quote:Originally posted by bah:
When headlight switch is moved to the 3rd position (1st=off/2nd=parking/3rd=headlights), headlight lights come up 2 inches and stop. The lights do come on. When the switch is moved back to 2nd or 1st position, lights go out but buckets stay up.
Have read prior posts on this (there's a lot of them) but none are my exact scenario. Most common advice seems to be clean switches and tighten wires.
So, where to start?
Thanks in advance for some direction.
Manually open the lights a bit if they are closed or close them a bit if they are open.
Look to see if the limit switch bumpers mounted on the drive gear are away from both of the limit switch levers that you can see with the hood open.
Lift the left front of the car to see if you have access to the motor drive wiring and if yes remove the wires.
Next using a test light, put one end on the wiring going to the motor to the test light (not the motor) and one end of the test light to a ground. Make sure the ground is good---(I usually check it with the cars battery first) Flip the switch on and off---in one position the test light should glow. Now do the same with the other wire and in the opposite switch position the light should glow.
Now you have checked the switch, fuse and relay. If the test light does glow when connected to one of the wires, see if the other side lights up with the light connected to the positive. This tell you there is a ground or power issue with one side of the relay. The relay changes the polarity to the motor based on which way it is energized. Make sure you can hear the relay trip when you flip the switch to the on-off position. It is located under the passenger dash area or on the left outer door if you have a later vin. You will know if there is a door on the drivers side opposite the fuse panel.
If the motor wires are acting correctly, it is a problem with the drive motor and or gear box it's self. What you are describing sounds like a broken drive gear in the box and the motor is heating up tripping the internal shut off. You will have to pull the assembly out to replace the gear or at least find out what is jamming up the movement.
It's not a bad job with a lay down radiator but you will need to pull the radiator if it's in the original stand up position.
If you need more guidance, please give me a call. It's easer to describe the procedures by phone.
Hope this helps. (419-344-8148)
Kirk