers Jul 24 2013, 03:54 AM

Alice, Alice, who the fcuk is Alice?

Still not solved this one, is there a diode in one of the wires? Could this be the faulty part.

Posted by: sfrenck Jul 24 2013, 04:50 AM

Mine did this - there is a plastic cover where three wires are plugged together by the headlight motor. I pulled these connections apart, cleaned the ends of the terminals, and put it back together. This immediately fixed the problem. Loose connections here also show up on mine as the one light comes up after the other one is fully open (passenger side is delayed).

Posted by: ripper911 Jul 24 2013, 05:30 AM

Of course if you need to use your headlights before this gets solved you can open it manually by turning the black knob on the back of the motor.

Posted by: David Stowers Aug 13 2013, 07:02 AM

I've been manually winding up the offending light but really want to get to the bottom of this. I've cleaned all the connectors near the motors but no joy. Any more suggestions? It must be something simple so I'm reluctant to put it in the shop.

Posted by: David Stowers Aug 14 2013, 02:10 AM

Any ideas? Anyone? Pleeeeeaase!!!

Posted by: David Stowers Aug 15 2013, 03:18 AM

Posted by: euro911 Aug 15 2013, 09:04 AM

David, do you have an electrical wiring diagram? Were you able to trace out the voltage and current flow to the affected motor?

If you're having a hard time figuring it out, and don't have any locals to physically help you out, you may need to take it to an auto-electric shop

Maybe you need a new motor?

Posted by: David Stowers Aug 15 2013, 12:13 PM

Thanks, I think I'm going to have to get hold of another motor and try that

Posted by: r_towle Aug 15 2013, 04:29 PM

hold up.

Get some jumpers and unplug the motor and jumper it to the battery...start there.

Then look at the wires, no need for a diagram, just follow them to the light switch...you can see them in the front trunk all the way there.

There are two large ground connectors, one at each motor...clean them.

Follow the wires to the switch (if the motor works)

Do remove and clean all the fuses and clean the fuse block where the fuse meets ...those get filthy.

rich

Posted by: HalfMoon Aug 15 2013, 06:04 PM

I had the exact same problem a week ago. I swapped it out for a spare motor I had and it solved the problem.

Posted by: Porsche930dude Aug 15 2013, 06:30 PM

probrobly the connections. those motors are stout! when i first put mine together the lincage was binding and so the motor got stuck trying to put itself down . I didnt adresse it right away and the motor got so hot it caught the rag on fire that was sitting on it! I immediately saw the smoke so it was ok and the motor stayed too hot to touch for about an hour afterwords. I fixed the lincage and the motor still worked fine. And this was after the car had been sitting unused since 1984 and in two floods

Posted by: mepstein Aug 15 2013, 09:07 PM

the motors rarely go bad. that's why they are so cheap and plentiful.

Posted by: David Stowers Aug 16 2013, 02:00 AM

Thanks guys, the motor works as it will still close after its been manually opened. I've cleaned all the connections and earth (ground) points near the motors. I've not tackled the switch or fuse panel but figured if it was a problem there neither motor would function rather than just one.
It's driving me nuts

Posted by: David Stowers Aug 16 2013, 10:57 AM

Thanks guys, the motor works as it will still close after its been manually opened. I've cleaned all the connections and earth (ground) points near the motors. I've not tackled the switch or fuse panel but figured if it was a problem there neither motor would function rather than just one.
It's driving me nuts

Posted by: r_towle Aug 16 2013, 04:47 PM

It's a home run circuit for each headlight all the way to the switch, never combined from what I recall.
The switch is damn near overloaded, so things can melt when you have to much of a load on the circuit, like the headlights with dirty connectors.

Look for the color of the power wire at the relay that makes the motor go up.
Pull the light switch from the dash and apply power to that lead.

If the motor goes up, it's most likely the switch.

Please, before you go further, check, remove, and clean all the fuses and the fuse block tabs that touch the fuses...they get very dirty and corroded and are simple to fix.

I have had lights go out while driving, I have kicked fuses out with my boots....all of it can sometimes be traced back to the fuses.