just curious, how do flip up headlights w

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Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=30399
Printed Date: January 18, 2026 at 3:24 PM

Topic: just curious, how do flip up headlights w

Posted By: kmn5
Subject: just curious, how do flip up headlights w
Date Posted: April 15, 2004 at 1:33 AM

Just wondering about the power flip up headlights in some cars. How does the motor know when to stop when it's fully opened or closed? is there a mechanism/relay thing in headlight assmebly attached to the motor, or inside the car?
and how many relays?

I'm guessin there has to be at least 3 (maybe 4) wires going to the motor,
so that when u apply power (the 1st positive wire is connecetd) the motor opens and when u turn off power (the 2nd positive power wires is connected) the motor closes?

I'm thinking about using this in a custom project to open a panel in the dash/console (I have a 1.5 din open space), but need to understand the wiring, switching behind it

thanks
Ken

Replies:

Posted By: flynntech
Date Posted: April 15, 2004 at 5:10 AM

find one on an old car and take it apart!

really, there is no better way to learn.

Also, some cars have different systems. I used to have an '84 Trans Am, it had three wires for the motors, just a couple years later, the same cars had 5 wires.

I would imagine that it has a common, and an up-down and internal interlocks.

Posted By: robbie2883
Date Posted: April 15, 2004 at 10:23 AM

i'm sure they work just like power window motors. and they probably have a limit swithc which tells the motor when the headlight has reached a certain spot and cuts the power to the motor

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if its jammed force it - if it breaks in the process it needed to be fixed anyway
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