Popup lights oddity

[jmc1590]

Hey all,
I've got some problems with the popup lights on my '91 Talon TSi. I suspect that the previous owner thought it would be cool to have the light down mod, but botched it in the process.

The overall problem is that the motors do not run to lift or lower the lights. Popup switch has no effect in either position. Headlight switch has no effect either. (Note: The headlights work, I just find they don't produce enough light when shining through the plastic body housings.) The only time they do run is after I've used the motor "knob" to manually raise the passenger light. (The driver side is missing the link.) Once raised, turning on the lights instantly lowers it.

Here's the catch. The driver's side appears to always be in the "up" position. (Crank moved forward.) Same issues occur here as well. If I manually move the motor to the lowered position, turning on the lights instantly lowers it. After searching over the schematics and wiring diagrams, I can't figure out what might have happened to cause this. (I consider this a second problem, but it's solution may be related to the original problem.)

I read a thread that stated that the Passing Control Relay may be at fault. Jumpering the inputs / outputs made no difference. I've also heard that if the popup switch has been disconnected it will revert to always up. (Haven't gotten the dash panel of yet to verify.) I went looking for the "chiclet" to no avail, but suspect it's still there based on voltages taken at the passing relay with the headlights on.

Anyone seen this before? Any ideas?

Thanks!

James

 

[Tella27]

A friends did almost the same thing and his problem was the switch.

 

[jmc1590]

Update: Half of the problem solved. Turns out the Popup switch in the dash had been disconnected. After reconnecting it, the driver's side light functions properly. (This validates the statement that a disconnected switch will run the Popups in the up position all the time.)

The passenger side still wants to stay down. I'll continue to test and see if I can get voltages at the relay and the motor to see what is happening. I feel that the wiring up to the relay is probably ok, based on the side that is working. But if continued tests find nothing, I'll just keep moving upstream.

For the time being, I've move the link from the inoperative motor to the functioning one. Now I have reasonable light at night.

James

 

[jmc1590]

[Update] I've finally found the culprit. Turned out to be the motor itself. I ordered a replacement from S&M Auto Parts, dropped it in, and it works.

Now to move on to the other electrical gremlins...

James