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There are some posts about 1st gen headlight motors already, but none seem to be exactly what I'm experiencing. So I first noticed there was an issue when occasionally when I put my headlights down, the passenger side light was taking a second to go down. I hoped there was just something under the headlight that it was getting caught on, but I checked and no luck. It was only every once in a while that it would do this. Then it had trouble going up sometimes. Eventually it became hard to get it to move at all, so I left them up to keep the use of both lights. Does this issue sound like something I can fix by taking apart the motor? Or will I need to replace it? And if so, will I need to cut wires? There is no plug attatching the wires to the motor so I'm not sure how I would go about replacing it. (assuming I can even find a working replacement) Sorry if these are stupid questions but I have very little experience with electrical stuff and just would like some guidance.
From your user name, I'm assuming this is a 79? The relay which is mounted to the side of the headlight motor is a common culprit. I'd start with cleaning the contacts to the relay. Been several past threads on the subject. Here's a link to one that has more info:
I tried taking the relay out today and cleaning it. No sign of anything that wouldve caused it in there. It looks brand new. I sanded the contact points anyway and rinsed them off as described in the post that was linked. Not only did it still not work, but now the left light is fucked up. It only works with the key in the on position andn it can only be moved up, not down with the lights off. I have to put the parking lights on to move it freely. I took apart the switch near the cigarette lighter to make sure everything was in place and the contact pins were clean. Looked perfect. I'm absolutely lost.
The head lights should actuate in two ways. Raising the combo switch stalk on the steering column, raises the buckets when lifted one position. Move the stalk up to the second position and the lights become illuminated. Pushing down on the stalk reverses the process. The UP / DOWN switch on the center panel raises and lowers the buckets w/o turning them on. (for cleaning I guess) These are separate from one another, but neither way should require the ignition switch or key to be activated. Both ways should work as long as the battery is hooked up.
Although separate, the switches are inner related I believe and will over ride one another. If you've turned the lights on by raising the stalk, pressing the center console switch will have no effect. Conversely, if you raise the buckets using the center console switch, raising the combo switch will illuminate the lamps, but will not lower the buckets until you hit the DOWN position on the center console switch. If one of the 2 switches are in the "up" position, they will remain up. From you original description, the contacts inside the relay is usually the problem. They can look brand new. Just a light scuff is all that needed. Sometimes, just tapping on the side of the relay is all that's needed. You removed the metal covers (under the rubber covers) by bending up the tabs on the bottom right? You might have additional problems, like a loss of ground somewhere, but from the description that did not seem to be the most likely problem.
Thats how both of my lights worked before this issue. The left continued to work that way until yesterday when I took out the passenger side relay and cleaned it. After I put the relay back on and hooked the battery back up, the left started having the issue described above. I don't see how what I did could have affected the drivers side AT ALL. All I touched was the battery to unhook the negative terminal, then the metal clamp to remove the relay, cleaned the inside of the relay with sandpaper and contact cleaner, put it back together, plugged it back in and put it on the motor. Then I hooked the battery back up and started having issues with the drivers side.
Check your 3 fusable links for corroded terminals located on the drivers inner fender.
With only the bottom brown one un-plugged, I only had parking lights (no headlights or motors)
With only the top brown one un-plugged, I had parking and headlights, but no motor operation
With only the middle black one un-plugged, I still had parking and headlights, plus the headlights would go up, but not down. Once I re connected the middle fuse, the buckets would lower and everything operated normal again.
So, the parking lights must be on a different circuit. The bottom brown link controls illumination, the top brown one enables the motors to lift the buckets, while the middle black one enables the motors to lower them. Each fuse has a terminal on both ends and I suppose the wire itself needs to be intact (unbroken). Could check for continuity on ea end when removed to inspect the terminals.
After blowing my own picture up, the other side of the fuse block is marked "retractor" on top, "main" in the middle and "lights on the bottom"
So maybe the parking lights are part of the main fuse, the bottom one is the headlights and the top one is the motors. Somehow, when all 3 are connected, it also enables the buckets to lower.
The terminals seem pretty clean, no corrosion. When I take one side of the black wire off and plug it back in, I hear clicking. This makes me think it's getting constant power, but neither headlight motors work when the car is off, and now neither of them work period. No matter what configuration of lever up/switch down switch up etc, they stay up and do not move. They have only gotten worse.
Might be a ground issue some where. I suggest re-posting your problem in the 1st Gen General Discussion area to get more eyes on and feedback from other forum members. Picture of your actual parts can help too.
12-07-19, 10:30 AM
