Headlights won't go down

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02-21-2001, 10:12 AM

Beefy89

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Headlights won't go down

All of a sudden my headlights won't go down.Any suggestions?

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We need Perry Mason

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02-21-2001, 10:59 AM

scauffiel

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Check my website - I've got a page that I dedicated to this problem. Though before you do all of that work you may want to see if your headlight relay is bad and replace that first.

Steve

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Steve's Trans Am Temple

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02-21-2001, 06:48 PM

GMI FAST

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Hey, Steve, what do think about MY problem: When I turn my lights on, they go up. When I turn them off, the doors stay up.

Is that the relay, or is one of the motors shot or something? Thanks.

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Old: 1989 Formula, 383", DFI, built 700R4, TFS heads, Mini-Ram, Vortech S-trim 15 psi, 3.70 gears
Best ET: 10.796 @ 125.8 mph

New: 1989 T/A, 400" CNC Bow-Tie Tall-Deck, Accel Pro-Ram, DFI, AFR heads, HRC T76 Turbo, NOS 150-hp dry kit, TH400 w/GV overdrive, 12-bolt w/3.70 gears, 8-pt. S&W rollbar, Spohn suspension, 18" wheels, Baer brakes
Best ET: Spring 2001

Employed at:
Hahn Racecraft
Accel EMIC/DFI Tuning
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Member of Midwest F-Body Association www.mfba.org

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02-21-2001, 08:26 PM

scauffiel

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Quote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by GMI FAST:
Hey, Steve, what do think about MY problem: When I turn my lights on, they go up. When I turn them off, the doors stay up. Is that the relay, or is one of the motors shot or something? Thanks.

</font>

Do they always go up? Every time? If not, it's probably the same problem GMI - can you hear a bunch of grinding/whirring when you flip the switch? If so, that's probably the deal - I think there are a couple of relays under the hood for these lights. However, I would think that if they had gone bad they wouldn't work at all, not just one way. Always a good excuse to rip a headlight unit out!

Steve

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Steve's Trans Am Temple

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02-21-2001, 10:22 PM

GMI FAST

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It's wierd, dude. The headlights ALWAYS go up, but never go down!

They don't make any goofy noise, either. They work fine until I turn the damned things off. The headlights shut off, but they stay up. Dammit!

------------------
Old: 1989 Formula, 383", DFI, built 700R4, TFS heads, Mini-Ram, Vortech S-trim 15 psi, 3.70 gears
Best ET: 10.796 @ 125.8 mph

New: 1989 T/A, 400" CNC Bow-Tie Tall-Deck, Accel Pro-Ram, DFI, AFR heads, HRC T76 Turbo, NOS 150-hp dry kit, TH400 w/GV overdrive, 12-bolt w/3.70 gears, 8-pt. S&W rollbar, Spohn suspension, 18" wheels, Baer brakes
Best ET: Spring 2001

Employed at:
Hahn Racecraft
Accel EMIC/DFI Tuning
Turbosystems & Custom EFI

Member of Midwest F-Body Association www.mfba.org

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02-22-2001, 02:57 AM

dudelovett

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With my ride, the lights go up and they turn on and off fine, but they won't shut until I turn the car off...weird stuff there

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1991 Firebird Formula
305 TPI
Auto
K&N Filter
Grant GT Steering Wheel
5% Rear tint
Pontiac Windshield Decal
No real mods yet!

Former owner of an 88 2.8 Firebird....RIP

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02-23-2001, 03:55 PM

RGZWS6

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Check this out. Turn your headlights on. Now turn them off --BUT-- push firmly inward on the switch while you do.

Did they go back down? If they didn't try it a few more times. If they did, more than likely you have a bad switch, but this little trick (not really) will get you by.

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89 Formula 305 TBI
160* stat, 200* fan switch, K&N, Headers, 3in Flowmaster (hollow cat) back, pullies, 1.6 full roller rockers, B&M trans cooler, home-made ram-air
3.73 Richmond gears and SLP Zexel Torsen Posi (waiting for install)

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02-23-2001, 10:12 PM

Adam89F

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I have had a similar experience.
Every once and a while, the headlight assembly will not go completely down.

Solution: All I had to do is press the switch further and ereka! they go down. Simple.

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West Coast Performance
1989 Formula 305 TBI

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02-24-2001, 09:15 PM

stingerssx

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Car: '88 Firebird Formula 350

Engine: Built 383 TPI

Transmission: Built 700r4

Axle/Gears: 9 bolt, 3.27:1 Posi

I bypassed all of that crap by installing a momentary on-off-on switch. Solved all of my problems. I also by passed the headlight switch and ran another switch. Soon, I'll be dumping all of the original switches, and run my own creation. I'll post pics when I'm done.

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...
http://www.spinfrenzy.com/stingerssx...easures.html#4