I have a 1985 Targa Top and have a headlight problem.  The passenger headlight is locked in one position, either up or down depending on where it stops.  The light in the headlight itself comes on but is either pointed to the firewall or forward as it should but seems to be parked there.  The next time I turn on the headlight switch, the drovers side works as normal but the passenger side just stays in what ever position it is in and the light in the passenger side turn on in whatever direction it is setting in.  I have checked all the normal things I could think of.  The plastic gears in the motor are good, the motor itself works, fuses are good and I have replaced both the headlight relays and the isolation relay in front of the drivers side front wheel, and one connector was bad and replaced.  I thought I was sooo.. smart when I replaced the headlight relays and the motor just wheeled around and stopped just where it should. It didn't last long though.  On the way home from the parts store the relay blew again.  So in my opinion there is something electrical that is blowing the relay.   It could be something in the headlight motor that has too much drag or a bad ground or.. or.. or.  I need somebody whom has been up against this before and has some insight as to where to go.

Since you've been inside the motor to verify the gears are good, you probably observed the design of the '85 motor is a little unusual.   The limit switches in the '84-'87 headlight motors are actuated by the movement of the armature as it runs up against the worm gear.  This causes the armature to "shift" in its axial position, which operates the limit switches.   The bearings in the motor need to be lubed with a light weight white grease, like Lubriplate or Sta-Lube.   The limit switches need to be clean.   If either of these aren't up to snuff, the current to the motor will not shut off, and the relay will be damaged, or you'll have a dead battery.

Welcome to the Forum, and I like yellow, too!!

|UPDATED|6/26/2015 12:14:54 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|