2000 Trans Am headlight issue

[91DropTop]

Ok so my problem literally started today when i drove home from work. I get home and turn off my headlights and once the headlights are down it makes a grinding/ratcheting noise from driver side motor and when i unlock or lock my car with factory keyless entry the headlights flip up and down and again the grinding noise after they are down. Any ideas???

Thanks

[thunder]

haha my 95 does the same thing. i was showing people at the last meet. I have no idea why tho

[creeper]

the plastic gear in the headlight motor is stripped. very very very very common problem. you'll also probably notice you can't turn the foglights on without the headlights popping up(for the OP at least).

do a search on google, there's a free fix that works most of the time. otherwise you can pick up a plastic replacement, brass replacement, or whole new motor. i got remanufatured motors from autozone for $70 each, with lifetime warranties. good thing they're warrantied because my 5th one just stripped.

[FlyingDutchman]

Originally Posted by creeper

the plastic gear in the headlight motor is stripped. very very very very common problem. you'll also probably notice you can't turn the foglights on without the headlights popping up(for the OP at least).

do a search on google, there's a free fix that works most of the time. otherwise you can pick up a plastic replacement, brass replacement, or whole new motor. i got remanufatured motors from autozone for $70 each, with lifetime warranties. good thing they're warrantied because my 5th one just stripped.

shouldnt you also be able to flip the gear 180* ?

[Jersey Mike]

Go to Autozone & pick up a new headlight motor for $70. It has a lifetime warranty on it so you can bring it back the next time this happens & they'll exchange it for free (just hold onto your receipt).
For now, you can temporarily fix it by manually turning the motor/gear 180* then reattaching the metal swing arm.
instructions/pictures here: http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headl....htm#FreeGuide

[91DropTop]

the motor problem would cause the lights to go up and down with the keyless entry??

[Jersey Mike]

Yep. Don;t ask me why.

[Slo86Bird]

buy ones from autozone and then bring back the broken one and get them replaced so u have good spares.

[creeper]

Originally Posted by 97camaro

shouldnt you also be able to flip the gear 180* ?

that was the free fix I mentioned

Originally Posted by 91DropTop

the motor problem would cause the lights to go up and down with the keyless entry??

yeppp. that's its way of telling you its broken.


try the free fix for now. if it doesn't work or the other side of the gear strips too i would recommend just getting the autozone replacements. if it ever breaks again, it's free. don't have to worry about taking apart and reassembling the motor, having it fall apart once installed (happened to me once) and all that hassle.

[91DropTop]

Originally Posted by creeper

you'll also probably notice you can't turn the foglights on without the headlights popping up(for the OP at least).

i just tried this and you are correct as soon as i turn the headlight switch to the first position the headlights pop up but dont come on

at first it seemed like something was shorted out but ill replace the motor tomorrow and see how it goes, we have plenty of credit with autozone

ill keep ya posted

Thanks

[maroman88]

exactly wat everyone else sed... just did it on my 98, one day it started grinding, hit the keyless and theyd go up and down and grind, went to autozone, and fixwd

[deadtrend1]

don't spend 70 bucks on a newmotor. I just did the "Free fix" to my 01 this past weekend

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

[creeper]

yeah I'd try the free fix first, otherwise $70 for a lifetime warrantied replacement is the way to go

[91DropTop]

thanks guys new motor is in and everything is back to normal