C5 Corvette Headlight Motor Replacement - Detailed Process - Tips and Tricks
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ก.ค. 2017
- Covering how to replace a C5 Corvette headlight motor. In this video I go into some details that I feel were missed in some of the other videos and I really think they help to make the process a bit smoother.
Rocker shafts are out and off to the machine shop, more to come!
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Thanks for the explanation. You did a great job and lowered my anxiety about changing the motor.
It's easy peasy, just take your time :)
Well done. Your video took a lot of the mystery out of the procedure. This morning I finished putting the brass gear in my 2003 C5 (right side).
I cycled the lights about 10 times - so far so good - no more grinding. Of course the left side still has the plastic gear. It's just a matter of time until it starts grinding.
I'm a believer in the saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Who knows, the left side may go several more years - or several more days.
Thanks for taking the time to make the video.
We've replaced each side 2 times now.. I bought the lifetime warranty one from O'Reilly's thinking they would have put a brass gear in it.. guess not. Brass gear is next lol I'm glad this helped!
Thank you for this video, just changed mine today this was a big help much appreciated 🙏🏻
Thank you for the video and the step by step instructions. It was all very helpful. It saved me money and gave me an opportunity to work on my Vette. Thank you very much!!
Thanks man.
Appreciate uploaders that make jobs easier for those that follow in their wake.
👍
Thanks Mr👍followed your every procedure n replace my 2003 left head light motor .... finished without any problems. Thanks again😁
Thank you so much for posting this! You literally saved me $$$$ - much appreciated!
In the process of doing this job on my C5. My simply need to replace the headlight gear thought. Nonetheless, this is one of the most detailed and better quality videos on this subject that I've found. Much appreciated!!!
Hope it helped, thanks!
@@RamblinGarage Gez, I should've proof read that before sending. My apologies
Both of mine started becoming kooky after 18 years of flawless service. Bought mine from Rock Auto. All was well for a little while. The drivers side doesn't go all the way down. Just haven't replaced that one yet. It's on the list. Great video.
Did three of these in the past two weeks. Good vid!
Great video thanks a lot for posting, I’m in the middle of replacing one, and I’m going to go buy those 210 mm ratchet wrenches and it was a bear getting it out just three bolts and nuts but very tough position, I forgot to mark the screws but since I got a replace both I’ll do it on the next driver side. Thanks again mines a 2004 silver c5
Great detailed video! Thanks for making and posting this..
Hope it helped!
Thanks for taking the time to Make this detailed video. My 2002 just started having the GRIND on passenger side.
If I were to do it again I would do the brass gear replacement. I've bought lifetime warranty units from Oreilly Auto and I've still replaced each side twice.
Good luck!
Thanks for the help great video I am in the process of replacing the same side motor on mine. Does the same loud noise when it goes down.
Really nice Video, keep it up!
Thank you!
Thanks for the help , great video , I have to change both of mine this winter , 👍
Have fun! They're an easy little project
Your Video was a great help. Thanks a bunch
Awesome, glad I could help!
Great video ! Thank you
This actually a really nice video my dad doesn't have a problem with the motor yet but it's really helpful
Thanks! I hope it helps when the time comes! Unfortunately it seems that time comes for everyone with the late 90's to early 00's flip up headlight GM cars. Thanks for the comment!
@@RamblinGarage Uhhhhh yeah my motor went out
@@joshuageorge478 it's always just a matter of time :)
Excellent!
Great job, thanks!
Thanks for the video ...ive been living with my motor makeing that noise for a bit now ...
hopefully this helps you out! I would get the brass gear over a parts store replacement. It's a little more of a pain, but those parts store replacements are rough. I've replaced the replacements 3 times now lol
Excellent video! I just ordered the gear replacement from Corvette Parts Center. I have a 2000 C5 that is almost identical to your car, only difference is it’s the bright red color. A friend calls it “arrest me red.”
I love the red interiors in these cars! I think in any other car it would look awful, but these cars pull it off. I have been lightly looking for a C5z with the mod red interior, so the black and red interior. I love it! Good luck with the repair!
Great video with some excellent tips. You did however understate the difficulty of bolt removal/replacement. I found it to be a real knuckle buster...big hands and fat fingers beware!
Good video thanks
kjdcomp1 no problem, hope it helped!
Yeah my right side does the same thing. .I'm not sure about c5 but,c4 upgrade to the bronze gear
is there not a way to make them go up without using the headlights?
Can you do a video or point me in the direction of where to find instructions on putting in a complete new headlight assembly? And how to remove the front bumper and put it back on? My C5 was in a hit and the headlamp assembly is gone. I would appreciate it very much thanks!
Hey, let me see what I can come up with and I'll reply with them if I can find anything!
Excellent viedo. Anybody have the problem with the motor working but does't latch when it goes down?
Thanks! The gear itself latches the headlight down, it hits the bump stop and then the gear holds it in place. I would be willing to bet you still have a bad gear, it's interesting that it doesn't make noise once down though.
Thank you so much for posting this, was super helpful when I replaced my headlight motor on my 2004 C5. As a side, do you have any recommendations for a budget minded means of beefing up the exhaust sound on a C5? Again, great video and many thanks!
No problem! Glad it helped! If you want a budget way of making the exhaust a little more stout, look into the titanium exhaust mods that people do on the z06. Essentially what they do is they do a small pipe welded in that bypasses the mufflers. I think people only do like a 1-1.5" pipe. This allows some exhaust to flow around the mufflers, while most of it is stilll muffled, so the sound is louder, yet still deep and tolerable. You can do the same with the steel exhaust cars.
A good exhaust shop could do this on their own for cheap I'm sure. The third pic on this shows what I'm talking about. I'm sure a shop could do the whole thing for less than the cost of these pieces, but they are a good reference.
trackspecmotorsports.com/spec-corvette/c5-z06-ti-exhaust-bypass-mod-kit
Great video, couple issues for me after install. My headlamps are now going up and down opposite of each other and the repaired motor is not bringing the light open enough nor closing enough. Please help
The arm that connects the headlight to the motor is likely on in the wrong orientation.
Ramblin' Garage yes! I had to turn the motor pib 180. Thank you sir! Great vid
Lmbooooo omg that sound was funny
The replacement motor I bought has new leads for the connector. How do I get the old ones out? I have not snipped the wires yet, so they're still connected to the old motor. I have a '99 C5 btw, if that matters. I've seen a few differences between mine and the video...
Sorry for the delayed response, I have not seen that before.. you should be able to use a very small flathead screwdriver to remove the old leads from the connector, or a pick might work as well. Have you had any luck with the install?
How long did it take for the remanufactured A1 Cardone motor to fail?? They use cheap plastic gears that typically fail within days of installation. They also use RTV silicone to glue the cover back on the gear case and it does not hold for very long. Buy remanufactured OEM motors with aluminum gear upgrade from carguy8t8 on eBay.
No issues so far, if they fail again I will just replace with the upgraded gear. They're a lifetime warranty product so I wasn't too worried about it.
Yeah I had the same noise when it goes down, it was just the plastic gear inside, 17 buck fix
Yeah we were going to do the brass gear change, but these have the lifetime warranty, so I just figured it would be an easier way to go because it's my parent's car. When they go out in my WS6 I'm going to just do the brass gears.
nice, i also was thinking about doing the brass gear replacement but i decided against it, im probably going to regret it couple years from now, so i went with the basic replacement with a dorman gear
Yep, very good video. But I did misunderstand that the last (the 4th one) nut connects the linkage to the motor. You could help us slower types by counting them off🤓. I tried to pry it off so I could rotate the mechanism to get onto the good half of the gear. (It only uses like 160 degrees of the gear.)
Well, shortcuts are often the long way round as I broke the side cover away while prying and then had to remove the motor assy anyway to fix it. Bummer. Now that’s the gear rotated 180 degrees so I’m on the unused gears and unit glued back together. Back in tomorrow.
Thanks for the guide.
Did you get it all sorted?
Ramblin' Garage
Yes indeed. I ordered the brass gear rebuild kit for $49 and repeated the remove and replace. Works like a champ now.
Thanks for following up. Cheers.
how do you fix drivers headlight that wont pop up,already changed motor,i tested motor of car before i installed it,its brand new,i installed it plugged in wires.headlight turn on,but drivers side wont pop up,do you have a solution,Thanks
You may have the shaft in the wrong orientation, look at around 12:30 in this video, it should give you an idea of the orientation it needs to work properly.
Great video. I have a question maybe you can answer. My 2003 the left side occasionally doesn't go up. Usually after 2 to 3 times going off and on with the headlight switch it comes up. It's not making any unusual noises. Do you think the motor needs to be replaced?
Hey, sorry for the late response. That's an interesting one, I would first start with the free stuff, make sure all the connections and clean and connected including the headlight motor connection and the connector to your multifunction switch for the headlights. I've never heard of the motors just working intermittently to be honest.
Thanks. I'll check the connections and maybe use a little dielectric grease. Appreciate the help.
kenny karkalits i have the same problem. Drivers side intermittently won’t work while passenger side is fine. Did you ever find a solution?
One of my headlight painted covers is way out of alignment with the bumper. It’s dipped down into the bumper. Do yo my know what needs to be adjusted? Thanks.
@@Debkghtulvkfjkjfxjjcj At 11:07, that knob manually lifts and drops the light. A few turns in either direction can assist in lining the light cover to the hood n bumber.
Nice
Thanks!
How tight should the plastic gear fit on the drive shaft? The gear I purchased is so tight I can't push it on.
Working on mine right now. I took off the three mounting mounts. There’s a bolt on the other end of the shaft that goes into the motor. Does that have to come off? I can’t seem to slide the motor off.
You have to remove the three bolts holding the motor on and then the one nut that holds the bracket that is connected to the actual light bucket.
Ramblin' Garage thanks!
Ramblin' Garage well, I got the motor out and the new one in. But it doesn’t travel as far up and down as it should. And now when I turn on the lights the one i tried to fix goes down and the other one goes up and vice versa. Haha. I’ll try to find my mistake tomorrow.
@@Debkghtulvkfjkjfxjjcj you just have that arm on backwards. It's bending in the wrong direction is all, just have to make it bend the other way. If that makes sense?
Ramblin' Garage ok. Thanks.
Nice job but I am wondering why you didn't loosen the two nuts & screws at the pivot point of the headlight assembly and simply move it totally out of your way?? Sure make the job a lot easier...
Thanks! I think it would be easier, but then it adds another level of alignment to consider. I didn't find this hard enough to where it would be necessarily, but that's just me. Going to pin this so other people can see the option though!
I agree with Roy, I have very large hands and couldn't even get my wrist past the largest opening with the light still secured. Only two bolts and nuts to remove the light which made it possible for me. Helpful video nonetheless.
Mmm my right side works and motor noise but the left side doesn't open?
For later readers, my light was jammed in the down position. The pressure switch simply switched the motor off and it looked like an electrical problem. Make sure the door is free to open first thing.
I NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE MOTOR NUMBER OF ESE CORVETTE IS LOCATED
Are you just looking for each side's motor part number? I got mine at O'Reilly's and could get you their part number.
Best to not drop your hood at any height when closing it.
My 2003 hood started to crack where the latches are.
$5000 CAD for a new painted color match original hood.
If you can find one.
Not available for GM any longer.
Dropping is standard for hoods. I find when I drop it from a shot distance my will only latch on the driver side, pressing the passenger latch in is an exercise of futility. Easier on mine to drop from an even shorter distance, but give it a little push in the process.
Where did you get your motor?
Oreilly auto. If I were to do it again I would just do the brass gear upgrade.
@@RamblinGarageGet a chance, talk to Lyle at C&S Corvette in Sarasota, Florida. He's prolific on TH-cam and today helped me with a headlight motor issue I had. I converted from plastic to brass gears and did not realize the downside.
@@RamblinGarage Brass vs Plastic gears: th-cam.com/video/vJIMYfMh2sY/w-d-xo.html
You make it look hard lmao
You're the one looking for a video on how to do it ;)
from about 9:37 on gets bouncy..
Sorry man, feel free to make one more stable if you'd like Thanks!
Why outline those bolts like that?
Just for alignment when you put everything back together
@@RamblinGarage ok, thank you. I had assumed it was something similar to like a tamper mark. I’m not sure if that’s what it’s called…but I see them all the time where you draw a line across the bolt and onto the surface it’s bolted to in order to make sure it stays where it’s been torqued to
Is it necessary to keep it all aligned like that? I know the bump stop pieces (the small white pieces) need to stay put. Is it super important to align these back to their original spot?
@@gaberealking4103 yeah you'll want to keep them aligned or the headlight covers will have inconsistent gaps and heights when closed. My GTA has awful gaps currently because someone didn't do this when they replaced the motors haha now I have a few hours of alignment ahead of me.
C.
I enjoyed your how to video but I hate the very annoying bumper music!
Thank you for the constructive criticism. It's hard to find music for spots without any sound and no sound is awkward to me.
duh. camera movement...
Single shot on a tripod is kind of boring though
bouncing around too much for me
What do you mean?
looking to see whats going on is hard when it gets bouncy... your making a tutorial not an epic... boring doesnt come into play...and no. im done..
genej501 appreciate the feedback
Bad chevrolet design .. they should have used better vacuum lines.
GM should have changed a lot of things Haha