Sticking popup headlights? Here's an easy fix!

Website · Post by **usdm_180sx** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:04 pm

The right headlight on my car was sticking in the up position after I would turn off the headlights so I decided to look into fixing it (New headlight motors are ~$250 from the dealer and getting a used one only prolongs the inevitable sticking problem)

Anyway, the headlight motors have motor brushes that wear out over time (after 13 years they can definitely wear out)

What I did first was take off the headlight motor knob and cover (circled in red), then bent the brushes so that they touch the motor and added some contact grease. Reassembled everything and now they work just fine!

I'll post better pics tomorrow.

Post by **TotallyStock** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:35 am

Very Cool ---- I'll try that with my sticky headlight ---- Thanx!!!!!

Post by **srpowered240sx** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:29 pm

bitchin, my brothers car is doing this, hes gonna love you.

Website · Post by **usdm_180sx** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:14 pm

Quick heads up. There's a little spring that holds the motor brushes together. Be careful not to let it snap off! You can get another one at the yunkyard though

Post by **ghettoslide** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:33 pm

My left light 0n my 90 has started doing this, only when i turn lights off it stays up until i pop the hood then it goes down, Something needs to be aligned

Website · Post by **usdm_180sx** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:38 pm

ghettoslide wrote:My left light 0n my 90 has started doing this, only when i turn lights off it stays up until i pop the hood then it goes down, Something needs to be aligned

WTF alignment? Sounds like the motor brushes in your left headlight motor don't have any contact but when you pop the hood they touch meaning they're worn out. Sounds like my fix should work for you.

Post by **TotallyStock** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:05 am

usdm_180sx wrote:Quick heads up. There's a little spring that holds the motor brushes together. Be careful not to let it snap off! You can get another one at the yunkyard though

A trainload of thanx for this detail...thanx for the heads-up! I will look out for that when I start tweeking into the motor ----EXCELLENT POST!!!!!

Post by **ghettoslide** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:52 pm

I was thinking that maybe the hood shifted on it's hing and is applying pressure on the left. I just moved down a bumpy *** road and this started.