Do you keep the headlights up for winter?

**crazy_russian** · 12-13-2005, 10:24 AM

I am worried about winter ice jamming the headlight raising mechanism. I am wandering if I should pop up the headlights and take the fuse out, so they are up permanently. What do you do?

**Pineapple** · 12-13-2005, 10:29 AM

Make sure you spray lub on all moving parts. Like ends of the rods and all rotating points. This will reduce chance of ice there. Then clean off all the snow on the hood before you drive. Haven't got problem with mine yet and I pop them up when I need to.

**MartinGouda** · 12-13-2005, 10:31 AM

you don't need to take out the fuse.. the first setting is there for this reason.

OFF AND DOWN
OFF AND UP
PARKING LIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS

**crazy_russian** · 12-13-2005, 10:34 AM

Pineapple, do you keep your car outside or in a garage?

**Pineapple** · 12-13-2005, 10:41 AM

What do you say? ;)

**crazy_russian** · 12-13-2005, 11:01 AM

No further questions

**Pineapple** · 12-13-2005, 11:11 AM

I do always clean off all the snow before I drive off. That may help.

**twobytwo** · 12-13-2005, 04:43 PM

I would leave them up... You don't want to try raising them when they are frozen or ceased or anything like that and then burn-out the motor for the mechanism. *I had to replace one last winter after it stopped moving (and getting a traffic ticket because I didnt leave them up)... got one from a wrecker for about $150, but my mechanic quoted a new Headlight motor at $500 *(it's a 15-20 year old part - keep in mind)

not turning the headlights off all the way is a good idea too - but I had my car for 5 years and it was just a force of habit to turn them off all the way - even when I tried to remember not to... it's kind of like trying to remember not to put you car in gear/handbrake when you park

**TRDcelicaGT-FOUR** · 12-15-2005, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twobytwo

it's kind of like trying to remember not to put you car in gear/handbrake when you park

You leave your car in neutral??

Not exactly something you should recommend people to do. The proper way(more sensible way) Is to set the ebrake, with your foot on the clutch, roll back until the car sets, then with your foot on the brake, put the car in gear, and release the clutch, then the brake. This allows the car to rest on the ebrake shoes, but in case the car rolls, the tranny will catch the car. Its prevention maintenance, that allows the tranny to last longer.

Piney Blue bumper on white car, dont go.

Personally, much easier to leave the lights up in the winter, just turn the lights off. Saves the motor, and its less headaches.

**Edward_H** · 12-16-2005, 12:21 AM

Also if you read the manual its says to leave them up in the winter..

Edward

JR · 12-16-2005, 01:07 AM

Many people leave them up, but I would also suggest lubing them, and cleaning your car off completely anyway

also, I'd suggest not leaving your parking brake on overnite on a cold nite, as it may freeze on, which isn't fun, seen it happen many times. of course sometimes you have no option, but usually 1st or reverse will hold the car unless on a real steep grade
just my opinion tho

**twobytwo** · 12-16-2005, 03:43 PM

OK, I was just using the parking brake as an example... I make sure my car is in gear too... when I said

"it's kind of like trying to remember not to put you car in gear/handbrake when you park" I meant both.
I was just saying its a natural tendency that might be hard to stop doing completely...

**flylice13** · 12-16-2005, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR

also, I'd suggest not leaving your parking brake on overnite on a cold nite, as it may freeze on, which isn't fun, seen it happen many times. *of course sometimes you have no option, but usually 1st or reverse will hold the car unless on a real steep grade
just my opinion tho

I leave my parking brake up cause I have a 2-way alarm and remote starter and I like my car nice and warm when I hop into it :D

12-13-2005, 10:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
crazy_russian Posts: 3 Join Date: Dec 2005 Last On: 04-28-2006 04:05 AM	Do you keep the headlights up for winter? I am worried about winter ice jamming the headlight raising mechanism. I am wandering if I should pop up the headlights and take the fuse out, so they are up permanently. What do you do? __________________ 88 ST165

12-13-2005, 10:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Pineapple Location: Toronto Posts: 4,331 Join Date: Jan 2004 Last On: Yesterday 05:25 PM	Make sure you spray lub on all moving parts. Like ends of the rods and all rotating points. This will reduce chance of ice there. Then clean off all the snow on the hood before you drive. Haven't got problem with mine yet and I pop them up when I need to. __________________ http://photos.yahoo.com/fredericklaw http://members.rankmyride.com/pineapplelaw

12-13-2005, 10:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
MartinGouda USE THE SEARCH FEATURE!!! Location: Streetsville Posts: 12,028 Join Date: Oct 2003 Last On: 01-02-2009 01:37 PM Vehicle: DelsolTurboN2O 2nd Vehicle: Talon TSI AWD	you don't need to take out the fuse.. the first setting is there for this reason. OFF AND DOWN OFF AND UP PARKING LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS __________________ www.martingouda.com.... the rumors are all true...

12-13-2005, 10:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
crazy_russian Posts: 3 Join Date: Dec 2005 Last On: 04-28-2006 04:05 AM	Pineapple, do you keep your car outside or in a garage? __________________ 88 ST165

12-13-2005, 10:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Pineapple Location: Toronto Posts: 4,331 Join Date: Jan 2004 Last On: Yesterday 05:25 PM	What do you say? ;) __________________ http://photos.yahoo.com/fredericklaw http://members.rankmyride.com/pineapplelaw

12-13-2005, 11:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
crazy_russian Posts: 3 Join Date: Dec 2005 Last On: 04-28-2006 04:05 AM	No further questions __________________ 88 ST165

12-13-2005, 11:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
Pineapple Location: Toronto Posts: 4,331 Join Date: Jan 2004 Last On: Yesterday 05:25 PM	I do always clean off all the snow before I drive off. That may help. __________________ http://photos.yahoo.com/fredericklaw http://members.rankmyride.com/pineapplelaw

12-13-2005, 04:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
twobytwo Location: Toronto Posts: 149 Join Date: Nov 2003 Last On: 09-28-2007 09:43 PM Vehicle: 97 VW Golf CL	I would leave them up... You don't want to try raising them when they are frozen or ceased or anything like that and then burn-out the motor for the mechanism. I had to replace one last winter after it stopped moving (and getting a traffic ticket because I didnt leave them up)... got one from a wrecker for about $150, but my mechanic quoted a new Headlight motor at $500 (it's a 15-20 year old part - keep in mind) not turning the headlights off all the way is a good idea too - but I had my car for 5 years and it was just a force of habit to turn them off all the way - even when I tried to remember not to... it's kind of like trying to remember not to put you car in gear/handbrake when you park __________________ 89 Celica GT

12-16-2005, 12:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
Edward_H Location: Toronto (Scarborough), Ontario Posts: 7 Join Date: Jul 2004 Last On: 07-21-2007 09:04 PM	Also if you read the manual its says to leave them up in the winter.. Edward __________________ RIP: Sept 14, 2005 @ 4:30am Reborn: 88 alltrac.. Spec's: To make 350-400 Steetable hp when done! yes it looks like crap but can you say that you own a 88 Celica Alltrac?

12-16-2005, 01:07 AM	#11 (permalink)
JR Resident 1st Gen Location: Owen Sound, ON Posts: 2,472 Join Date: Sep 2005 Last On: Today 12:13 AM Vehicle: 90 Civic DX 2nd Vehicle: 77 Celica	Many people leave them up, but I would also suggest lubing them, and cleaning your car off completely anyway also, I'd suggest not leaving your parking brake on overnite on a cold nite, as it may freeze on, which isn't fun, seen it happen many times. of course sometimes you have no option, but usually 1st or reverse will hold the car unless on a real steep grade just my opinion tho __________________ J.R.

12-16-2005, 03:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
twobytwo Location: Toronto Posts: 149 Join Date: Nov 2003 Last On: 09-28-2007 09:43 PM Vehicle: 97 VW Golf CL	OK, I was just using the parking brake as an example... I make sure my car is in gear too... when I said "it's kind of like trying to remember not to put you car in gear/handbrake when you park" I meant both. I was just saying its a natural tendency that might be hard to stop doing completely... __________________ 89 Celica GT

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