When I activate my alarm my lights pop open momentarily and close again. When they close it sounds like the motor stays engaged and running for probably another 10 seconds, making a grinding sound. It also happens when I turn off my lights. It only happens when it closes, not when it opens. The lights seem to work great, they open all the way and close just fine except for that noise. It is pretty loud also. Is there anything I can do short of buying a new $80 motor? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Boz

 

GM had a really good idea with the headlight motors. They have a metal gear turning a plastic gear. The teeth on the plastic gear get worn down, which causes the noise. Do a search for "headlight fix". There are solutions.

 

You can purchase a set of brass headlight gears for around $35. You'll have to take apart the motor and put in the new gears. You won't have to worry about any grinding headlights.

 

Thanks for all your help!

 

http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm

I purchased a kit from Brent. Fast shipping, great to deal with. Check out the video his friend did of the replacement. It will walk you right throught it, if you haven't done this already

 

I bought a set of the brass gears back in 2002 and didn't have to install them until last month when my plastic gears finally stripped. However occasionally the driver side headlight won't come up and I have to push down on it several times turn the lights back on and it will engage, totally random when it occurs, and its only an issue with the lights popping up, they always close fine. Another things is that my headlights seem to shake a little more while on bumpy roads and they didn't do that with the plastic gears. Those issues aside, the brass gears are a fine.