Trying to track down why one side wouldn't do it up/down thing.

The side that wouldn't work, had a new vac relay installed by the PO, it was brand new, not even dusty.

Took off and checked out the vac actuator, it wasn't bad. (sand blasted and painted all the springs and nuts, and stuff, also while I had it apart)

Swapped vac lines all around to make sure there wasn't source problem, or some crap in a vac line, everything pointed back to the vac relay.

The car also came with a new in bag, unopened relay, so I took it out and installed it.

Same problem.

WTF is wrong?

two new relays,and the door still won't open? Door opens if I swapped hose to the old relay on the other side.

I took off the little foam piece under the relay, and whatever lube was used inside the relay, had turned hard, it wouldn't let the relay valve slide in either new relay.

These relays may be NOS, or repop, unopened, but they may also be 20 or 30 years old, they were all gummed up. I used a spray teflon solvent/lube to dissolve the hard grease in the relay, to get it to work.

Maybe not a permanent fix, but i will see how long it lasts.

Doug

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...tem-works.html

 

Doug, the important thing is that the slide inside the relay be able to move up and down. They typically used silicone grease in them as it will rarely turn gummy. The second most important thing is to protect the relay by replacing those little foam filters when they fall out. I cut small foam filters a bit oversize and insert them instead of the original open-foam filters that typically come in them and quickly fall out. Since these relay's have vacuum on them whenever the engine is running they will suck dust and dirt into them without the filters and in no time at all the seals leak and the relay becomes lazy or just stops working.

It sounds like you've got the situation well in hand...

Good luck... GUSTO

 

What are you using for the filters? I was thinking of cutting chunks out of a foam filter designed for a home air conditioner.

 

Where are the relays physically located?
thanks.

LP

 

never mind, just looked at zips diagram and now know.

 

I just use small pieces of normal packing foam, the type that is also used for air filters on small lawn mower engines. Off the top of my head, I believe they're 1/2" X 1/2" X 1/4". Very easy to cut out and replace from time to time. I make them just slightly oversize so that they stay put.

Good luck... GUSTO

 

I think the idea of these is to keep big chunks of stuff from finding their way in, and insects from nesting inside the relay.

Anything that passes air, and not large particles should work fine.

Doug