Headlight retractor works in reverse
01-13-09 | 07:58 AM
#1
Headlight retractor works in reverse
I have one headlight that works in reverse It goes up when off and down when its On. I haven't begun to tracing wiring. Is there an easy fix. This is on my vert I just got
Johny
Johny
01-13-09 | 11:20 AM
#2
You can try this:
If it's a wiring issue, I'm not sure where to start. Does this happen with both the retractor switch and the main headlight switch? Has it been like this since you bought the car? If it does, you can use this manual workaround. If it's only the retractor switch, I'm not sure where to begin besides telling you to use this workaround and leave the retractor switch to the raised position temporarily while you trace wiring.
Raise the headlight that's funky by putting the retractor switch to the lowered position, the other one should fall. Locate the main retractor arm on the center side of the headlight. (i.e. if the driver's light is funky, from the front of the car, look on the left side, if the passenger's light is funky, look on the right side. You should see a long thin hinged arm that bends when the headlight is lowered and straightens when the headlight is raised.
On the bottom of that arm is a small 14mm nut. If you lose this nut, it's an M8 x 1.25 nut. Take the nut off the stud. After the nut is removed, the rod/arm may still be stiff on the thread due to age. Hit the arm at the hinge with a ratchet / back of a screwdriver / something light that can still provide enough force to unseize the joint. Once you can freely move the arm and bend it, take the arm off the stud. you'll notice that the headlight will now raise and fall depending on how your hand moves it. Let it fall all the way.
Now, use your retractor switch and turn it to the raised position, lifting your normally working headlight. Use your finger and lift the funky headlight with your hand as high as possible. Put the retractor arm back on the thread, but make sure that the headlight is as high as possible. The arm should be as close to vertical as possible. Keep the headlight in this position as you put the nut back on the stud and tighten. If all goes well, test by turning the retractor switch up and down to see if the headlights move in sync.
Like I said, if you think the switch is the problem after the fact, leave the headlights in the raised position, at least you'll have light. Then start tracing wiring.
If it's a wiring issue, I'm not sure where to start. Does this happen with both the retractor switch and the main headlight switch? Has it been like this since you bought the car? If it does, you can use this manual workaround. If it's only the retractor switch, I'm not sure where to begin besides telling you to use this workaround and leave the retractor switch to the raised position temporarily while you trace wiring.
Raise the headlight that's funky by putting the retractor switch to the lowered position, the other one should fall. Locate the main retractor arm on the center side of the headlight. (i.e. if the driver's light is funky, from the front of the car, look on the left side, if the passenger's light is funky, look on the right side. You should see a long thin hinged arm that bends when the headlight is lowered and straightens when the headlight is raised.
On the bottom of that arm is a small 14mm nut. If you lose this nut, it's an M8 x 1.25 nut. Take the nut off the stud. After the nut is removed, the rod/arm may still be stiff on the thread due to age. Hit the arm at the hinge with a ratchet / back of a screwdriver / something light that can still provide enough force to unseize the joint. Once you can freely move the arm and bend it, take the arm off the stud. you'll notice that the headlight will now raise and fall depending on how your hand moves it. Let it fall all the way.
Now, use your retractor switch and turn it to the raised position, lifting your normally working headlight. Use your finger and lift the funky headlight with your hand as high as possible. Put the retractor arm back on the thread, but make sure that the headlight is as high as possible. The arm should be as close to vertical as possible. Keep the headlight in this position as you put the nut back on the stud and tighten. If all goes well, test by turning the retractor switch up and down to see if the headlights move in sync.
Like I said, if you think the switch is the problem after the fact, leave the headlights in the raised position, at least you'll have light. Then start tracing wiring.
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NoMorePoison
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
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