Headlight Motors

S

swkass

New member
Joined
Sep 1, 2011
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
0
I'm having a problem with my headlight motors. They worked fine last night but now when I turn on the headlight switch both lights struggle to pop up. They both bounce up and down several times only reaching a height of about 30%. Then they give up and close. When I open the hood first and turn on the switch they both go up all the way. I can then close the hood and drive.
It's odd to me that this is happening to both motors at once and just the other day they were fine and strong. Any ideas?

Thanks all,

Swkass
 
It's been 10 years since I work on Fiero lighting. I thought things were separate from right to left. So there is nothing common that could fail that would cause the situation that I'm having, correct?

Thanks

http://www.kovich.net/finished.htm
 
Has the hood been recently taken off? If the hood is misaligned it will cause the headlight motors to have more resistance moving up.

What year is the Fiero?
1984-1986: Used relays and the switch. If the connection at the switch is corroded or loose you may not be getting enough electrical current to move both motors. To see if it is an electrical current issue, disconnect the power to one of the motors close hood and see if one light will work fine. If it does, start following the wires and cleaning all the contacts on all the connectors, relays, and switch.

1987-1988: Used a control module under the driver side front fender. These can go bad and cause issues as well.

EDIT: Just saw your website that it is a (very nice looking!) 1987 GT. The problem is most likely the control module for the headlights. To see how to test it, You can download the Factory Service Manual with all the schematics and test procedures from here: http://www.fieronews.net/fusion/downloads.php?cat_id=14

Actually you already have a picture of its location:
It is the black module with the 2 connectors shown in the below picture.
under3.jpg
______________________________
 
Last edited:
On more searching I found that also. What about these little teflon disks that are used to rebuild the motors? Couldn't this be my problem? Thanks!
 
The disks will cause the motors to make loud noises and gear stripping or they will not move at all and do it all the time (hood up or hood down). The problem you are having is more like they are being starved for electrical current. That is why that work properly with the hood up and not with the hood down. The added pressure from the headlight covers requires more electrical current from the system and you are not getting enough.
 
And you're saying the headlight control module is the cause of this reduced current?

Thanks again,
Swkass
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top