The other day I was driving home in the rain/dark and noticed that when I hit bumps my heaqdlights moved up and down...a lot. Like I hit a small bump and my headlights light up a overhead sign 20' in front of me. So I thought maybe the bottom clip was bent/broken that holds the headlights in place, it was not. So I kinda blew it off as i do with most of my cars problems.
On the way to work this morning in the dark/rain I noticed a stock cavalier that did the same thing, the headlights were just bouncing around just like mine do. So I looked at more cavaliers and every cavalier I have seen has the headlight bounce problem. This is on 465 in Indianapolis, which is about the roughest road I have ever driven on (paving project gone bad).
Am I crazy or has anyone else seen this as a problem, has anyone found a fix for it? I might see if I can put a 3rd bolt attaching the headlight so it can not bounce as much.
i know my cavalier has that problem but thats because the bolts that hold the headlights in, they dont tighten all the way anymore
yeh mine has the same problem.. but thats cuz mine cant tighten down either.. plus the 2 "hooks" that go in the mounts i broke off so they bounce even with just the engine vibes from having the motor mounts.
theres a way to fix it but i forget. oh well, duct tape is your friend. mine dont bounce anymore
^lmao i just took 10mm nuts off a junked J holding on the vert trunk hinges.. used some liquid nails and put the nuts on the bottom under where the bolts go into.. works great but i only put 2 in.. i need to finish with the rest.. plus my my pass one to make it sit nicer on the bumper the washer on the bolt isnt even touchin the monut cuz the "stud" before the bolt head on the headlight bolts moves it back enough where it has a big gap.. so the bolt is only tightened like 5 threads.. just gotta spend some time with the dremel some day and modify the mount.. but ti doesnt really bother me so its not top prioirty..
I got 2 new bolts (with real threads) just a tad bigger then the hole. Now they will tighten enough to crack the plastic to smittherines. No more bouncing shaking or nothing. (don't really tighten them down to crack the plastic lol)
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chevy did a TSB on this problem i think on the 03+ healights, they put a piece of thick foam on the bottom of the light to keep it from bouncing like that. call up your dealership and see if they will help you out
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wrap the old bolts with teflon tape. that will tighten em back up
Is there a place that I can see the recal alerts on the 03-05 cavys online so I can have proof when i go down to the dealership?
I prefer to stay away from dealers, I replaced the stripped out metal with 1/2" long bolts, and a nut on the other side of the plastic, did not help the bouncing, but I still need to secure the bottom. I will take pics when its done.
just ziptie the headlight bracket to the frame....works for me.
I used to have the same problem with my drivers side headlight, to fix it i ended up putting a sample piece of memory foam i had, wedged behind it and have had problem since, what causes it is the weak ass clip they have on the bottom is all but useless after a couple removal/reinstalls of your head light.
I haven't noticed it before on my current car, however I did notice it on my 93 when the repair shop replaced it with I believe was an aftermarket cheepo. You just tap the hood and watch it do the bobble-head. I might have to look into that foam idea if I have that problem.
Hey Big Boi could you take some pics of where you put the foam at?
I had the same problem, i just took the lights out and stretched the clips out so they held the bottom of the light tighter. Havent had the problem since. Also the lights are supposed to move a little bit, if they didnt you could shatter the bulb. and tightening the bolts shouldn't do much seeing as though the bottom is what moves.
me and my girl friend have had the same problem. make a bracket for the bottom we are in the process of fiting and moldina body kit so i will take pictures we are form kokomo
probably just popped off the adjuster press in on the top straight back and you'll probably clip it back in.
jacks solution should work if mine doesn't
-Chris
i have a fix... mine did the same thing.. on the botttom of the stock healight the metal bracket bends until it basically wont hold the light..
i screwed a self tapper into the metal tab to hold it in a bent position..
i will take a pic of it and post it in the up comming days.. hope it helpS!
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I still have not gotten around to it, might do it tonight while im waiting for my dash to dry
I am going to try 3 stratigically placed zip ties per headlight first, if that does not work I will build a bracket and bolt the bottom in. I will post pics if I get around to it tonight.
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i have the same problem on my pass headlight......listening
CaviFL45
