Correct Headlight Switch for 69
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Sherrard Illinois
Correct Headlight Switch for 69
Has anyone experienced difficulty in locating the correct Headlight switch in the dash for their 69? 
It appears most vendors carry a switch minus the two vaccuum ports and/or 7 terminals instead of 8 like mine in pic. ("sorry for the blurry")! It has an extra terminal in the spot marked 7 which is in the center and towards the back of the plastic housing. The AC Delco Warehouse here only carries the ones without the vaccuum ports and minus this terminal. The closest thing I could find was a 69 Camaro RS which has the hideaway headlights and has the two Vaccuum ports but not the extra terminal. No one can tell me what that terminal is for. 
I called Eckler's today to go look at their stock but they never returned my call. Gotta big shopping list and might hafta go elsewhere!
It appears most vendors carry a switch minus the two vaccuum ports and/or 7 terminals instead of 8 like mine in pic. ("sorry for the blurry")! It has an extra terminal in the spot marked 7 which is in the center and towards the back of the plastic housing. The AC Delco Warehouse here only carries the ones without the vaccuum ports and minus this terminal. The closest thing I could find was a 69 Camaro RS which has the hideaway headlights and has the two Vaccuum ports but not the extra terminal. No one can tell me what that terminal is for. I called Eckler's today to go look at their stock but they never returned my call. Gotta big shopping list and might hafta go elsewhere!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
I am not aware that there is a difference in the switches 68-82. If there is, GM did make some change on the running light/dash light terminals in the mid 70s. Pretty sure a later switch can be made to work by switching 1 wire. All 68-82 Corvettes will need vacuum ports for the headlights. The basic electrical layout for GM headlight switches is the same from mid 60s to mid 80s with the aforementioned terminal change. I am in process of moving and don't have any schematics handy-sorry.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,404
Likes: 791
From: Redondo Beach, California
Can you look at your underdash wire harness? If your switch has eight terminals, does the harness have 8 corresponding wires? If it does have 8 wires, then can you find were they go to by looking at a schematic.
If you can only find switches with 7 terminals, maybe you can make a 7 terminal switch work after looking at the schematic.
I bought a large colored schematic for my 68 and 70 from "Don Olson" its a lot easier to read than the schematic in the service manual. Several members of the forum have bought these large schematics. Don't remember Don's e-mail address.
If you can only find switches with 7 terminals, maybe you can make a 7 terminal switch work after looking at the schematic.
I bought a large colored schematic for my 68 and 70 from "Don Olson" its a lot easier to read than the schematic in the service manual. Several members of the forum have bought these large schematics. Don't remember Don's e-mail address.
