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fiveoformula Member

Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 1799 Location: OR
1988 Pontiac Formula
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:49 pm Post subject: Bird headlights |
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I have been living with the pop-ups not working for long enough. Whats the best way to fix these things? the motors run and the lights will twitch for a minute then give up. I was checking out TDS's rebuild kit, is that the way to go?
http://www.top-downsolutions.com/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=87 _________________
'88 FORMULA |
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GREG DAVIDSON Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 1159 Location: Salem
1989 Pontiac Formula
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| just hope its not the switch on the firewall its disscontinued and exensive as hell tap on it with the light switch on and see what happens and if you get that kit let me know how it works |
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iansane Member

Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 5742 Location: Bothell
1991 Pontiac Trans Am
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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That's the rebuild kit I used for both of mine. Took maybe an hour, hour and a half to do both lights. What took the longest was cleaning the remainder of those nylon bushings out of the motors. IIRC, one motor is easier than the other because of the orientation of the gears but it wasn't difficult at all.
I don't think I could live with the popups not working for more than a few hours. I hate that redneck look. I don't want to have to bust out my mullet wig. _________________
| Quote: | | Sometimes I actually think I'm slightly retarded in the mouth. |
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chevymad Master B
Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 5476
1987 Pontiac Formula
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| On mine I just cleaned out the pieces of the bushings then filled the whole thing with jbweld. Been working fine for almost 10 years now. |
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popballz Member

Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 533 Location: Tacoma, WA
1989 Pontiac Firebird
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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I used a rubber hose for the bushings and it works great! _________________ -Donald
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fiveoformula Member

Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 1799 Location: OR
1988 Pontiac Formula
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Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Lol at the JBweld and hose! I've been flipping them up and down by hand everyday for about 4 years lol, So I broke down and ordered the kit, it'll take about 5 daysto get here. Ill let you guys know how well it works. |
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alloy T56 Elitist

Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 1716 Location: Vancouver, WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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I love JB Weld!!! I fix transmissions, stoves, plastic trim parts, arm rests, modify firebird heater controls to take LED's, intake manifolds.............you name it!!! Great stuff, better than sliced bread  _________________ Member of the "Elite T56 Club" , big brake club, and "burgundy" (not red or maroon) car owner.
www.t5cablespeedometer.com
www.t56cablespeedometer.com
Ronald Reagan: "Most of us wonder if our lives made any difference. Marines don't have that problem." |
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RSFreak The other "John"

Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2946 Location: Renton
1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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When we tested the lights on my T/A, the driver side worked fine but the passenger side required a slight nudge on that little dial/knob thing and then it opened just fine. What causes this?  _________________ '86 Trans Am - 5.0L TPI - LT1 cam - 700R4 - WS6
'85 Camaro Berlinetta - IROC clone
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d00012 Member

Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 679 Location: Granite Falls
2007 Pontiac GTA
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:01 am Post subject: |
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| JB weld...good stuff, has fixed holes in my intake. Probably not the same brand, but my dad gets similar stuff from Boeing. |
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fiveoformula Member

Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 1799 Location: OR
1988 Pontiac Formula
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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| RSFreak wrote: | When we tested the lights on my T/A, the driver side worked fine but the passenger side required a slight nudge on that little dial/knob thing and then it opened just fine. What causes this?  |
Probably the shreads of the nylon bushings gunking everything up. That seems to be the main reason the motors fail. |
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RSFreak The other "John"

Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2946 Location: Renton
1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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| fiveoformula wrote: | | RSFreak wrote: | When we tested the lights on my T/A, the driver side worked fine but the passenger side required a slight nudge on that little dial/knob thing and then it opened just fine. What causes this?  |
Probably the shreads of the nylon bushings gunking everything up. That seems to be the main reason the motors fail. |
It doesn't seem to be stuck though. One little nudge and it pops up just like it should. And it closes with no problem. _________________ '86 Trans Am - 5.0L TPI - LT1 cam - 700R4 - WS6
'85 Camaro Berlinetta - IROC clone
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fiveoformula Member

Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 1799 Location: OR
1988 Pontiac Formula
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Lol before mine were totally finished, they would flicker going up or down and sometimes they would lock if I was lucky. lol |
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fiveoformula Member

Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 1799 Location: OR
1988 Pontiac Formula
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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Complete sucess! My lights work flawlessly now! I cannot believe I procrastinated that long with these things.
Anyone with a bird thats got motors that spin but won't go up, just buy this kit. I could rebuild 100 of them a day, easy stuff.  _________________
'88 FORMULA |
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popballz Member

Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 533 Location: Tacoma, WA
1989 Pontiac Firebird
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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| RSFreak wrote: |
It doesn't seem to be stuck though. One little nudge and it pops up just like it should. And it closes with no problem. |
My black trim piece on the headlight was getting stuck on the bumper. I used to have to bump it to get it up too!  _________________ -Donald
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fiveoformula Member

Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 1799 Location: OR
1988 Pontiac Formula
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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| popballz wrote: | I used to have to bump it to get it up too!  |
Whoa there buddy, this is not that kinda thread...  |
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Alphius Peanut

Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 2429 Location: Grand Mound
1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| fiveoformula wrote: | | popballz wrote: | I used to have to bump it to get it up too!  |
Whoa there buddy, this is not that kinda thread...  |  _________________ 84 Camaro Z28 - LS1/T56
85 Silverado - Low and Slow |
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Dv8 Member
Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 108 Location: Ruston WA
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Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:57 pm Post subject: Source |
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I agree with fiveoformula This is the best place to get the parts to fix the firebird headlight motor.
http://www.top-downsolutions.com/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=87 _________________ 88 Camaro IrocZ Convertible 5.0 TPI...
89 Camaro IrocZ 5.7(kids)
91 Camaro RS ( kids)-cloning to Z28
54 chevy 5 window Truck ( in creation ) |
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