Stupid Headlights
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Stupid Headlights
I have a 73 stingray with headlight problems. When I got it out for the summer, the headlghts would only open about an inch unless I helped them up. They would not go down at all without help. I downloaded the vacuum troubleshooting guide that I found here in the forums and started doing my tests. I found what I thought was the problem in a bad relay valve. I replaced it and now the headlights come up as soon as I start the car even when the headlitghts are not turned on. The lights will not go down at all without help. I have went over the diagrams and troubleshooting for hours and don't see anything else wrong.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by 73_stingray
I have a 73 stingray with headlight problems. When I got it out for the summer, the headlghts would only open about an inch unless I helped them up. They would not go down at all without help. I downloaded the vacuum troubleshooting guide that I found here in the forums and started doing my tests. I found what I thought was the problem in a bad relay valve. I replaced it and now the headlights come up as soon as I start the car even when the headlitghts are not turned on. The lights will not go down at all without help. I have went over the diagrams and troubleshooting for hours and don't see anything else wrong.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.
keep at it though
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 837
Likes: 3
From: Texas
Hoses routed wrong come to mind first. Double check at the headlight switch, the pulldown switch (under dash, left of steering column), and recheck routing at the relay/relays......can't remember if 73 has one or two relays.
Keep in mind that many have found aftermarket relays to be bad right out of the box. Maybe recheck the relay with a vacuum guage using the 101 troubleshooting site.
Hope this helps
Keep in mind that many have found aftermarket relays to be bad right out of the box. Maybe recheck the relay with a vacuum guage using the 101 troubleshooting site.
Hope this helps
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 203
Likes: 1
From: El Cajon CA
Check to see if the vacuum signal is getting to the relay if you have comfirmed the relay hoses are connected correctly.
Run the car and turn the headlifgts on. Pull the smaller white stripe hose at the top of the relay. You should feel suction on the hose.
If that is Ok reconnect the small hose and then pull the red stripe hose off the actuator(on backside) and see if there is vacuum there. If not it is the relay. If there is vacuum then the actuator is bad.
Run the car and turn the headlifgts on. Pull the smaller white stripe hose at the top of the relay. You should feel suction on the hose.
If that is Ok reconnect the small hose and then pull the red stripe hose off the actuator(on backside) and see if there is vacuum there. If not it is the relay. If there is vacuum then the actuator is bad.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 0
From: Old Skool, NY
I'm wondering,
If one headlight pops up first and the other one follows a fraction afterwards..is that an early warning sign of malfunction and should be taken to a shop?
...Sorry, I'm not a DYI guy..!
If one headlight pops up first and the other one follows a fraction afterwards..is that an early warning sign of malfunction and should be taken to a shop?
...Sorry, I'm not a DYI guy..!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
Originally Posted by classiczx
I'm wondering,
If one headlight pops up first and the other one follows a fraction afterwards..is that an early warning sign of malfunction and should be taken to a shop?
...Sorry, I'm not a DYI guy..!
If one headlight pops up first and the other one follows a fraction afterwards..is that an early warning sign of malfunction and should be taken to a shop?
...Sorry, I'm not a DYI guy..!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 0
From: Old Skool, NY
Originally Posted by IrishJoker
Nope, you have two relays, one for each headlight. What you are seeing is only a normal delay. If you want, you can route both headlights to one relay, save the other one for when the one you are using fails.
...Some shop guy might've been waiting to pounce on a su*ker like me!
Thanks for the info!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 837
Likes: 3
From: Texas
Go to this site and click "vacuum trouble" once there. http://corvette-101.com/
It has a diagram that can be enlarged by clicking on it. This diagram does not include wiper door......can't remember if 73 has wiper door. Two hoses to the headlight switch. You may be able to do some checking at the switch by pulling vacuum at the other end of the hoses that go to the switch. One at the check valve and the other at the pull down switch (see diagram). The site also gives a troubleshooting guide for the switch. You can probably reach up from the bottom if it were just a hose off at the switch. It's a tight fit and you'll need to get some stuff out of the way.
It has a diagram that can be enlarged by clicking on it. This diagram does not include wiper door......can't remember if 73 has wiper door. Two hoses to the headlight switch. You may be able to do some checking at the switch by pulling vacuum at the other end of the hoses that go to the switch. One at the check valve and the other at the pull down switch (see diagram). The site also gives a troubleshooting guide for the switch. You can probably reach up from the bottom if it were just a hose off at the switch. It's a tight fit and you'll need to get some stuff out of the way.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
All you have is a couple of hoses reversed. Play around with it you can't screw it up.
The pull down switch under your steering wheel has hoses connected to it as does the headlight switch. I think your problem lies here. To get to the pull down drop the cover under the steering wheel column.
Here is how it works. Mainfold sends vaccum to the headlight switch. From the headlight switch it routes through the pulldown switch and goes to the relays or relay at the front. Follow the hoses...one through the firewall goes to ones spot on the headlight switch. another hose comes out of the headlight switch and goes to the pulldown switch.
Reverse the hoses on the pulldown and see if it makes a difference. It should. Maybe you are missing the hose from the headlight switch to the pull down.
Jim
The pull down switch under your steering wheel has hoses connected to it as does the headlight switch. I think your problem lies here. To get to the pull down drop the cover under the steering wheel column.
Here is how it works. Mainfold sends vaccum to the headlight switch. From the headlight switch it routes through the pulldown switch and goes to the relays or relay at the front. Follow the hoses...one through the firewall goes to ones spot on the headlight switch. another hose comes out of the headlight switch and goes to the pulldown switch.
Reverse the hoses on the pulldown and see if it makes a difference. It should. Maybe you are missing the hose from the headlight switch to the pull down.
Jim
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
That's what I get for letting someone else work on my car
Last fall before putting the car away, I had a new radiator put in, sure enough when they installed it they pinched one of the vacuum lines. A qucik trip to Autozone for some new hose and I am back in business.
These lights have always gone up and down much slower than my 80, is that normal ?
Thanks everyone for the help, I learned quite a bit from this expedition.
These lights have always gone up and down much slower than my 80, is that normal ?
Thanks everyone for the help, I learned quite a bit from this expedition.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Glad you found it ... definitely a problem in the nose - not the dash.
A slower rise/fall would be indicative of a lower manifold vacuum, pinched or clogged hose,
or a slight leak in the actuator seal. A seal rebuild kit is cheap -
but not easy to install since you need to take the actuators off.
Feel good that they go up and down when they should.
A slower rise/fall would be indicative of a lower manifold vacuum, pinched or clogged hose,
or a slight leak in the actuator seal. A seal rebuild kit is cheap -
but not easy to install since you need to take the actuators off.
Feel good that they go up and down when they should.