Headlight Motors - Dead I Think!

[hyperjase]

Today with guidance from this forum I attempted to sort my non-working headlight motors.  Neither of them work so had a fun challenge removing both headlights.

 

They both appear to work, the motors do spin, but one is juddery in one direction but fine the other way and the second appears to work ok, but can't get either to actually move the headlight!  I did manage to get them to spin but I found that they just span the bar all the way out and ended up locking up (as it became that tight).

 

I also (really stupidly) moved the allen screw adjusters so my headlights are quite badly out - I will get this sorted by taking it to a garage, NOT relying on my own levelling!

 

My question is, does anyone know where to get the motors from (I'm quite happy to replace just the motor assembly on the board), but failing that I will replace both units - but where can I get two new or good quality used units?  Or is there any advice you could offer to get these working?

 

Cheers.

[gregers]

silly question,you did set the button on the lowest setting before replacing them?

coz i didnt when i had to do mine and it spun off.

did you regrease them with something like silicon grease?

[BrianH]

If both are not working/moving when switch is moved are you sure it isn't something besides the motors if they aren't moving (the switch being one option, a blown fuse possibly caused by the juddery motor or another fault elsewhere being another?)

 

Might help narrow it down with some details  - mk1 and mk2 headlights are a different design, not sure if any have automatic self leveling on the higher trim levels either?

[hyperjase]

I re-took them apart today and had a good mess around with them, either the motor has gone (works but judders a lot) or whatever logic is on the board isn't working right.  I've patched things up now and got the headlights in an "ok" position, but no need to go out so hopefully won't matter.

 

I did try lubrication but doesn't seem to have made much of a difference.  Managed to find 2 on eBay for

[BrianH]

i think you will find they are stepper motors rather than normal ones (there would be more than 2 wires going to them if this is the case) so if its juddering or twitching its probabbly lost one of the phases. It will be more likly the motor is the cause that being the case. They wouldn't usually get much wear so used ones should be ok anyway.

 

When you come to fitting them it will help to set them to the start position first and set the switch to the same, then once they are together move the switch through its full range, this should allow it to set itself (i've found if you don't do this sometimes they will just keep moving on other cars, not really had to mess with them on the galaxy other than when a pheasant decided to play chicken with me on a dual carriageway - it ended up dislodging the balljoint inside the light meaning it was pointed at the ground around 2 foot infront of the car!).