My headlight motor keeps spinning and spinning. At first, if the headlight was down, the head spins really fast but once I open it it stops. I tried twisting the 'open' switch when it was up and now it spins constantly. I disconnected the battery so it wouldn't die. For clarification, it's the know at the top of this image - http://www.cwp-autoparts.co...137a4ec97aeaa4_m.jpg
So, now I'm stuck with a noisy headlight motor. Any idea whats wrong?
Another thing, my right blinker doesn't blink. It just turns on as a solid light. I dunno if its related through electrical issues, but I'd like to know how I can fix that as well.
For now, there should be a blue/black single connector thingie connected to the headlight motor. That is the power wire to the motor; disconnect it to keep the motor from constantly spinning
as for the blinker..... bad ground possibly... or a bad signal light relay (most likely). but just to be sure, check for any burnt out bulbs around the car, as they can cause a higher resistance in the circuit if they are burnt out. also check for any blown fuses underneith the dash on the drivers side.
[This message has been edited by Flux (edited 04-01-2013).]
84-86 year then Gear is shot... 87-up then Gear and module are bad.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Welcome to the Forum! The turn signal flasher is up by the steering column(little silver can thing). That may be the problem, or sometimes bulbs fail and change the load so the flasher won't see enough power.
[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 04-01-2013).]
The turn signal indicator lights up in the car, and the yellow tail light lights up too. It's just a solid light instead of blinking. I'm thinking it's the flasher because of this.
As for the headlight, I'm going to cut the motor power wire behind the headlight up/down button in the cabin. Then I can leave the headlights up, without power to them, and use the button to turn on and off the lights. Where can I find information about this part of the electrical system - which wire does what?
One last problem - I've had what I thought was a burnt out left headight. It isn't as bright as the right headlight, to the point that I get pulled over for it. I replaced the headlight with a new bulb, but it isn't any brighter. Why might this head light be dimmer than the other one?
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07:15 PM
Patrick Member
Posts: 38397 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
As for the headlight, I'm going to cut the motor power wire behind the headlight up/down button in the cabin. Then I can leave the headlights up, without power to them, and use the button to turn on and off the lights. Where can I find information about this part of the electrical system - which wire does what?
What's wrong with the following suggestion, until the motor is fixed? If you prefer to cut the wire in the cabin, that's your prerogative, but...
quote
Originally posted by Flux:
For now, there should be a blue/black single connector thingie connected to the headlight motor. That is the power wire to the motor; disconnect it to keep the motor from constantly spinning.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 04-02-2013).]
Or just pull out the relays if you're not sure about which cable does what and what position you want the headlights to stay in - up or down. Disconnecting that one blue wire will NOT fully disable the motor. It will disable the headlights going down. BUT if the headlights are down with the blue cable disconnected - by hitting the hl switch they WILL go up. You can look at the schematic in the service manual to get a full idea how the circuit works. To disable the motors you would actually have to cut the green wire.
To be sure just pull out the two motor relays.
[This message has been edited by cebix (edited 04-02-2013).]
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08:07 PM
Patrick Member
Posts: 38397 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
Disconnecting that one blue wire will NOT fully disable the motor. It will disable the headlights going down. BUT if the headlights are down with the blue cable disconnected - by hitting the hl switch they WILL go up.
If the problem is as described (one headlight motor not turning off when going down), what's the issue? Disconnecting the single connector on each headlight motor works well. I'm doing this right now with my Fiero. If I wish to manually put the headlights down, I do so. And to turn them on, all I have to do is use the switch, and up they go!
And nothing looks goofier than having one headlight up and one headlight down.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 04-02-2013).]
And if the problem is as described (headlight motors not turning off when going down), where's the issue? It works well. I'm doing it right now with my Fiero. If I wish to manually put the headlights down, I do so. And to turn them on, all I have to do is use the switch, and they go up!
Sometimes you don't want them to go up either for safety reasons. They are still energized in the fully open position and for troubleshooting I'd say you want to disconnect them fully. Say if you wanted to lower them manually while they're on - they won't let you. As soon as you start turning the knob and the limit switch goes they will energize and go up again. And if you have gear problems and limit switch problems which are very common they might suddenly start clicking also in the up position.
Just my thought on the problem.
EDIT: I think it's a design flaw - the cable that should be easily disconnectable should be the green one as it's the one constantly connected to one of the motor poles.
[This message has been edited by cebix (edited 04-02-2013).]
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08:21 PM
85 SE VIN 9 Member
Posts: 690 From: Harwood Heights, IL, USA Registered: Apr 2010
As for the headlight, I'm going to cut the motor power wire behind the headlight up/down button in the cabin. Then I can leave the headlights up, without power to them, and use the button to turn on and off the lights. Where can I find information about this part of the electrical system - which wire does what?[QUOTE]
The white wire. I use a Dorman 85933 push/pull switch because you only have to strip a little insulation and tighten the little screws to cinch in the wires. If your lights will power themselves to the up position this switch will allow you to leave them there.
The problem with these systems is nothing can be guaranteed. I unplugged the blue connector and it didn't stop the motor from running. I don't think the cutting the white wire worked either. Maybe because my motor was trying to go up. Whatever you do keep your body parts out of the way anytime the battery is connected. Rebuilding the motors is time consuming and dirty, but doesn't have to be expensive. It's also pretty much universal for Fiero owners. There was a design fault, at least twenty years out, that is relatively easy to correct, but if your Fiero headlight motors haven't been rebuilt they need to be soon.
[This message has been edited by 85 SE VIN 9 (edited 04-02-2013).]
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08:26 PM
PFF
System Bot
Patrick Member
Posts: 38397 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
Sometimes you don't want them to go up either for safety reasons.
Yes, it's definately worthwhile to point that out.
quote
Originally posted by cebix:
Say if you wanted to lower them manually while they're on - they won't let you. As soon as you start turning the knob and the limit switch goes they will energize and go up again.
Why would anyone try and manually lower their headlights while they're on?
quote
Originally posted by cebix:
And if you have gear problems and limit switch problems which are very common they might suddenly start clicking also in the up position.
But that's not the issue the OP has posted about... although re-reading his first post, I'm not sure when exactly the motor keeps spinning. I thought initially it was when the lights were being turned off. Now it could be both off and on. Hard to tell from what he's posted.
quote
Originally posted by cebix:
I think it's a design flaw - the cable that should be easily disconnectable should be the green one as it's the one constantly connected to one of the motor poles.
The design of the '84-'86 headlight motor system is terrible... agreed!
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 04-02-2013).]
Why would anyone try and manually lower their headlights while they're on?
I don't know. People do a lot of things. Maybe by accident, maybe just working on it thinking the motor is fully disconnected when it's not. The thing I'm trying to point out is that the disconnecting just the blue wire does NOT disconnect fully the motors from electricity.
But that's not the issue the OP has posted about.
While we're pretty sure the gear is shot it may well soon be. I say pull out the relays just to be sure the motor won't start clicking when going up. The limit switch or the rubber bushings may give out at any moment and the circuit breaker might start to click effectively draining the battery.
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08:38 PM
Patrick Member
Posts: 38397 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
To avoid possible high resistance or shorts in cut and spliced wiring, just unplug the single blue wire and also one of the leads going into the module on the headlight assembly. Then it's a quick plug and play when the motor is fixed and you haven't done any damage to the wiring.
By doing this, you can turn your headlights on or off in either the up or down position. You will have to manually raise or lower them and it's easily done by inserting a phillips head screwdriver into the dimple in the motor knob and spinning them in either direction.
------------------ Love my Fieros, S-curves and speed. It's what driving was meant to be.
The preceding was sent on my 6 year old Dell Dimension 2350 desk top with CRT monitor and dot matrix printer.
My father and I put a new metal gear in my headlights. I had the problem where my right motor would keep on spinning while it was up. Either the limit switch was bad, or we accidentally rebuilt it upside down. Just a suggestion. It's fixed now so it's cool.
------------------ -1986 Pontiac Fiero GT *Aquired at age 15 ------------------ What's inside of me is invisible to most, even in clear view.
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11:21 PM
Patrick Member
Posts: 38397 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
You will have to manually raise or lower them and it's easily done by inserting a phillips head screwdriver into the dimple in the motor knob and spinning them in either direction.
I just use the end of my finger.
