headlight motor repair

[pieeater]

Hi. had a problem with the headlight motor,thought i would take a look. one would only go up and down intermittently.took out the headlight and the plastic dome.removed the arm from the motor. you cant see the nut that holds the arm in place but is easy to get at 11 mm if i remember. there are 3 small bolts that hold the motor in place.removed motor through the headlight opening. on top of the motor there flat plate held in place by some small screw bolts.under the cover is a couple of gaskets behind them is a copper strip that touches some contacts at each end you can also see the gears and see how it lifts the copper contacts. i used a bit of fine wet and dry folded over with a touch of wd and rubbed it under the copper strip and its contact. replaced everything but the headlight and dome.headlight goes up and down as it should but at a slightly slower time than the other headlight.this can be adjusted on top of the motor where there is a screw and lock nut. turning it anti clockwise speeds up the motor and syncs it with the other headlight. if you have some power to the headlight and its not the motor its self (wind the motor up manually and use the switch to see if the headlight go's back down may tell if the motor itself is ok. thought i would post this so if you have a similar problem you may want to have a go yourself..

[Penelope Stopit]

You may have created armature end float by turning that screw and this will cause gear and bearing wear
The above is going on me taking a guess at what screw you've loosened off

[pieeater]

the screw on top of the motor is clearly an adjuster screw as if you turn it clockwise full the motor stops working but if you turn it a slightly anticlockwise the pod will drop. its the screw with a flat head slot in it and if you turn it the right amount it will make the light pod work in tandem with the other light.

[pieeater]

maybe some of the light motors don't have this adjuster my 350i is a 89 model but not sure. maybe someone else as some information on this

[John042]

I think you're right most motors with that screw just adjust the armature end float. Maybe there are different types? Unfotunately the ones I've tried to repair I've found the brass contact spring has lost its tension and therefore is a bit hit and miss repar.

[Adrian@]

By releasing the nut and spinning the adjuster you have created end float between the lower bearing/thrust plate and the adjuster you have turned, that again has a thrust cap on it. The float will create a chatter (much like a hammer driver) and the gear internally is only plastic so it may strip the teeth, as you start the motor/raise the pod. Anyway, it is difficult to assess whilst the motor is static/connected/on the car...IMHO as it is on the car...I would get it to where you feel that you are locking the motor up (slowing it) and release it a1/4 turn prior to holding the flat of the adjuster and locking the lock nut....that may not give your motor identical speeds but... A@

[John042]

Agreed Adrian, as I said earlier the contacts are a weak point as are the plastic gears. Especially the two plastic raised operating cams on the gear wheel.

[gmw9666]

Had this is my archive, assuming from Ian http://www.wedgeneering.co.uk/images/Lucas%20Pod%2...

[Penelope Stopit]

pieeater said:

the screw on top of the motor is clearly an adjuster screw as if you turn it clockwise full the motor stops working but if you turn it a slightly anticlockwise the pod will drop. its the screw with a flat head slot in it and if you turn it the right amount it will make the light pod work in tandem with the other light.

Yes that's the screw I was guessing you were turning, it is the armature end float screw that should be set before fitting the gear

[SEvans]

If they are operating at different speeds then I would look at the swivel/ball joints on the arms. They get gummed up over time. Cheers Steve