My dad's 87 Coupe's left headlight motor is not operating correctly. The light doesn't always raise, but the motor still runs. If it does work the motor still spins after it is all the way up or down.

Is the motor shot? Or can it be rebuilt with Rodney Dickman's kit? Also, if I put the hood up it will raise every time. So it works without having the pressure of the hood cover on it. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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1988 Fiero Formula

Rodney's kit should be all you need. The motors themselves rarely, if ever, fail.

I agree with mrfiero. Sounds like the classic symptoms of "ground shear pin syndrome," especially if Dad noticed the LH headlight started "batting its eye" before it failed. Haven't tried Rodney's kit myself (make my own shear pins - can you say "skinflint?"), but others report the Rodney kit is good. Meantime, you can prop up the headlights while you're rebuilding the motors.

Just an observation, but it seems the LH headlight motor tends to fail first. Don't know why. One of my Fieros has a "winking" feature for the LH headlight, so it gets more exercise - but seems like the LH tends to quit first on other Fieros, too .

Thanks guys! The LH motor on my Formula operates slower than the right hand. I hope its not about to die also!

StuGood, when its "batting an eye", do you mean it starts to go up... then slams down? It has been doing that too.

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1988 Fiero Formula

The kit to do both headlights is $10 including shipping. Just get that and do them both.

Fformula88: That's exactly what I meant. Sometimes, the headlight will begin to open, slam down, start to open again, drop down partway, open a little farther, and finally manage to open all the way. It kind of looks like it's trying to wake up!

As usual, Ogre is right - you're better off rebuilding both motors while you're at it. That will ensure that 1) The other side won't fail at an inconvenient time, and 2)You won't misplace the other half of your repair kit.

My left blinked on my '87. Got the Dickman kit and was back in business after a hour of work and $5 (one headlight).

Better than the shop at who knows? $150 for a motor and labor?