Technical Questions and Discussions - Puzzling Problems With Lights

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Puzzling Problems With Lights

Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Technical Topics Forum
Forum Name: Technical Questions and Discussions
Forum Description: Got a technical question about your fiero? ask it here.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2658
Printed Date: 23 November 2024 at 10:27am
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Topic: Puzzling Problems With Lights

Posted By: Shakey Dave
Subject: Puzzling Problems With Lights
Date Posted: 27 August 2011 at 3:37pm

A couple of nights ago my Fiero started making loud
grinding noises from the right front area. Closer
inspection showed that the noise was coming from the knob
on the top of the right actuator (which was, by the way,
spinning around at high speed). The car had been parked
for about 20 minutes, the ignition was off and both head
lights were down and not illuminated.

When I turned the ignition key on and pressed the head
light switch, both lights came up, turned on and the
grinding stopped. Next I turned the switch off and the
right light went down, the grinding started again but the
left light stayed up. After a few minutes of pressing the
switches and getting various combinations of lights
on/off/up/down, the grinding sound going on/off, and that
pesky "dinger" sound playing or not, we finally got both
lights down, no grinding and no "dinging". All was quite
in Sunset Gardens once again (I forgot to mention that is
was well past 1 AM!!)

At this point, all I wanted was to go into the house for
a cool drink but suddenly the grinding and "dinging"
noises started all over again. It was like a ghost was
controlling the head lights!! I'd had enough, so I
disconnected the battery and went to bed.

Today I tried again, but it still does the same things as
it did before.

Any suggestions about how I can fix it or where I can
take it?

Thanks

"Shakey" David Hathaway

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"Shakey" Dave Hathaway
www3.telus.net/myhistory

Replies:

Posted By: Romeo
Date Posted: 27 August 2011 at 4:14pm

I ordered in a rebuilt motor from the internet, and that solves all my motor issues, was very impressed. If you'd like, I'll look it up again.

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Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.

Posted By: Shakey Dave
Date Posted: 27 August 2011 at 11:27pm

Thanks for the info Romeo. I am going to wait to see if
any other messages come in before I decide what to do.
Right now I don't know if the problem is in the motor, the
light switch, the electrics or what!!!

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"Shakey" Dave Hathaway
www3.telus.net/myhistory

Posted By: Romeo
Date Posted: 28 August 2011 at 12:26am

Well, if you're reporting a "grinding noise", to me that implies mechanical issues, which in turn means the gears within the motor. You are right to check everything else though.

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Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.

Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 28 August 2011 at 7:01pm

Dave, it's the limit switch (or whatever it's called) inside the headlight motor not being tripped. Gears inside are probably worn out. The single wire connection at each headlight can be disconnected temporarily to stop the continual grinding.

Tons of this type of info at Pennock's.

Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 28 August 2011 at 10:28pm

It could be limit switches I suppose. But those switches work on pressure created when the mechanism hits one of the stops. When the limit switches go you normally see dead batteries or fried motors.

If the knob was turning but the headlight wasn't moving then there is gear damage for sure. If you blow out a gear then the pressure activated limit switch has nothing to push against, so the motor turns and turns.

Sounds like your dash headlight switch is going South also.

I just did a gear rebuild for a Forum member today. Rodney Dickman sells a good kit.

Dawg

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You dream it up....I'll make it