Store with headlights up, or down?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 441
Likes: 1
From: Windsor Ontario
Store with headlights up, or down?
Got into a debate about the best position to leave the headlights in for long term (winter) storage.
I say in the up position, as it releases the tension on the internal diaphragm of the actuator. When the headlights are down you are actually stretching the diaphragm.
My buddy says down is better, I know it stores better since they are down. Does it really matter.
I say in the up position, as it releases the tension on the internal diaphragm of the actuator. When the headlights are down you are actually stretching the diaphragm.
My buddy says down is better, I know it stores better since they are down. Does it really matter.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,283
Likes: 4,374
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi t,
I just took a look at the mechanism movement from closed to open to closed and I don't see that the position would make any difference over a period of time. The springs are always under tension and the vacuum will leak off as the days go by.
So I think closed.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Regards,
Alan
IF doing SOMETHING would make you feel better.... release the 4 springs on each mechanism.
I just took a look at the mechanism movement from closed to open to closed and I don't see that the position would make any difference over a period of time. The springs are always under tension and the vacuum will leak off as the days go by.
So I think closed.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Regards,
Alan
IF doing SOMETHING would make you feel better.... release the 4 springs on each mechanism.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 441
Likes: 1
From: Windsor Ontario
Not concerned with the springs, it's the rubber diaphragm in the actuator canister. When the headlights are up the pressure is off the diaphragm, when the headlights are closed you are actually stretching the rubber diaphragm.
I had to replace on last spring as the rubber diaphragm had stretched and would not function properly.
I had to replace on last spring as the rubber diaphragm had stretched and would not function properly.
Hi t,
I just took a look at the mechanism movement from closed to open to closed and I don't see that the position would make any difference over a period of time. The springs are always under tension and the vacuum will leak off as the days go by.
So I think closed.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Regards,
Alan
IF doing SOMETHING would make you feel better.... release the 4 springs on each mechanism.
I just took a look at the mechanism movement from closed to open to closed and I don't see that the position would make any difference over a period of time. The springs are always under tension and the vacuum will leak off as the days go by.
So I think closed.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Regards,
Alan
IF doing SOMETHING would make you feel better.... release the 4 springs on each mechanism.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Not concerned with the springs, it's the rubber diaphragm in the actuator canister. When the headlights are up the pressure is off the diaphragm, when the headlights are closed you are actually stretching the rubber diaphragm.
I had to replace on last spring as the rubber diaphragm had stretched and would not function properly.
I had to replace on last spring as the rubber diaphragm had stretched and would not function properly.
The only position where the diaphragm is not being 'stretched' is when the lights are midway through their travel.
My actuators are 40+ years old as far as I can figure out and work just fine no matter which position I leave them in.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 556
Likes: 13
From: C3 Forum, Colorado
This is exactly right. So as far as long term storage goes it wouldn't make a difference.If anything would be under stress, I think it would be the seals on the rod end of the actuator because these are compressed or rolled over in the down position. So, leaving the lights up would actually keep them in their natural state.
FWIW, I leave my lights up all winter long just to keep those old and possibly brittle seals from moving around too much in the cold weather when driving after dark.
Yes, I drive my car year round as long as the roads are dry.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 802
Likes: 1
When the light are down the diaphragm is being 'stretched' rearwards. When the lights are up the diaphragm is being 'stretched' forwards.
The only position where the diaphragm is not being 'stretched' is when the lights are midway through their travel.
My actuators are 40+ years old as far as I can figure out and work just fine no matter which position I leave them in.
The only position where the diaphragm is not being 'stretched' is when the lights are midway through their travel.
My actuators are 40+ years old as far as I can figure out and work just fine no matter which position I leave them in.
Shouldn't take more than an hour to set it up and then another hour to put it back together. This way you could get 80+ yrs.
Steve L
73 coupe since new