1987 GT Headlight Question (Page 1/1)
PipSqueek AUG 05, 09:21 AM
We just purchased a 1987 GT. The headlights will pop up just fine without any issue as long as the hood is up. If the hood is down, the headlights attempt to pop up but can't lift the covers from the hood. Is this a stripped gear or something else?
Australian AUG 05, 10:30 AM
Well must be friction as hood lid has nothing to do with headlights. Something is holding them back. See knobs at back twist.

[This message has been edited by Australian (edited 08-05-2021).]

fierofool AUG 05, 01:46 PM
The headlight doors attached to the hood have torsion springs that hold them closed. On the underside of each door is a pair of Teflon rub strips. The headlight mechanism rubs against those strips. Check that the contact point of the shroud is equally placed and that each contact point of the assembly is making contact with the rub strips at the same time. To correct this, you can loosen the assembly and raise or lower each side. Do this with the hood in it's half-lowered position.

The two retainer nuts at the bottom can be loosened using a 10mm deepwell socket. Then loosen the top nuts and position. While holding the assembly in position, tighten the top nuts, then the lower nuts.

Do not place your hands or fingers within the mechanism while the harness is connected unless you have a spare finger or two and a friend close by that can extract you.
PipSqueek AUG 14, 04:24 PM
I finally got a chance to look at this in depth. The lights will raise and lower fine manually. I can raise them all the way up manually then close the hood and the headlight flaps will open. So to my logic it would seem the motors would still be strong enough to pop up the flaps and hold them open. I found another post with a similar problem to mine. (https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/140521.html) It turned out to be a weak battery. However, I just changed my battery so I doubt that would be the cause. I took apart one of the headlight motors to see if any gears were stripped but everything seemed to be fine. At this point I'm grasping at straws and am guessing the headlights aren't aligning with the teflon strips on the flaps which is causing the motor to feel like it's getting resistance then going back down.
fierofool AUG 14, 09:57 PM
Sometimes an internal inspection of the gear and its shaft can be deceiving. The metal disk is shrink-fit onto the knurled shaft. Just trying to turn the gear by hand can be difficult and deceiving. It may slip under load, but not when hand pressure is exerted. It will allow the motor to run, but not raise the headlight under load.
theogre AUG 14, 11:40 PM
The motors are bad.
Do not fix or "rebuilt" them.
New motors are available thru AZ and Cardone via other part stores w/ good warranty. Ebay etc can be cheaper but little/no warranty.
AZ need phone # to attach warranty. This tracks warranty so you don't need receipt years later.

Other notes, See my Cave, Gen 2 HL Motor

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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

Dennis LaGrua AUG 18, 08:31 PM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

The motors are bad.
Do not fix or "rebuilt" them.
New motors are available thru AZ and Cardone via other part stores w/ good warranty. Ebay etc can be cheaper but little/no warranty.
AZ need phone # to attach warranty. This tracks warranty so you don't need receipt years later.



You can buy a set of two new headlight motors on eBay for about $100. While I have rebuilt 87-88 headlight motors successfully, we just don't know how long lasting the repair will be with the hardened dowels that are used and the 32-33 year old nylon gear. The hard dowels place a shock load on that gear and do not cushion it at the end of the opening and closing cycle. For a hobby car probably good but for a regularly used Fiero I'd have my doubts. I buy new motors now to make a one and done repair but for the budget hobbyist the $10 repair may very well do it.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

bthomas67wagon AUG 19, 11:53 AM
I have the exact same issue as PipSqueek posted on an 87 GT my dad gave me to fix and sell.
LMK the outcome and maybe some tips, as I might try and fix my headlights before trying to sell.