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Driver's side flip up not working

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akana1723

Probationary Member
10
0
Nov 26, 2010
Edmonton, AB_Canada
Hey guys,

I have done some research on this site and the web and what not and looked at the car myself... but can't seem to find an earlier resolution to this problem I am experiencing.

This is the first dsm car I have owned (1991 Eagle Talon TSI) and I must say I love it. I bought it as a winter beater but it is growing on me and might turn into a drag car project for next summer. I am a self taught mechanic and have built a few vehicles and what not so I am very mechanically capable. I have never dealt with a car using the flip up headlights though.

Here is the problem...

When I first bought the car, the headlights would come up, but the driver's side light would take about half a second longer to come up. About a day after I bought the car, the driver's side light would not come up anymore. I have to lift it up by hand if I plan on driving at night... Unlike the passenger side light though, the driver's side light can be lifted up with no effort at all but the passenger side light cannot be lifted up by hand. This leads me to believe that it may have come off its tracks from the motor? I have found in some of my research that the wires for the headlight motors (especially on the driver's side) like to fail quite easily. But since I can lift that light freely by hand and not the passenger side light.. as said before.. it sounds like its just an issue of the light coming off of its track or what not.

Have any of you ever experienced this probelm? As well.. a procedure to remove the whole light/track/motor assembly to inspect it? I am quite busy with school now and don't really mind that I have to just pull the light up by hand at night so I have not really looked at how to remove it but I would not mind mitigating this problem sooner than later.

Any help or advise is appreciated. I have looked over this forum quite a bit and it seems like a great group of guys. Love the car and look forward to possibly turning it into a project.

Thanks guys! and sorry for such a long post for a seemingly small issue.

Cheers,
Andrew
 
I have to lift it up by hand if I plan on driving at night... Unlike the passenger side light though, the driver's side light can be lifted up with no effort at all but the passenger side light cannot be lifted up by hand. This leads me to believe that it may have come off its tracks from the motor? I have found in some of my research that the wires for the headlight motors (especially on the driver's side) like to fail quite easily. But since I can lift that light freely by hand and not the passenger side light.. as said before.. it sounds like its just an issue of the light coming off of its track or what not.

I may be wrong but I will add my .02 cents. When you raise the headlight by hand I pretty sure you crank the motor by turning the red knob. If it were off track from the motor then turning the knob should not lift the light.. I may be wrong but I think I am right LOL It just may be faulty wiring or a bad connection, or possibly a bad motor. Good luck though!
 
I have never tried cranking the red knob actually. I looked at it but thought it was for the headlight alignment. I can give it a try though... the only thing that leads me to believe it isnt the motor is that I can lift the driver's side freely without effort and I cannot lift the passenger side at all.

I will try anyways and update. Keep the suggestions coming!

Thanks Usatuff.. appreciate the reply/advise!
 
I have never tried cranking the red knob actually. I looked at it but thought it was for the headlight alignment. I can give it a try though... the only thing that leads me to believe it isnt the motor is that I can lift the driver's side freely without effort and I cannot lift the passenger side at all.

I will try anyways and update. Keep the suggestions coming!

Thanks Usatuff.. appreciate the reply/advise!

The red knob has an arrow on it. When you turn it with the direction of the arrow it lifts the light, opposite the arrow it lowers it.I still maybe wrong but if you can lift it freely it may be that the motor is finally dead? I cannot lift either of mine by hand. I must turn the red knob or use the switch in the car to lift them.
 
Mine did the same thing. You need to turn the lights on and screw the knob until the light comes to its peak point. Then, adjust the arm. Unbolt the arm, then turn the little pivot joint forward and put the arm back on. Use the passenger light for reference.
 
You said the drivers side light won't come up by itself, but you can lift it up and down by hand.:hmm:

It has a rod that attaches it that most likely just popped off. These flip up style lights like to get a little stiff/rusty at the pivot point from sitting (outside especially) and not being used, so that can cause some problems when you go to flip them up. This would explain you just getting the car (lights hadn't been flipped up in a while) and how it was slow going up at first (rusty/stiff hinge makes it hard to flip up) and then the next time or two it popped the rod off.

The rod you need to check for has a plastic receiver threaded onto it that accepts a metal ballstud on the door to flip it up. This could have just popped off and the fix could be as simple as lubing the headlight door hinge and working it back and forth to free it up and then just popping the rod end back onto the ballstud. There is a possibility that you broke the plastic piece that accepts the ballstud and might have to replace that, but they usually just pop off.:)

Like the others say, there is a red knob on the top of the motor to turn the lights up and down by hand, but the rod has to be attached for the light to move of course. This is really only benificial if the motor or wiring is bad and you have to turn it manually to get the lights up or down. I do this on mine because I leave the fuse out so the lights just shine straight through the front clear part with the lights in the down position. This gives it a cool look for running the headlights in the daytime, but doesn't let you see at night as well as with them up so I flip them up by hand if I'm going to be driving at night. I just find that easier than fiddling with removing and reinstalling the fuse.LOL

So take a look at those things and let us know what you find. Good luck:thumb:
 
Thanks guys... really appreciate the helpful replies.

I will take a look at the car today possibly after work.. if not it will be sometime this week as I am not driving it much at the moment (taking lrt).

Will post my finding once I get it.

Thanks again!

Andrew
 
Remove the black plastic trim pieces, then lube the pivots. This should take care of the problem. Then reinstall the trim pieces.
 
Hey guys.. Sorry it took so long to update. The problem was in fact just a matter of the link between the motor and the headlight popping off. All good now.
 
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