Topic: THIS MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU
in Forum: C4 Body
Already a Member?
Click Here to Login
Not yet a Member?
Click Here to Register for Free!
Standard Member
Moderator
Send PM
Moderator
lanoka harbor, NJ - USA
Joined: 3/22/2009
Posts: 1363
Vette(s): 1990 L-98 white/ red/black leather interior targa top auto
1975 L48 blue/black leather interior t tops auto
it seems that i have been getting a lot of unusal problems that have driven me crazy. when we put car back together evrything was working great. i had relaced the bushings in the headlight motors while they were out. after i got the car back the right side headlight was closing with a choppy movement.
i went in and readjusted the motor and seemed to clear the problem up. awhile later, it started acting up again this time it would stop halfway. if i opened the hood about a foot up it would close. i figured it was the angle the hood was at that the gears meshed the way they were supposed to. mad at myself for not getting the broze gears.
about a week before i went back to work from the surgery on my knee, i was working on the car and noticed the headlight cover had a small chip on the corner. upon checking out what caused it, i found out that and what caused the problem with the headlight.
there are two coolant lines that go to the resevoir in the front wheel well. the pipes were up off the frame about a 1/4 inch and the cover was getting caught on it. pushed the lines down and adjusted them until they were against the frame and now the headlight works perfect.
we repainted the cover and should be back on the car tomorrow. just goes to show a little thing can cause a lot of problems.
the dynamic duo
c3vr life member #97
SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C4VR)
You gotta pay attention to the details! I learned that the hard way when I was racing formula cars in the SCCA in the 1990's. Went out on the track for a race and lost my rear brakes half way through the race. Went straight off the track in a 90 degree corner at about 80mph! Turns out the brake pads on the rear had worn down to the point where the overhang of the pads on the rotor were coming together when the brakes were applied, thereby preventing the rear brakes from being effective. Something I should have caught during my visual inspection of the car before race time. Small detail, but it could have had fatal results. Fortunately, no harm was done to me or the car, but my heart was in my mouth until I got the car stopped. 
Standard Member
Moderator
Send PM
Moderator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 3/18/2009
Posts: 2246
Vette(s): 1985 Coupe-L98/Auto,Bright Red/Carmine.
1974 Coupe-L48/4speed, Medium Red Metallic/Black Deluxe.
Did the lines get mangled in the wreck, and no-one happened to notice, or did they get moved for the repair, and not get put back?
Either way, it sux. Did it mess up the gear(s) in the headlight motor? Dang lucky if it didn't. I've already replaced the gears in both of the motors on the '85...TWICE...
I will definitely be getting the bronze gears next time...
Anywho...glad ya got it fixed, and it really wasn't too bad, damage-wise.
Either way, it sux. Did it mess up the gear(s) in the headlight motor? Dang lucky if it didn't. I've already replaced the gears in both of the motors on the '85...TWICE...
I will definitely be getting the bronze gears next time...Anywho...glad ya got it fixed, and it really wasn't too bad, damage-wise.
Joel Adams 
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
[QUOTE=proracr] but my heart was in my mouth until I got the car stopped. [/QUOTE]
[/QUOTE]
That's a terrible place to keep your heart......
Allan Brenneis Nashville Tn. 1990 Polo Green Coupe Saddle Interior Chrome ZR-1 Rims http://www.c4vetteregistry.com/member_uploads/14501_14600/14572/image2014329104347r.jpg
Standard Member
Send PM
Huron, OH - USA
Joined: 12/5/2009
Posts: 179
Vette(s): 1989 Red Convertible - 160,000 fun-filled miles -
Thanks for sharing your story.... good reminder for all of us DIY'ers
Standard Member
Moderator
Send PM
Moderator
lanoka harbor, NJ - USA
Joined: 3/22/2009
Posts: 1363
Vette(s): 1990 L-98 white/ red/black leather interior targa top auto
1975 L48 blue/black leather interior t tops auto
glad to hear everything turned out ok. hard one to diagnose as it didnt show up for a bit and after adjusting the motor it seemed to work properly. if i didnt see the chip in cover probably would have done the gears in the motor. at this point, i would rather put the money on something i need than something i want.
joel lines werent damaged but were handled as the resevoir was removed. when i reinstalled it, everything seemed to be in place. i plan to install a bracket of some kind to hold the lines tightly to the frame. surprized gm didn't do that but understand it woulkd have cost the about about five cents to do that and then that would raise the price of the car and nobody would be able to afford them.
.hope this helps to let everyone see a potential problem and avoid it. sure glad it is not costing me nothing but a few cups of coffee and maybe a six pack to ther painter to get the cover repainted.
the dynamic duo
c3vr life member #97
in Forum: C4 Body
SPONSOR AD: (Our Sponsors help support C4VR)