Headlight locked
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 557
Likes: 3
From: El Sobrante CA
Headlight locked
I've been doing vacuum diagnostics on my 76's dysfunctional headlight doors. Several items being rebuilt and replaced. After raising passenger side headlight door and vacuum testing the actuator (tested good), the door became jammed. I unplugged all hoses, tried to push the unit into closed position but it won't budge.
I don't want to break or bend something, and those pivot springs are fully tensioned so I don't need an injury either. Any tips on the procedure to get the headlight back into the down position?
Thanks.
I don't want to break or bend something, and those pivot springs are fully tensioned so I don't need an injury either. Any tips on the procedure to get the headlight back into the down position?
Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,213
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
On my '69, you can reach up under the bumper and pull on the linkage to unlock it. There is a small flat bar with a 3/8"? hole in the end that you have to pull out. Kinda like a knee action joint that over travels.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 234
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From: Johnston Rhode Island
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 148
From: Hunterdon Cty NJ
I had the pass side stay up and I found that the screws that hold the suround that goes around the headlights had vibrated loose and was ok untill I put the lights up then it wedged between the HL door and the front of the car.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 557
Likes: 3
From: El Sobrante CA
Update: Turned out to be a stuck actuator diaphragm. I should've realized what was going on after the actuator tested okay and the headlight door was subsequently manually raised and locked. It drew an opposing vacuum into the actuator freezing the mechanism. So I just unplugged the 'Red' hose and applied a vacuum. The door instantly came unstuck.
I looked long and hard for a means to grab onto the linkage; apparently the '76 doesn't have that previously mentioned bar, or it's just not visible on my system. Moot point; it wouldn't have worked with all that vacuum bearing against the actuator piston.
In any event it looks like I'll be replacing at least one vacuum relay, and actuator and probably a hose or two.
Thanks for the replies! And Happy 4th! Stay safe; have fun!
I looked long and hard for a means to grab onto the linkage; apparently the '76 doesn't have that previously mentioned bar, or it's just not visible on my system. Moot point; it wouldn't have worked with all that vacuum bearing against the actuator piston.
In any event it looks like I'll be replacing at least one vacuum relay, and actuator and probably a hose or two.
Thanks for the replies! And Happy 4th! Stay safe; have fun!
Last edited by Capkunu; Jul 3, 2014 at 08:26 PM.
