headlight motors. (Page 1/2)
richard in nc JUL 23, 05:59 PM
my 1987 came with an extra set of headlight mechanisms.i removed the not working headlight mechanisms to get better access to change the radiator.i bolted on one of the included headlight mechanisms to see if it worked.the wiring plugs are different so i assume its a noncompatible earlier type.i have a set of reatta motors.will they work?
Patrick JUL 23, 06:31 PM

1st gen motors... '84-'86
2nd gen motors.. '87-'88
theogre JUL 24, 11:55 AM
See https://web.archive.org/web...cast.net/~fierocave/ gen2 hHL motors

If motors are "dead..." Can by New Gen2 motors from AZ and Cardone dealers w/ lifetime warranty. Cheaper on Eflay w/o a warranty.

Motors w/ same 2 pin plug for other model may work but may have to switch side left Fiero is Right on some others.

------------------
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)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

richard in nc JUL 24, 05:50 PM
i don't know about the motors.at the very least the gears are stripped on the 1987 mechanisms.they were unplugged when i got it.i assumed the included headlight mechanisms would be plug and play.i was able to crank up the light.i will look at them better when i get time.
Patrick JUL 24, 06:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by richard in nc:

i assumed the included headlight mechanisms would be plug and play.



They would be if they were the correct motors for an '87. Of course, there's no guarantee that the "spare" motors themselves are any good.
sdgdf JUL 24, 06:35 PM
87-88 are very easy to rebuild, they have plastic gears on the inside that get chewed to bits over time. The earlier type 84-86 are a nightmare, its very hard to align the switches on the inside correctly and if you get it wrong they'll sap your battery and drain it down as long as they're connected.

I swear by these rebuild kits for the 87-88 motors: http://rodneydickman.com/pr....php?products_id=231

$11 and the 87-88 motors are good to go for years afterward. Never had them fail after replacing them. Longest I've owned any one Fiero has been 5 years.

On my current car, an 88 coupe, it had stripped motors when I bought it. Replaced those gears and zero problems.
richard in nc JUL 24, 07:10 PM
included with the car was two headlight mechanisms.one was complete with motor.one was missing a motor.a seperate motor was also included.i looked up the numbers on the motors.the mechanism that i installed has a 84-86 motor.thats why the wiring is different.the other seperate motor is a 87-88 motor.i guess i will order the above kit from rodney after i make sure the motors work.

[This message has been edited by richard in nc (edited 07-24-2023).]

sdgdf JUL 24, 09:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by richard in nc:

included with the car was two headlight mechanisms.one was complete with motor.one was missing a motor.a seperate motor was also included.i looked up the numbers on the motors.the mechanism that i installed has a 84-86 motor.thats why the wiring is different.the other seperate motor is a 87-88 motor.i guess i will order the above kit from rodney after i make sure the motors work.




Yup the wiring is different, on an 86 I had I swapped the entire front harness over from a 87 just to use the newer motors.
theogre JUL 25, 09:57 AM

quote
Originally posted by sdgdf:
87-88 are very easy to rebuild, they have plastic gears on the inside that get chewed to bits over time.
<snip>
$11 and the 87-88 motors are good to go for years afterward. Never had them fail after replacing them. Longest I've owned any one Fiero has been 5 years.

On my current car, an 88 coupe, it had stripped motors when I bought it. Replaced those gears and zero problems.

Wrong.
Gen2 Motors are Not as easy to rebuild and using new "pins"/"dowels" &/or new gear, worse metal gear to replace "nylon" gear Will cause problems regardless of RD and others pushing those parts.

See https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/128600.html

You and others just haven't own the car long & drive at night etc needed HL On enough to see the problems.
But Many have see the problems w/ "rebuild" motors very soon not years later so your Odds of Good "Rebuilding" is a Random Value.

And why I'm not the only one that just Replace the "Dead" motors w/ Cardone/AZ w/ Warranty or even Eflay "Knockoffs" because have "rebuild" motors and don't trust them ever again.

⚠️ Note: Drive @ Night is obvious but need HL in bad weather too but many don't bother and why now Many States and other places have Stronger Laws to Ticket w/ Points for not using HL any time Windshield Wipers are On. (Many States "Driver manuals" for getting a License have this "rule" in them for Decades but most states no law to Ticket w/ Fines & Points until last 10 - 20 years.)
Other states may add new HL w/ Wipers law in near future or currently use "ADVERSE CONDITIONS" or Fog or other low visibility.
https://www.wkyc.com/articl...26-8eb5-8dfa0546eb1e

Old Motors failing in your driveway or parking lot is bad enough... Failure driving on a highway can very dangerous, worse w/ many areas can't pull off many roads easy to manually force them Up, and cost Ticket Fines and Points too.
steve308 JUL 25, 01:17 PM
Easy to tell apart-----first gen large knob ----second gen small knob. First gen system is a pain in the a$$. Second gen is much improved. Critical parts for both systems are getting more difficult to get (relays and modules). Second gen motors are plentiful and can be found on e-bay, amazon, rock auto and at your local parts store. It's not unusual for a module to fail leaving you with just one functioning motor. C4 corvettes and Firebirds use the same module so if you have junk yards in your area be on the lookout for a module but if the wrecket car has it's headlights in the up position, the module is probably dead.