Trans Am Headlights--ALL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS REGARDING HEADLIGHTS GO IN HERE - Page 3

Danny2tek · 12-31-2005, 02:55 PM

Do you hear any type of noise coming from the light? And are you positive you have power coming "INTO" the motor? If your answers are 1)no , 2)yes ,you need a new motor.

2000Hawk · 01-04-2006, 10:44 PM

Well a few months ago i installed the brass gear on my drivers side headlight, because it started to grind whenever i turned off my lights or whenever they would go down. Then about 2 months ago the drivers side headlight stopped going up, i didn't have the chance to check it out till yesterday. I manually lifted the light up half way and when i turned the switch the light went up with no problem and closed with no problem. Well today when i tried the light it wouldn't go up at all i turned the knob and the light went up and down again without a problem. Well turns out earlier this evening when i turned off my lights the grinding began again

. All i could do was ignore it till i got home. But when i got home and turned off my lights the drivers headlight which was grinding would not go down at all FUCK!!!

So now i took out the fuse for both lights and they are now up which i hate because i like how the car looks with the headlamp covers down. I feel like in an un-ending battle with my headlight motor

I feel like its going to drive me crazy. Times like these i would spend $1000 on the Breatheless fixed headlights so i wouldn't have to deal with this shit. I hav no idea what to do, no my headlight motor doesn't go up or down and earlier it was grinding on the brass gear.
-Joel

TonyP187 · 01-05-2006, 12:54 AM

check if it broke the plastic stop on the "headlight bar" That what happened to me, DO NOT BUY BRASS GEARS, they break this piece its going to cost you like a grand to fix if you have the dealer do it. Its easier to use stock new gears, they last like 40,000 miles at least....The goodnews is your gears probably arent stripped.

2000Hawk · 01-05-2006, 01:45 AM

What i don't understand is that why does the headlight not go down at all? I mean i switched the lights on they went up and soon as i reach my house they wont go back down at all. Its like a fucking mystery, and i want to solve this shit already.
-Joel

TNTramair · 01-05-2006, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustang5.Ohater

Do you hear any type of noise coming from the light? And are you positive you have power coming "INTO" the motor? If your answers are 1)no , 2)yes ,you need a new motor.

that would be correct..no and yes. i ordered a new motor.

another question...

whats the easiest way to change the headlamp motor...does the entire headlamp assembly have to be removed or can i take bits and pieces off through the top???

Michael02hawk · 01-05-2006, 10:21 AM

I messed around more with the brass gears in my '02 TA last year than I care to admit.

I got fed up the one day, ripped out both the headlight motors (brass gears and all), and dumped them directly into the trash!

Then I logged into gmpartsdirect, ordered 2 new sets from GM, installed them a week later - and never gave it a second thought about my headlights, until now, with your post.

TNTramair · 01-05-2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael02hawk

I messed around more with the brass gears in my '02 TA last year than I care to admit.

I got fed up the one day, ripped out both the headlight motors (brass gears and all), and dumped them directly into the trash!

Then I logged into gmpartsdirect, ordered 2 new sets from GM, installed them a week later - and never gave it a second thought about my headlights, until now, with your post.

since we are on the topic and you brought this up...i am going to be changing out my headlamp motors as well and was wondering what the procedure is...if you could help me out with some insight on R&R id appreciate it.

these headlamps are beginning to be a pain...but i guess i cant complain too much...6 years and 56k miles and this is the first time ive had any issues with my lights.

Michael02hawk · 01-05-2006, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNTramair

since we are on the topic and you brought this up...i am going to be changing out my headlamp motors as well and was wondering what the procedure is...if you could help me out with some insight on R&R id appreciate it.

these headlamps are beginning to be a pain...but i guess i cant complain too much...6 years and 56k miles and this is the first time ive had any issues with my lights.

Just follow the same directions posted for the Brass Gear swap:

http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm

Only follow the steps about removing the bad motor, then re-installation of the new one, in the reverse order. Skip the brass gead stuff....very good write up.

TNTramair · 01-05-2006, 12:02 PM

You Da Man!!! Thanx!

noblesramair · 01-05-2006, 12:09 PM

Yes, these gears are royal pain in the ass! I had the brass gear strip out also. I know its stronger than the shitty nylon gear but damn. And yes it was installed correctly. It worked fine for about a year. I'd like to get the fixed headlights also but the price is just too damn much! Plus i'm not to fond of the headight layout. It would be awesome if you could get a setup that is bolt in that looked like the new corvette lights.

JD_AMG · 01-05-2006, 12:54 PM

The main problem seems to be the crap plastic housing. You can move the motor piece pretty easily and its only held dont by four metal pieces. See pic:

When its loose it will give slack or "play" with the gears, causing them to strip.

noblesramair · 01-05-2006, 01:06 PM

^ hmmmmm interesting, i'll have to remember that if the problem occurs again, thanks.

di0ck · 01-05-2006, 01:15 PM

nice pics and description of the PROBLEM NOT THE SYMPTOMS!

this should be merged with the sticky before its lost to the ages!

2000Hawk · 01-05-2006, 01:52 PM

Indeed JD_AMG good write up and photos of the motors. They are pure junk and i think everyone should see these pictures before doing anything to their headlight motors.
-Joel

Danny2tek · 01-05-2006, 10:41 PM

Once you remove the bezel (black trim) you have plenty of room to get the motor out.

slow · 01-08-2006, 12:44 PM

I installed brass gears, and had a problem releated to the motor coming lose like descried above.

A large pair of pliers and then a second piece of alimunum over the cover to line up the shift with 2 bolts, and my headligths work great, much quieter than stock.

The brass gears are good, but if your keep the headlight motor tight against the housing, i think even the nylon gears will last a long time.

Ryan

Coy · 01-09-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD_AMG

The main problem seems to be the crap plastic housing. You can move the motor piece pretty easily and its only held dont by four metal pieces. See pic:

When its loose it will give slack or "play" with the gears, causing them to strip.

EXACTLY! If you do not fix this when you install the brass gears, they will strip just like the stockers.

I have had the brass gears installed on both sides for 6 months, and they have worked great. I even pulled them a few weeks back, and they were still tight, and had no shavings in the gear case.

Do it right the first time, and you will have NO problems.

Coy · 01-09-2006, 05:16 PM

BTW, my car had 50,000 miles when I installed these, and both sides were VERY loose.

I only lost the stock PS gear, but the DS gear was close.

kliuzzo · 01-26-2006, 12:18 PM

My pass. headlight wont come up. However, it dont make any noises at all.. Is this the gear or the motor itself? Im not really sure what to do

TNTramair · 01-26-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kliuzzo

My pass. headlight wont come up. However, it dont make any noises at all.. Is this the gear or the motor itself? Im not really sure what to do

unfortunetly im currently in the same dilemma..chances are its a headlamp control module...i replaced the motor also and it did not take care of the problem...i will know for sure next week when i have a chance to get back out there and fix it.