popup headlights

[mrhappy]

hi i am new to this site
i have been rebuilding a 84 excel for 18mth and want to mot it asap
but n/s headlight only works if i talk nice to it first,
and if its in a good mood .
is it a relay or motor and as anyone had a similar problem?

[AndyC]

It could be the relay any that would possibly be the easiest fix (it would have to be a corroded/ failed contact inside it to be intermittent)
It could be the motor (the gearbox at the end of the motor can become rusted up).
It could be a lot of rust on the balls that the push rod acts on.
It could be the pivot bolts (or technically machine screws) on either side of the pod.

I'd suggest, remove the headlight reflector to gain access then disconnect the push rod from the pod. Does the pod move freely? If not then look to pivots. If it does then look to motor, with the push rod off at both ends, switch the lights off and on again so as to see the motor turn. Does it turn freely (not moving slowly)?

Andy

[mrhappy]

thanks andy ,iwill check it out

[rbgosling]

I've also had an intermittent headlamp problem, which I eventually traced to the electrical connector into the headlamp motor. Contacts just needed a thorough clean-up and it's been fine since. Another suspect worth checking out...

[mrhappy]

hi thanks for that
i will be stripping the headlights this weekend and will post the final result,
john.