inop headlights
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Boynton Beach Florida
inop headlights
I just got a 1981 and the headlights open or close..The drivers side closes but won't open and the passenger side does not operate at all..anyone have any ideas..I have shop manual which has a vacuum diagram.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Check just forward of the hood - the vacuum relays are mounted there.
Lots of vacuum hoses in and out - and going to the headlight actuators.
First, check that no hoses have fallen off.
If not, then some troubleshooting is in order.
The 2 most common items are a leaky actuator and broken/leaky vacuum relay.
It sounds like you have figured out how to open them by hand.
Be careful closing them by hand, as the mechanism locks.
You need to reach under and start the linkage closing before
pushing down on the cover.
Lots of vacuum hoses in and out - and going to the headlight actuators.
First, check that no hoses have fallen off.
If not, then some troubleshooting is in order.
The 2 most common items are a leaky actuator and broken/leaky vacuum relay.
It sounds like you have figured out how to open them by hand.
Be careful closing them by hand, as the mechanism locks.
You need to reach under and start the linkage closing before
pushing down on the cover.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by palazzopl
I opened them by blowing into the actuator hoses they open and close that way
hood and blowing/sucking on hoses to close the lights. That just sucks .. literally.
OK - so maybe the actuators are OK - but they should work by sucking only - no blowing.
If they open and close by sucking on the hoses, then you've narrowed
it down to the vacuum relays or the vacuum source (hoses, check valve, tank, etc).
