Wreckshop

iTrader: (1)

I recently picked up an S5, and I can tell that the car had been in a fender bender before. The headlights work, but the right headlight, the wrecked side, has been bugging me. The light moves up and down, however there seems to be some kind of timing issue, if that exists.

The headlight will raise to the top, but when it reaches the highest point, it comes back down about an inch, then settles. When the headlights are retracting, the right one reaches the bottom, then begins to raise back up, which leads me to believe there is some sort of calibration that needs to be made. The left headlight is working fine.

This is my first car with retractable lights, and I'm not sure what to do here. I've looked in the FSM, but I'd like to know if removing the whole motor assembly is really necessary to fix this. If anyone else has fixed this problem or has any ideas, please let me know. I know it's not a big deal, but it's really irritating me because it can probably be fixed rather easily and for free.

Thanks

Here's a video for clarification:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0hU9TrcY5I

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

check the linkage that goes from the motor to the headlight.
there are little plastic bushings that connect the linkage to the Light,
If they are busted the headlight will act stupid.sometimes seize up when going up,and then it can stick when going down.
Also,if you can(because the headlight motor is not exactly easy to get to) check the motor,and the way it is mounted on the frame.

Wreckshop

iTrader: (1)

The motor linkage looks fine, and the headlight is not seizing, it does travel up to where it should, then goes back down a bit. I can manually crank the headlight up to where it should while the battery is disconnected too.

And yes, the motor does seem like a nightmare to get to, and I'd like to try any other fix before pulling everything out.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

Personally,I think you should just go ahead and pull the whole Passenger assembly out.
When you can get the Headlight Bucket up manually,Pop the Linkage off by putting a flathead Screwdriver in between the linkage and the Bucket,.then you twist the screwdriver and the linkage will pop off the Ball on the side of the Bucket.
The Bucket is held on by 4-10mm bolts,.2 on top and 2 on the inside front.You will have to remove anything that hinders you gettin to Those 2 bolts( like the Stock air box,etc)
Once those 4 bolts are off then you Carefully Pull up and disconnect the headlight.The whole bucket should now be free to Come off the car.
Now,you should be able to see the Headlight motor assembly,held on by 3-10mm bolts.They are in a Triangular pattern holding the motor to the frame.You can get at the First 2,but the Last one( towards the rear) is a Beotch to get at.Try a wrench.
I hope that Help you get it out.My car is not exactly stock anymore,so I am just trying to Remember what I had to go through when I Tore apart a Shell for parts.
Cheers, Styx.
OH,I have at least 3 sets of motors,buckets,linkages etc here,so IF you need them I can sell them,Real cheap( factor shipping though).I am not gonna need them anymore as I am going a with Flush mount Style Headlight kit.

Wreckshop

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the thorough explanation, much more helpful than the FSM. However, I'm not quite sure what to do once I DO have the headlight assembly out. What I'm looking for is some way to set where the light should be when it's open and when it's closed.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

That is the thing though,You can't see what it is doing until you find out Why.
and you can find out why by pulling the whole assembly,piecing back together once it is out and finding the gremlin.
The system isn't very complicated.You should be able to spot the flaw once it is out.
I do however think that the fender bender is playing a role with this problem too,
So if you get the assemblies out,you can check the light motor mount sections,and the arms,bushing,light buckets etc.