When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Is THIS Normal, For Headlight Vacuum Actuator Relay Valve Placement?
Hi All,
I've been having issues with the headlight(s) function(s), since I got the car a couple of weeks ago (NO REGRETS WHAT-SO-EVER!).
After viewing all of the diagrams & reading all of the posts that I was able to find following searches, I need to ask:
Is THIS normal, for Headlight Vacuum Actuator Relay Valve placement?
I mean, there's one on the firewall, and one up front, between the Actuators.
All of the data I can find, shows BOTH Relay Valves up near the Actuators.
Also, there's no Vacuum Filter between the Manifold & the Check Valve.
The whole system appears to be plumbed incorrectly, by whom-ever the previous owner let work on the car.
The plum-job, doesn't seem to follow ANY of the diagrams that I've found.
As you can also see, all of the parts are new, except for the switch under the dash.
Any thoughts???
Maybe a total replacement of the Vacuum Lines and/or just moving the Relay Valve up front near the other one, and re-route just a few lines???
I believe mid to late models did have the relay asm. located their . My early 69 before Jan. 69 has it located under the passenger fender and one between the actuators. It was changed later in the year. Trying to get things looking correct really requires the AIM. Do you have that
ZIO
Hi Ben,
The relay in your first picture is for the wiper door.
Chevrolet played around with the location of the relay for the wipers several times. Depending on the year(and when in the year the car was produced) it could be mounted near the master cylinder as shown, or on the rear of the right-side wheel apron.
The relay (s) for the headlights were always between the 2 headlights but did vary from 1 or 2 depending on the year.
Regards,
Alan
2 headlight relays in 71. The horn hides most of the one on the left side.
Thank you fellas.
switching things around mid-year, makes sense.
AIM???
The one on the firewall, does also have a Vacuum Line running from it to the Actuators up front.
Can't seem to figure-out why the passenger side headlights don't retract, and the driver's side doesn't lift up.
They've only worked completely ONCE in the two weeks I've had the car.
The left light USED to lift, now it won't.
The right one lifts, but stays there.
I'm getting vacuum from the manifold and through the check-valve.
I guess I'll have to narrow it down, one component at a time.
Thank you fellas.
switching things around mid-year, makes sense.
AIM???
The one on the firewall, does also have a Vacuum Line running from it to the Actuators up front.
Can't seem to figure-out why the passenger side headlights don't retract, and the driver's side doesn't lift up.
They've only worked completely ONCE in the two weeks I've had the car.
The left light USED to lift, now it won't.
The right one lifts, but stays there.
I'm getting vacuum from the manifold and through the check-valve.
I guess I'll have to narrow it down, one component at a time.
Again, funny thing is that everything is new!
Gotta love our babies!!! LOL...
Any more thoughts/suggestions/ideas???
Thanks Again,
Ben
I also think the upper headlight support (v shaped) only had holes for one relay. If you have holes for 2 it may have been replaced which is not necessarily a bad thing. All aftermarket braces now come with holes for 2 relays.
Hi Ben,
The AIM is the Assembly Instruction Manual. It's set of engineering drawings (400 pages) that were used on the line in St.Louis for production.
It's really the single most valuable information source we have available to us. Theres one for each year of production. They're readily available from the larger vendors. I've been playing around with my Corvette for quite a while and really continue to depend on the AIM a great deal.
I really wouldn't spend anymore time struggling with your wiper door and headlight systems until you have one. There's a couple of pages for the wiper door system and the headlight system.
You might also consider buying a GM Chassis Service Manual for your car and a Vacuum System Trouble Shooting Guide too.
Regards,
Alan
OK, I'm still screwing around with the headlight issue on my '69 Vert.
I ordered a MityVac 8500 kit. Should be here by Friday.
Passenger headlight is still open, and the Driver's side is still closed.
Sooo...
With the car OFF, I disconnected the vac lines at the rear of the two actuators by the headlights.
I pushed up on the closed headlight and pulled up on it (SLIGHTLY) at the same time (as per instructions).
When that light began to raise, the other on began to retract.
Any idea why that is happening???
I reconnected the two vac lines, started the car & pulled it into the garage, NOW they're both retracted and won't raise, no matter what I do.
The lights do go "On", but stay retracted.
Hi Ben,
When you 'force' the headlight door on one side it has the opposite effect on the other door because if you look at the diagram you'll see the actuators are actually connected in a loop. You shouldn't do this because it's hard on the seals in the actuators. When opening and closing the doors by hand the hoses should be pulled from the actuator for the door you're moving.
Using the diagrams in the AIM, (UPC12 A13, A14, A15,and B9,) have you verified the position of the headlight relay and dash switch, and the hoses on your car?
Is the wiper door operating properly?
Here's a link to the Willcox diagrams too… what is the placement of the relays and hose routing on your car compared to the placement in these pictures? The relay on your firewall (in your picture should have nothing to do with the headlights.. it's the possible location for the wiper door relay but was never part of the headlight system http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/w...schematics.pdf
Have you checked your hose routing? What are the positions for the 3 over-ride switches under the steering column in the interior?
Regards,
Alan
Hi Again Alan 71,
OK, I FINALLY got home at a reasonable hour for a change.. LOL...
So I traced all of the vac lines using the AIM as well as Willcox's schematic for the Late '69's.
Everything appears to be correct.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm starting to think that the issue is with the front relay valve, because I get vacuum at the Override Switch AND at the Headlight ON/Off Switch, BUT the lights still stay retracted.
The Wiper Door works fine, so I think my next step is to swap the two Relay Valves, and see what happens.
Thoughts???
PS: That MityVac CAN'T get here quick enough!!!
Yea, I have a bit of OCD... But then again, don't we ALL on these forums??? LOL...
I just swapped the two Relay Valves.
Now the Wiper Door doesn't function (so it's a bad Relay Valve)
And NOW the Headlights go UP, but they won't retract.
I tried all switch & Override positions, and they stay in the up position.
When the Headlight Switch is turned OFF, the lights go out and the Driver's Side Headlight Door drops MAYBE 3/8" of an inch,. then when the headlights are turned back ON, the Driver's Side Headlight Door goes back UP that ~3/8".
Continuation From Above, With The Relay Valves Still Switched:
I shut the car off, had a quick Dinner, then started the car again.
The headlights retracted, Passenger Side is a bit slower than the Driver's Side, but I think that's normal (remember that from when I had my '81, many Moons ago).
I turned the lights on/off a few times, so-far so-good.
I just swapped the two Relay Valves.
Now the Wiper Door doesn't function (so it's a bad Relay Valve)
Not necessarily..... Ben, I just got home from a 2400 mile 5 day trip to Carlisle. I can get your vacuum system figured out, but it will have to wait till tomorrow.
08-29-2015, 03:39 PM
Is THIS Normal, For Headlight Vacuum Actuator Relay Valve Placement?
LOL...
