Chrysler Repair: headlights lebaron convertible GT, headlight doors, drive mechanism

Question
My headlights do not always open when I select them on.  Can you tell me what to check out.  They open most of the time, but usually seem to not open when I am going to work...

Thanks

Answer
Hi Mona,
If it is intermittant then it will be a little more challenging. There are two general possibilites: electrical in which case the motor doesn't always activate as it should, or mechanical in which case the motor drives some gears that rotate a rod that is connected to each of the headlight doors but the gears are slipping. So I would perhaps try to open and close them a few times (maybe have a friend operate the switch so you can be near the action) when the car is parked and listen and watch to see if you can cause the problem and when it happens notice if the there is any humming from the motor or not. I believe that I know another owner who is fabricating new gears to put in the drive mechanism, or you might get a whole unit from the wrecking yard. The dealer may be able to get a new unit if it is the motor or gears, and the rest of the electrical items are also available from a dealer.  When you write back with your results, tell me the year model of your car because the electrical controls were modified in 1990 so there are two different possibilities if the motor fails to activate.
I have an '89 myself, and it still works. By the way you might want to put a little oil on both the inboard and the outboard edge of each door where you will see a pivot point around which the door rotates. That will reduce friction and save wear and tear on your gears.