General question on headlight retraction. I have put up my lights and they will not retract. When I hit the switch to go up I get a interior light dim for a second like it is drawing power but nothing when I try to bring them down.I looked in the shop manual and there was no troubleshooting guide. I can use some help. thanks
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Re: 65 headlamps not retracting
Try the manual handwheel to roll them closed. It is on the inner side (I think it is listed in the owners manual). It is a slow process but that will get them closed and sometimes they are just stuck. If they still do not work, you can pull the motor/gearbox assembly. The main gear is many time the problem. Not a hard job but many people send them out for rebuilding. Don H. -
Re: 65 headlamps not retracting
The head lamps will work one day and then come up and not come down. I will try a couple of days later and will close first time. would like to fix them to work all the time. They work when THEY want to work.Comment
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Re: 65 headlamps not retracting
First thing I'd check would be the switch. If the lights were stuck, you should see the ammeter head south when you hit the switch.Comment
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manual retraction
I have brought the headlamps down manually and the go back up just fine(Iassume the motors are good?) but the still do not go back down Iknow the switch has power to open the lights could it be bad on the return sideor closing side of the switch.Comment
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Re: manual retraction
Good advice from others already. If they will raise but not lower I would eliminate the switch first. Clean it and check it. Then move on to the motor.
As has been said, the large gear in the motor housing often has stripped threads and, if the motor and gear case have never been rebuilt, it often has ancient grease. Clean out the old grease, turn the gear 180 degrees, regrease, and reassemble. Takes less than on hour per motor.
GaryComment
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Re: 65 headlamps not retracting
Jimmy:
I had a similar problem on my '64. They would always go up but sometimes they would not go down. The problem was at the firewall connector. The "prong" that fed power to the headlamp motors had gotten pushed in a bit. I disconnected the battery and pulled it out even with the other prongs using needle nose pliers. That was about four years ago and I have not had a problem since. I don't remember the color of the wire but it should be easy to trace from the switch, since its right near the connector
If that is not the problem, I would make sure you have continuity in the lines, your swithc is good and you have good connections before tearing into the motors. Good Luck!Comment
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