1991 Firebird Headlight Module Repair, Front Sway Bar Links (Ep.11)

We will pick up a few odds and ends in this episode, starting with getting the car tagged and titled. Then we will work on the electronics for the pop-up headlights. The lights always come on, but they don't always rise up which makes them kinda useless. We'll crack open the headlamp control module and see what we can do about it, then get to work replacing the rusty front sway bar end links.
Dates of filming: January 4th, 2019 (License Plates)
January 7th, 2019 (Headlamp Module)
November 2nd, 2018 (Front Sway Bar Links)
Song List (Order of First Appearance):
0:01 Jeremiah's Song - Dan Lebowitz
6:10 Room for Two - Dan Lebowitz
12:21 Blue Creek Trail - Dan Lebowitz
(All music provided by KZbin's Audio Library royalty free.)
Thanks for watching, and joining us on this adventure! Please let us know what you think! Consider supporting us via Patreon as well! / fuzzydiceprojects
Follow our Instagram for more pictures and teasers: / fuzzydiceprojects
Check out our second channel for a variety of other content: / @fuzzydicepastimes

[@keinlebenswille]

7:12 that sync with the music tho

[@mattclarke23_]

Been watching this since the first ep. Can’t wait for her to be finished

[@SharpieEasternn]

That's the beauty of it, projects never finish

[@mynameisnobody5132]

Same

[@mbxkwlkekwkwmjao6959]

@@GUIRADE95 it could be both

[@nicksalvatore5717]

GUILLERMO RAMÍREZ who calls their car a he????

[@BoboSon420]

@@GUIRADE95 bro you sound gay calling a car he

[@fpbbq]

headlights go up at the same time now. You've definitely fixed it.

[@Presy_P]

One of the things I absolutely love about this channel is that you show things like they actually happen. Nothing ever comes off or goes back on easy. If you want to do work on your car, this is what you will encounter, and it's so incredibly helpful.

[@Acc0919mc]

You know your car is "Fun" when headlights are considered a safety feature lmao

[@notxarb21]

As one of your "Old Dog" fans (got my license in 1974 at 16... my first car was my grandfather's 1959 Chevy Bel Air with 235 cid "Blue Flame" 6 cylinder and Powerglide 2 speed automatic trans! My Dad told me when I got it that it "doesn't have enough power to pull a greasy string out of a cat's ass"! He was right!) I thoroughly enjoy your videos along with your great sense of humor! Thank you for posting, and I'm looking forward to the next videos!

[@Tigerfire75]

Captain's log the XX Flux has been on its 30 year voyage in the deep back country of Maryland

[@brentrichards1200]

Hey captain, there's been an excess flush of the waste system.

[@jonasthemovie]

I imagined the beep during operating the lamps being bleeping out prophanity of the AvE kind.

[@icanfartloud]

U bleeping misspelled profanity ....lol

[@jonasthemovie]

VjSmith Did I? Or are you just ignorant of old spellings?

[@noahstroo7793]

I love how you always first try to "fix the one you have" rather than just buying new parts. I think thats where you gain skill is actually fixing something instead of just replacing it.

[@GrandsonofKong]

Micro cracks in solder will sometimes get worse with heat. So driving the car, hot engine compartment would make it worse. Add in the stress of the weight of the cables hanging on those connectors and vibration....So the right fix is what I would say! Good job and I'll be watching for more!

[@John12345639]

I was wondering just an hour back whats happening with this car, and you just uploaded!!!!

[@ian_lambert-knight]

Mohamed Mohamed I know right, I was just thinking about this guy. He is a pal.

[@MidnightMechanic]

7:12 the guitar plucking while you check each terminal, like you're listening for note tones. lol

[@parmesanjon]

It's been great following your project. I've been in the process of restoring an 86, currently am in the midst of a T56 swap from the stock 700r4, and once my garage is finished (laying concrete on Monday!) I'll be able to tinker with it all winter. :) So far just been trying to get the chassis sorted, so replacing any sort of wear item, and having a good buddy of mine powdercoat all of the suspension arms.

[@SkylineFTW97]

Maryland's vague historic tag rules mean that I just get regular tags since I do lots of driving. Plus in Maryland, OBD1 cars are exempt from emissions now. Just pass state inspection once and you're golden.

[@psygn0sis]

It's pretty amazing that we don't have to get our vehicles inspected here in the Socialist Republic Commiefornia. They just LOVE creating new restrictive laws as well as banning things.

[@trythinking6676]

I don’t mind just one plate but gotta scan them suckers at work. Yes, I live in California and Mercedes, Tesla’s, and Lexus cars get away with no front plate and then back in. Assholes.

[@JamieBainbridge]

The budget doesn't allow for the L in solder but you've got all these extra X in especially! ;)

[@Mad_Duck]

I get that it's just an idiosyncrasy, but I start to tense up anticipating that X. I think he's hit at least one every episode this build.

[@roberttonge8576]

This is such a great series. There's always something new to learn, and the witty humor is very much appreciated.

[@cw2lido]

Well hello neighbor! I live in Charles County, Maryland!

[@SkylineFTW97]

I'm a lifelong montgomery county resident myself. And a fellow old beater enthusiast.

[@erichlewis960]

@@SkylineFTW97 aye I'm down in Montgomery county as well

[@Goman693]

Harford county and a recent baltimore county transplant here!

[@JailGuide]

I would really like to see someone using a hide a-plate on cars like this. Great video!

[@chrome5802]

I just binged watched all these straight and am looking forward to the next one!

[@josephsuda6559]

Owned an '85 F-bird (was my first bought-new car) and had similar problems with the headlights. Not as fancy as this model revision with a sealed headlamp motor module; mine had simple stand-alone relay bolted to the driver's side inner fender. After replacing that damn relay a few times, I took one apart to see why it was failing. Sure enough, the factory installed the original with the connector facing UP so it could collect rainwater from the hood joint and rot out the inner contacts! Flipped the relay around so the contacts faced down and the relay's molded head acted as a rain deflector, and there was never a problem again for as long as I owned the old heap. Now having one of the first-year multi-point fuel-injections V-6s...that's a tale of woe for another time... Good times... :-/

[@Datsunz-fr2nw]

im 14. i remember watching the first episode thinking "Wow an entire car for $100" 2 months ago i bought a fully functional 2001 Pontiac Firebird v6 for 800 bucks with a 100 mile engine

[@afaxmachine5045]

How? Diffrent 14 year old

[@Datsunz-fr2nw]

@@afaxmachine5045 I can't drive it but I can still buy it :). I worked a summer job to get it

[@chasee3797]

2001 Pontiac Firebird V6 Nice man! I had a 1993 Chevrolet Camaro V6 in high school. Is there any problems noticeable with your car?

[@Datsunz-fr2nw]

@@chasee3797 Nah it just needs an EGR valve now and it'll be flawless. I've stripped the interior down to the floor pans and pressure washed the carpets. I've also done the dreaded job of replacing the fuel pump. Look it up on youtube how to replace one. It isn't fun

[@chasee3797]

2001 Pontiac Firebird V6 Oh yeah fuel pumps are a nightmare. Do you have T-tops? And watch for any oil leaks if you have a 3.4L TPI. Main driveline seal is known to leak on those and it did with my Camaro. I love this generation of Camaros and Firebirds. Hoping to acquire an LT1 project Camaro in 5 years or so.

[@madamfloof2249]

So what happens if you don't finish your anti seize quota? Do you have to eat a whole jar?

[@hondacota4rt]

I honestly find the bodged licence plate solution nicer than the stock one.

[@gamersfilms3522]

Does he have a anti seize sponsorship we don't know about?

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

I wish

[@thecman26]

Or Locktite

[@admiralfloofz658]

@@thecman26 Or WD40

[@jameslaiola4976]

Thank you for being such a great help. Im building another one and these bushings were much harder than I expected

[@BestLittleStudio]

FYI, if you can find it, use led solder, the new lead-free solder does not do well under vibration since it has zero flex.

[@iwonakuipers1425]

I know nothing about cars but I love watching these car videos it’s relaxing

[@thepassionofthegoose5472]

Quite simply some of the best content on KZbin. Thank you for another fantastic video. Cheers.

[@michelemartin3360]

Excess flux tongue twister had me dying 😂😂😂

[@elcabezon5487]

X sex flux too many X's make it erotic

[@DarthSega]

Very nice work. I have owned a 3rd gen Firebird for 30 years, and whenever I have headlight troubles it is always either the motor, wiring or headlight itself. I never thought about the module, Thanks!

[@Shane-Singleton]

Good job on the headlight module. I ran into something similar years ago on an old Sega Genesis (Gen2). There was a cracked solder joint on the power input so you'd wiggle the connection and it would come on and then go off. I was able to get away with just re-flowing the existing solder to fix it. Was happy to see another video on the Firebird today. i know these restorations are a game of inches. And in this case you're documenting every single inch. Which I really like.

[@spunkmire2664]

right before work, yes!

[@tcar]

For the holes in the bumper, use a filler, sand it up. Take a sample of the paint a give it to the shop and ask for spray can of the same colour (also buy the coat). When soldering old boards add flux. Cooper tends to squeash out of the board.

[@BlueXonar]

I've never seen sway bar links like this before. Every car I've ever had has a metal rod with a little ball joint on each end and the faces they mount into are vertical not horizontal. Super easy to replace.

[@camaromike82]

Having a 3rd gen fbody myself I love these video's. Details repairs for maintenance items of a car that's seen none in years is the boat I'm in too.

[@XXavierSin-XXs]

Head light door module... Funny thing. I just bought an 88 GTA with pop ups that dont pop up. That module has been in the trunk area for a month and I only just now learned what it was. I recognized it the second you showed it on the firewall.

[@Sandhill1988]

Great video Thank you. I have an 89 and occasionally the passenger side headlight will pop up but the driver side will stay down, but when they both do come up they will both always go down . The headlight motor on the driver side does not have any of the symptoms of a bad motor or strip gears so I am pretty confident the issue is within the headlight module. I have found a replacement aftermarket module for about $150 that's what's shipping but I can give this a shot first if the problem persists and see if the solder joints are bad on the pin connectors at least it gives me a more of a zeroed in picture of what's actually going on here.

[@Nperez1986]

1990s cars are the NEW classics. I'm an 80s baby and seeing 70s cars were the classic. Our generation now wants to buy thos 90s cars we grew up with and admired, so yeah its weird we can buy classic plates for them....but numbers dont like, 90s are the new classics lol. I have a 91 acura with classic plates, love it

[@braien334]

Really surprised the module was possible to open, usually boxes like that are sonic welded.

[@stinkycheese804]

Not in automotive applications, unless it's just a sensor rather than more complex circuit.

[@braien334]

@@stinkycheese804 Depends, usually sonic welding is the most weather resistant, and well, most tamper proof.

[@edumaker-alexgibson]

Another great episode. Been into my headlight module before, thought it all looked OK but will now check again!

[@aarontrupiano9328]

2:04 the 90s are a few months away from being 30 years old. i feel old.

[@joelducsai5400]

Love this car grew up in the back seat of them my mom had 86 trans am, my brother had a 91 formula

[@jimmyturner3715]

Gotta say I love the out takes at the end.

[@JamieBainbridge]

I've never been able to use those vacuum solder suckers. One of the best investments I ever made was a vacuum desolder gun.

[@jason_theginger]

gm: repair do not replace fuzzy dice man: and i took that personally

[@NickLoecke]

Excellent soldering technique. Fantastic camera work on this part as well. This could be a separate tutorial! Anti-sieze usage quota! Excess Flux is the newest tongue twister on the school playground

[@erickbren8702]

this is gold, my gen4 TransAm fails to bring the lights down. I will check that module.

[@fredericia01]

best way to remove flux is with some isopropyl alcohol and an old toothbrush

[@refiii9499]

One day I’ll figure out who “we are” almost every sentence he uses is “we will, we have, we do, we need we’ll “ etc.

[@elcabezon5487]

Angels do help Fuzzy,he takes so risks and come out unscathed lol

[@ezragonzales687]

We need to see some more driving in the future. But I still love the content!

[@MidnightMechanic]

Replacing sway bar links is a good time to check the bushings too, and any frame damage from rust. Rust likes to eat through the soft mounting points where the bushings are supported from, and could cause the sway bar to break very easily away from the frame.

[@spanishguy818]

I’m from Maryland too!! Maybe I’ll see you on the road with this beautiful car!

[@PreetSingh-gp3re]

I'm just shocked that in 1991 these cars didn't come with a steering rack :O

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

They are the tail end of the generation and I guess GM didn't want to redesign anything since the new cars were coming out so soon (1993). Unfortunately there is no easy way to put a rack and pinion system in these cars, either.

[@robertherrera419]

These videos are fun to watch, especially the out takes and inserted comments. I laugh each time. Keep it up. =)

[@joearchibeque2443]

Hey FuzzyDice you are an awesome cat not afraid to do anything I admire you on that s10 v8 and the work that you have done to it that is really awseome I wished you lived here in my home town. I don't have enough confidence in myself thank you for all the stuff you put on here keep up the good work

[@majcrash]

A can of flux remover will blast that stuff right off. Good eye spotting that cold solder joint.

[@JulienMR]

Tip : your soldering pump has a silicon tip, which can touch your iron without any damage ;)

[@turbinematt3646]

Fun watching you videos! I have a 1991 trans am I am working on. My work seems to be paralleling yours! Similar issues.....

[@Bumblebee4788]

2 front 90's Firebird license brackets on EBay right now

[@mylesl2890]

your jokes are off the hook, i am original owner of a 91' formula ws6 le3 lots of fun.

[@igotmystimmy9241]

The windshield wiper module for old chevy trucks has the same issue. Changed mine out under a bridge somewhere in West Virginia.

[@spammy555]

I would double check the laws on that historic plate. In states requiring front plates, cars may be exempt from that rule if they are registered as collector cars.

[@michelemartin3360]

"Almost 30 years old!" Hey, calm down bro! It's only 28 😅😅

[@RetroPCUser]

Hell, I'm the same age as that car.

[@michelemartin3360]

@@RetroPCUser Me too lol

[@leontirado708]

I also have a 91 firebird but doesn't have the correct front end. That's why people say she's over 30 lol

[@shadowbanned69]

Great series man...didnt know you were a md man.. glad to see a tuber from my neck of the woods...

[@TheBrokenLife]

Very _illuminating_ episode...

[@trabantfreak2370]

another great episode.

[@JohnWilliamLeonard35]

This series is so good

[@goldenwilliams]

Love cleaning that excess flush!

[@garfixit]

Great job

[@Kristoph109]

Yay new video! Why do you keep saying “we” when fixing things?

[@psygn0sis]

We're all in this together, goddamnit!

[@Thirdgen83]

Maybe he has a boyfriend.

[@capty26]

Great video thank you!

[@tuffteddy1446]

Love these videos

[@volvowagon70]

There should be some small dimples on the bumper cover that guide you where to drill to mount a factory license plate bracket.

[@johnwillard4742]

Another very nice video!

[@spottydog4477]

Has anyone ever said, you have lovely hands

[@imnotabotrlyimnot]

There not as nice as Ray Mckigney's.

[@stevenharpervw]

Lovely voice over

[@LLCooLM595]

Ahaha, yeah the module is a bit of an annoyance tbh. I have new gears in mine, but they only come up about 50% of the time. I found on mine that if they dont come up, you could rev really hard, or just tab the box and they'd pop up. I've taken it apart before and didn't see anything wrong with the board either. I'm gonna have to try re-soldering my pins now, hopefully that'll fix it!

[@LLCooLM595]

Update: No more intermittent issues! Thank you so much!

[@Taz6688]

I used to slip a small piece of hose over the exposed threads, it kept the salt of the threads and dirt of the anti-seize.

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

Good idea! I've done that to prevent threads from rubbing on other parts but never considered it for that use.

[@akashkumar121213]

The fuck how long is this series. I started binging it and it dosent seem to end. Love it

[@miraak542]

Had no idea you were in Maryland. I am too. Awesome

[@AscariGood]

Love watching this series :)

[@elcabezon5487]

You can make a homemade bracket to be on center front underneath ( like a billboard) of course,for liscence plate

[@jclafi]

Such incredible work ! Love that car !

[@LeadTechnicianIII]

thanks for the hepl all it was on mine is the pigtails on the HCM was a bit loose pushed em back in and BINGO

[@brightgarinson3099]

Man, solder without the L sucks. Next time, can you save a little more to include the poor L? THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

[@lateefcarrere1649]

@@bluezedd You beat me to it :)

[@dcallan812]

I had been driving for 16 years in 1991! god Im old...🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤣

[@psygn0sis]

Thanks for making me feel young. I got my DL at 18 in '99.

[@dcallan812]

@@psygn0sis Your welcome 👍I got my DL at 17 in the UK.. Have a good weekend.

[@zanderxymox]

I'm happy to know with your channel I can hit the like button before watching the video and not be disappointed with my choice :)

[@carguy2186]

Here in Minnesota there called collector plates instead of historical

[@alkelenson648]

Right 👍 And I haven't been pulled over YET for no front plate on my 3rd gen.

[@BADD400]

Good video

[@hansentom50]

Awesome vids man

[@scottiebolin3294]

Come on man is a front license plate bracket please for the love of humanity please change that great video

[@shawngtpsvm]

Usage quota. I love this channel.

[@notchbackgta]

The gears almost never strip. There are plastic pucks in the gear housing to couple the gear to the motor transmission. These dry and crumble. That is the most common failure on these motors

[@FuzzyDiceProjects]

That is totally correct, I misspoke there. I had seen the rebuild kits (some of which include new gears) and forgotten that the part that fails is usually the plastic pucks like you said. I haven't had one apart myself and I have trouble picturing how something goes together until it is actually in front of me.

[@tonsters525]

3:20 Gone but not forgotten

[@mynameisnobody5132]

Love the videos man

[@irukhan07]

That WD40 action was tight!

[@BigTastie]

Oh hell yeah boiz firebirdddd

[@jayhiz3514]

Nice job

[@bencezavarko7312]

The good old Essex flush

[@Hbzprojects]

You should try putting a bit of hose around the rest of the threads and cap it with a nut to cover that anti seize.