I'm a new member and new owner of a 2001 coupe and have 2 problems I need assistance with:
1. I'm ready to mount a female jack in the console for my MP3. I have the 4 conductor wire but need some assistance in finding the existing 4 conductor audio cable that runs from the head unit to the rear (for a CD changer). Is it accessible in the passenger floor area with the panel removed or do I have to fish around under the carpet? What color is the jacket/insulation? I have the pdf diagram on hookup but need to find the wire. I don't want to go from the rear to the console unless there's no other way.
2. I changed out my low-beam lamps with HELLA HB4 Xenon Blues. Really can't see much difference from the bulbs I took out. In doing this I must have messed up the gearing on the drivers side. It goes up fine but when I turn the lights off, it goes down and continues to grind about 5-10 seconds after the light is completely down - then stops. I've tried manually raising and lowering both partially and entirely to no avail.

First of all welcome aboard! Now about your headlight problem I would seriously take it to a pro! I had a problem similar to this awhile back and I tried to fix it myself and it turned into a nightmare and then when I finally took it to a "pro" they said that they could have salvaged it if I didn't tamper with it! So I had to buy a new light fixture! Not good! As far as finding the 4 output you should be able to access it from the passenger side, if I am correct.:cheers:

I've checked out Rodney Dickman's site and he has a good solution, CNC cut brass gear with all the other stuff needed to make this problem go away. Been working on cars for 50 years and am NOT going to pay some kid a couple 100 to do something I can do. Will let you know how I make out. One brass gear, silicon, motor bracket, and epoxy cost me $50.95.

:lol: LMAO! Good luck with that and sorry I couldn't be of more help to you.:cheers:

How did your repair go? I have a right headlight that is now refusing to come up. It would not work once in awhile up now seems to have decided to not work at all now. Headlight lights up, just doesn't pop up. Assuming I need to replace the gear?

How did your repair go? I have a right headlight that is now refusing to come up. It would not work once in awhile up now seems to have decided to not work at all now. Headlight lights up, just doesn't pop up. Assuming I need to replace the gear?
This is a very easy fix junkman has the diy for you

How did your repair go? I have a right headlight that is now refusing to come up. It would not work once in awhile up now seems to have decided to not work at all now. Headlight lights up, just doesn't pop up. Assuming I need to replace the gear?

Yup!! If the motor runs eckler has gear kits!!!

I just don't even like the look of the light area, looks way too complicated to me! lol I will leave that to the pros!

I just don't even like the look of the light area, looks way too complicated to me! lol I will leave that to the pros!

Dude, save your money. If you can't follow my instructions on how to do this, you shouldn't be driving. :lol:

This is an easy fix, all you have to do is take your time and read. Here are the instructions. (http://www.smokinvette.com/corvetteforum/showthread.php?t=8270) Tell me what you think.

Dude, save your money. If you can't follow my instructions on how to do this, you shouldn't be driving. :lol:

This is an easy fix, all you have to do is take your time and read. Tell me what you think.

Junkman, thanks for the instructions. I just placed my order for new headlight gears. I'm going to try and takle it this weekend. Since, you've done it before, how much more difficult (or possible at all) would you say it is to leave the headlight in place and just remove the headlight motor assembly?

Thanks again for you help.

Nice to have you here!! :welcometoourcl sorry about the issues, but save your money!

Junkman, thanks for the instructions. I just placed my order for new headlight gears. I'm going to try and takle it this weekend. Since, you've done it before, how much more difficult (or possible at all) would you say it is to leave the headlight in place and just remove the headlight motor assembly?

Thanks again for you help.

If it were me and this is the first time I was doing it, I would do it EXACTLY as my instructions show and remove the entire assemble. It's just so much easier to put the thing back together if you do so. Once you totally understand how everything goes together and how the headlight works, then you can devise your own short cuts. If you decide to install HID's, you're going to need to remove the entire headlight anyway (unless you're trying to throw out your back), so now is a perfect time to learn how to do it. Follow the instructions to the letter, especially if you decide to do any verticle adjusting of the lights. That golden rod will break if you start cranking on it without lubing it up and letting it soak for a good long while.

I had a guy this weekend who called me and said that his motor would not go back in. He was trying to put it in backwards, but didn't realize that because he had just removed the motor so it didn't make sense to him.

If you have any questions, just ask me. I'm always on the web, pretty much at any given hour. :thumbsup3:

If it were me and this is the first time I was doing it, I would do it EXACTLY as my instructions show and remove the entire assemble. It's just so much easier to put the thing back together if you do so. Once you totally understand how everything goes together and how the headlight works, then you can devise your own short cuts. If you decide to install HID's, you're going to need to remove the entire headlight anyway (unless you're trying to throw out your back), so now is a perfect time to learn how to do it. Follow the instructions to the letter, especially if you decide to do any verticle adjusting of the lights. That golden rod will break if you start cranking on it without lubing it up and letting it soak for a good long while.

I had a guy this weekend who called me and said that his motor would not go back in. He was trying to put it in backwards, but didn't realize that because he had just removed the motor so it didn't make sense to him.

If you have any questions, just ask me. I'm always on the web, pretty much at any given hour. :thumbsup3:


Thanks agian for the tips. Hopefully my order will be in before this weekend. I'm planning on spending sunday working on the headlights. Luckily, whoever had the vette before me put in HID's and they look sweet. I'm hoping they didn't screw anything up when they did it but if I have any questions i'll be sure to let you know!

Thanks agian for the tips. Hopefully my order will be in before this weekend. I'm planning on spending sunday working on the headlights. Luckily, whoever had the vette before me put in HID's and they look sweet. I'm hoping they didn't screw anything up when they did it but if I have any questions i'll be sure to let you know!

Whatever you do, don't take both headlights out at the same time. If you need to see how it was originally, you want to have one to fall back on. I've heard how some guys screwed themselves by not following that advice.

Do the driver's side first, it's the easier or quicker of the two to do because you don't have to deal with the headlight module.

Whatever you do, don't take both headlights out at the same time. If you need to see how it was originally, you want to have one to fall back on. I've heard how some guys screwed themselves by not following that advice.

Do the driver's side first, it's the easier or quicker of the two to do because you don't have to deal with the headlight module.


That's great advice. Luckily, my driver side headlight is the only one with the jackhammer sound effects right now. I'm praying the other one doesn't start making sounds anytime soon!

Dude, save your money. If you can't follow my instructions on how to do this, you shouldn't be driving. :lol:

This is an easy fix, all you have to do is take your time and read. Here are the instructions. (http://www.smokinvette.com/corvetteforum/showthread.php?t=8270) Tell me what you think.
Great DIY post Junkman...

Junkman to the rescue! :cheers:

Great DIY post Junkman...

Junkman to the rescue! :cheers:

I remember the first time I heard my car make that dreaded noise. The only thing I could see was $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

It's nice to know that there are solutions for the common issues that this car has, and that there are folks out there willing to share that info. I know I'm grateful! :thumbsup3:

Junkman,

I got the gear in today and decided to go ahead and replace it. It got it out no problem. Took the plastic gear out (two teeth were gone) replaced it with the new brace one. But it all back together, glued and screwed back on. reattach to car, reconnected battery, hooked up the wiring harness and turned the switch...worked perfectly!

Twice. Cut them on, cut them off twice and then on the third time the noise started again. Except it wasn't a grinding noise. It was more like a 'whirling' noise. The adjustment knob on top that you can manually turn to raise and lower the light was just free-spinning for about 6 seconds then it stops. I don't know what to do next? Now it's making the 'whirling' sound and free-spinning on the way up and down? Any advice or am I just going to have to get a whole new motor?

Junkman,

I got the gear in today and decided to go ahead and replace it. It got it out no problem. Took the plastic gear out (two teeth were gone) replaced it with the new brace one. But it all back together, glued and screwed back on. reattach to car, reconnected battery, hooked up the wiring harness and turned the switch...worked perfectly!

Twice. Cut them on, cut them off twice and then on the third time the noise started again. Except it wasn't a grinding noise. It was more like a 'whirling' noise. The adjustment knob on top that you can manually turn to raise and lower the light was just free-spinning for about 6 seconds then it stops. I don't know what to do next? Now it's making the 'whirling' sound and free-spinning on the way up and down? Any advice or am I just going to have to get a whole new motor?

What you need to do is look at the one that works and have someone turn it on and off. Then, look at the one that is messed up and do the same. The problem should be very evident to you. It sounds as if the center bolt is not connected correctly. If I remember it right, the bolt had to go into a hole that was shaped a specific way.

I highly doubt that your problem is internal to the motor. I think you just put it together wrong. Inspecting both lights at the same time will most likely reveal the problem. I'd bet on it.

This is something that I would have a hard time trouble-shooting via the Internet because my repair went perfectly. As slow as I went, I couldn't help but to get it right.

Dude, save your money. If you can't follow my instructions on how to do this, you shouldn't be driving. :lol:

This is an easy fix, all you have to do is take your time and read. Here are the instructions. (http://www.smokinvette.com/corvetteforum/showthread.php?t=8270) Tell me what you think.

I thought that it was very easy to follow as with just about all of you DIY'ers!:thumbsup3:

I thought that it was very easy to follow as with just about all of you DIY'ers!:thumbsup3:

:thumbsup3:

I make my instructions so that they can be followed by people like me: not-quite-a-shade tree mechanic. :lol:

I started looking at it a little closer earlier today and realized that the casing that I had to re-glue had come un-glued. I ended up having to take it all back appart and run to the store to get some more epoxy. Next time I will definitely wait the 24 hrs required by Double Bubble.

The thing is, it ended up chewing the bushing up inside the gear so I had to put the old one back on (luckily, I saved it). I've got it all back together but haven't turned it on yet. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow!

I started looking at it a little closer earlier today and realized that the casing that I had to re-glue had come un-glued. I ended up having to take it all back appart and run to the store to get some more epoxy. Next time I will definitely wait the 24 hrs required by Double Bubble.

The thing is, it ended up chewing the bushing up inside the gear so I had to put the old one back on (luckily, I saved it). I've got it all back together but haven't turned it on yet. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow!

Wow, if it chewed up the new gear, then I wonder what kind of shape the shaft of the motor is in. If that case came off, then it sounds like you didn't have the T-bracket that I also bought just in case this happened. The T-bracket helps hold that lid on so that your problem doesn't happen. Then again, you were supposed to wait 24 hours before trying the light. When you have light issues after this repair, the issue is always obvious once you look close enough.

I hope the glue you bought holds up. I couldn't find anything that would work except for what came in the kit. Let us know what you used if it works.

Wow, if it chewed up the new gear, then I wonder what kind of shape the shaft of the motor is in. If that case came off, then it sounds like you didn't have the T-bracket that I also bought just in case this happened. The T-bracket helps hold that lid on so that your problem doesn't happen. Then again, you were supposed to wait 24 hours before trying the light. When you have light issues after this repair, the issue is always obvious once you look close enough.

I hope the glue you bought holds up. I couldn't find anything that would work except for what came in the kit. Let us know what you used if it works.
Glad to have you here Junkman you are a great asset to this forum :thumbsup3: :worship: :thumbsup3: :worship:

Glad to have you here Junkman you are a great asset to this forum :thumbsup3: :worship: :thumbsup3: :worship:

Glad I can help out. This is my second home and the only place I post this much other than my normal spot. I really like it here too. :thumbsup3:

Well it didn't eat the 'teeth' of the new gear just the bushing that came with it. Looking back at your pictures your new gear doesn't require the rubber bushing to be replaced.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj128/nicstockman/gears1.jpg

This picture is the gear that I ordered and it came with a rubber bushing insert. That insert is what got chewed up. The gear itself was ok.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj128/nicstockman/fr5749.jpg
Luckily the original bushing was in good shape and I was able to reuse that one.

The epoxy I used was called Plastic Weld. I picked it up at Advance Auto. It is supposed to be a 5 minute epoxy but I let it sit overnight. Tried it out this morning and it worked great. I think I'm going to add a little more around the edges just to make sure it never comes off again! I might just try to pray over it or something too!:rofl:

Well it didn't eat the 'teeth' of the new gear just the bushing that came with it. Looking back at your pictures your new gear doesn't require the rubber bushing to be replaced.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj128/nicstockman/gears1.jpg

This picture is the gear that I ordered and it came with a rubber bushing insert. That insert is what got chewed up. The gear itself was ok.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj128/nicstockman/fr5749.jpg
Luckily the original bushing was in good shape and I was able to reuse that one.

The epoxy I used was called Plastic Weld. I picked it up at Advance Auto. It is supposed to be a 5 minute epoxy but I let it sit overnight. Tried it out this morning and it worked great. I think I'm going to add a little more around the edges just to make sure it never comes off again! I might just try to pray over it or something too!:rofl:
Glad to hear it all went well... 2 Our Fathers and 1 hail Mary should do the trick....

This picture is the gear that I ordered and it came with a rubber bushing insert. That insert is what got chewed up. The gear itself was ok.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj128/nicstockman/fr5749.jpg
Luckily the original bushing was in good shape and I was able to reuse that one.

Did you order that kit from Brent (the guy that I got mine from)? The reason I went with Brent's gear is so that I wouldn't have to deal with that rubber insert.

solution to Mp3 player problem:

http://www.pqtsi.com/sedona/vetmp3.pdf

Did you order that kit from Brent (the guy that I got mine from)? The reason I went with Brent's gear is so that I wouldn't have to deal with that rubber insert.


No, I went with Mid-America. I've been using them on my 78 vette for 9 years years now. They haven't let me down yet. This gear kit ran me $50 bucks through M-A and it arrived in two days.

No, I went with Mid-America. I've been using them on my 78 vette for 9 years years now. They haven't let me down yet. This gear kit ran me $50 bucks through M-A and it arrived in two days.

I will look into that! Cool!

No, I went with Mid-America. I've been using them on my 78 vette for 9 years years now. They haven't let me down yet. This gear kit ran me $50 bucks through M-A and it arrived in two days.

Aha! Now see what happens when you don't listen to your local Junkman? :lol: