S13 retractable headlamps

[Hayai]

First off, lots of great threads on here about trouble shooting headlamp issues. I know the things to test out I'm just hoping my specific symptoms (unlike others I've read) will help me shorten the process.

Driving home tonight, I turned my lights on and both came up working fine. I got down the road and noticed my right light was a little low. Turned the lights off and back on and they go down and then back up to where they should be. I look back a bit later and the right side is low again. By the time I make it home the right is completely down. I turn the lights off and the left side stays up. The right side is still getting some kind of juice and is jumping a few cm up and down with a second or two break between jumps. I pull the relay by where the the battery should be (relocated battery) to stop the jumping. The relay and the motor were both excessively hot.

Any idea of where I should start the trouble shooting? I appreciate any assistance.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I'd probably start by replacing the relay. If its getting sticky, it'll cause what you're talking about.

[Hayai]

Thanks for the reply. I figured out the problem with one other symptom. When I was driving down the road today, I hit a bump or the wind was just right or a combination of the two but the right light came up on it's own. I knew then the motor had to be bad or something else was broke. Sure enough the arm that connects the motor to the light was broken. I guess last night it just wasn't fully detached. Today it was.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

That'll do it!!!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I'm surprised it wasn't making any funny noises.