1988 GT Headlight opening issue. (Page 1/1)
deezil JUN 01, 09:54 PM
My 88 GT has had an issue for a while where the drivers headlight will not open. It's like it is in a bind in the motor. If you get out and twist the knob just a touch on the motor it'll spin right up with no issue. It doesn't do it 100% of the time but it's enough it drives me up a wall.
It has Rodneys pucks in both motors. I replaced them years ago for the heck of it.

Any idea what this could be? Bad motor itself?

Thanks in advance.
cartercarbaficionado JUN 01, 10:22 PM

quote
Originally posted by deezil:

My 88 GT has had an issue for a while where the drivers headlight will not open. It's like it is in a bind in the motor. If you get out and twist the knob just a touch on the motor it'll spin right up with no issue. It doesn't do it 100% of the time but it's enough it drives me up a wall.
It has Rodneys pucks in both motors. I replaced them years ago for the heck of it.

Any idea what this could be? Bad motor itself?

Thanks in advance.


have you taken the connectors apart and cleaned/ wiggled them yet? oh and DO NOT FORGET the motors are live at all times so disconnect the battery
my gt had motors that moved a few times before seizing (sitting for 20 years will do that) and i managed to get one working again after cleaning the corroision out of the connector and making sure the wires were continuous to the motor windings itself as one had broken
Dennis LaGrua JUN 02, 02:21 AM
Much of the time the gear motor inserts that are used to cushion the opening action of the motor are deteriorated. You can pull the motor open the case pull the gear and replace those inserts or save the work , buy a new motor on ebay for about $60. The 87-88 headlight motors are easy to fix while the early 84-86 motors can be a harder repair.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

css9450 JUN 02, 08:26 AM
I predict the large plastic gear is cracked..... The crack causes the gap to open up between those two adjacent teeth, and thus the small gear just spins and spins there without engaging the large gear.
Vintage-Nut JUN 02, 10:45 AM
FYI - One '88 member had the identical issue recently.....

He bought new motors, thought it was fixed; however, the root cause was found by replacing the light switch in the dash.....

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Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT
Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles

deezil JUN 02, 12:42 PM
I pulled the motor out last night and the gears and pucks look perfect still. I cleaned the contacts off with some small copper bore brushes
And sprayed them off with contact cleaner. I put it back together this am and thought I had it sorted. It did 4 or so perfect functions and then started going back to how it was.

I guess I'll order a new motor and see if that fixes it.
Kitskaboodle JUN 02, 03:07 PM
Before you buy a new one, have you tried adjusting the end play at the bottom of the motor? 87-88’s have this adjustment. It might help the binding issue if the end play is too tight. You only need to back off the flathead round plug a little bit.
Sometimes this will work and sometimes not. I had done everything to mine (new Delrin pucks, regreased everything, adjusted end play but one motor would continue to A) bind and B) would not come up. In my situation, a new motor did the trick and took away my problems. Good news is the motors are widely available and relatively cheap. (IMO) Kit

[This message has been edited by Kitskaboodle (edited 06-02-2025).]