Headlight won't pop up, Help!! Options

[David Stowers]

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

[sfrenck]

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.

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).

[ripper911]

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.

[David Stowers]

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.

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.

[David Stowers]

Any ideas? Anyone? Pleeeeeaase!!!

[David Stowers]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_bump.gif)

[euro911]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Maybe you need a new motor?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[David Stowers]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Maybe you need a new motor?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

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

[r_towle]

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

[HalfMoon]

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

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

[Porsche930dude]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

[mepstein]

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

[David Stowers]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[David Stowers]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[r_towle]

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.