ONE headlight on my 1991 Miata will not go down

I can manually retract it by turning the little knob thing behind the
light under the hood. It comes up every time I turn on the lights or
hit the button on the inside but when I turn the lights off or hit
that inside button again, only the passenger lights goes back down by
itself. Before it went completely out, it started closing in a
sliding, loud sloopy way...I assume this means the fuse is still good
since both are not out....any ideas? Di

Di Treviño wrote:
>I can manually retract it by turning the little knob thing behind the
> light under the hood. It comes up every time I turn on the lights
> or
> hit the button on the inside but when I turn the lights off or hit
> that inside button again, only the passenger lights goes back down
> by
> itself. Before it went completely out, it started closing in a
> sliding, loud sloopy way...I assume this means the fuse is still
> good
> since both are not out....any ideas? Di
>

Here beginneth Headlight Motor Lesson Number One: <G>

My first check would be the retractor relay located on the left side
of the engine compartment in the relay bank. In US cars, it's in the
inner row nearest the back. If it's not the relay, then check the
wiring to the headlight motors. Replacing the headlight retractor
switch involves taking the center part of the dash apart since the
switch is located behind the eyeball vents and I'd tackle that job
only as a last resort.

To check the wiring, disconnect the wiring connector at each motor in
turn. Connect the positive voltmeter probe to the Red/yellow wire
terminal and the negative to ground. Turn on the headlight and
retractor switches and check for voltage on the Red/yellow wire. If
you've got voltage, check for continuity between the black/ground
terminal and a body ground. If you've got continuity, you need to
check and/or replace the motor.

It could also be something as simple as the wire connector to that
headlight motor. One headlight on my '90 started that and it turned
out to be a broken connector. Pull the connector apart and look at
it - if a small piece of copper falls out, that's one of the
connectors and the whole thing is shot. Unfortunately, unless you can
find one used somewhere, you'll end up buying a whole motor assembly.

Iva & Vixen
2004 Classic Red
No more winkin' Miata

Because the retractors are wired in parallel the problem is specific to
that side. If the switches or fuse (all common) are bad you'll experience
the problem on both sides.
The most likely causes would be:
1. The connector or wiring to the affected side - Inspect the wiring
closely; disconnect and inspect the actuator connector.
2. The actuator position sensor (inside the actuator motor) - Never
opened it up myself, no help; sorry.
3. Best Guess - Your description "sliding; loud, sloopy way" would make
me think somebody probably tried to force it down and bent a linkage or
something. Compare the two sides with a close look at the linkage in
the up and down positions and while moving.
Be careful with those retractor motors under power. They MAY not be
enough to sever a finger, but they WILL make it dangle at a strange angle!
Ephar, Maya & Bambi
'92 Classic Red
The Original (and intentional) Winkin' Miata