One eye open...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 292
Likes: 41
From: Falls Church VA
One eye open...
Does anyone have a guide for troubleshooting the headlight vacuum system? Passenger headlight is not opening and closing correctly on a new vacuum line install.
Thanks!
Steve
Thanks!
Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,270
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Steve,
There's quite a bit of vacuum system trouble-shooting information available on this site and on line. The Willcox site, for instance, has some helpful info.
How is the headlight 'acting'?
Was the headlight opening/closing normally before you replaced the vacuum hoses?
Are you CERTAIN the hoses are routed correctly?
Why did you decide to replace the hoses?
Is the car you're working on a 72?
Regards,
Alan
There's quite a bit of vacuum system trouble-shooting information available on this site and on line. The Willcox site, for instance, has some helpful info.
How is the headlight 'acting'?
Was the headlight opening/closing normally before you replaced the vacuum hoses?
Are you CERTAIN the hoses are routed correctly?
Why did you decide to replace the hoses?
Is the car you're working on a 72?
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Jul 31, 2017 at 07:47 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 223
Likes: 15
From: Ijamsville Maryland
Steve, I agree with Alan. I was able to download a couple of PDF files from other forum threads that covered all the headlight troubleshooting and schematics you'd ever need. I went about my light repairs by swapping in new check valves and other compinents too - for piece of mind mostly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 332
From: Woodinville WA
This site is useful: http://www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm
It's also worth manually pulling the lights up and popping off the fiberglass surround and chrome retaining rings and just checking on the condition / # of headlight actuator springs that are still on your car.
My 79 only has 14.9k miles on it and somehow was missing 5 hour of 8 springs; lol! Replaced 4; waiting on the other 4 to show up.
There are variations between some year's within the C3s; some have the huge vaccuum combo front bumper "ram" bar acting as a vacuum canister rather than the tin, "giant soup can" style that I think the 80-82s have. I have no idea what the early C3s had or if they had a dedicated vacuum canister for the headlights or not...
Adam
It's also worth manually pulling the lights up and popping off the fiberglass surround and chrome retaining rings and just checking on the condition / # of headlight actuator springs that are still on your car.
My 79 only has 14.9k miles on it and somehow was missing 5 hour of 8 springs; lol! Replaced 4; waiting on the other 4 to show up.
There are variations between some year's within the C3s; some have the huge vaccuum combo front bumper "ram" bar acting as a vacuum canister rather than the tin, "giant soup can" style that I think the 80-82s have. I have no idea what the early C3s had or if they had a dedicated vacuum canister for the headlights or not...
Adam
Last edited by NewbVetteGuy; Jul 31, 2017 at 05:27 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 292
Likes: 41
From: Falls Church VA
Hi Steve,
There's quite a bit of vacuum system trouble-shooting information available on this site and on line. The Willcox site, for instance, has some helpful info.
How is the headlight 'acting'?
Was the headlight opening/closing normally before you replaced the vacuum hoses?
Are you CERTAIN the hoses are routed correctly?
Why did you decide to replace the hoses?
Is the car you're working on a 72?
Regards,
Alan
There's quite a bit of vacuum system trouble-shooting information available on this site and on line. The Willcox site, for instance, has some helpful info.
How is the headlight 'acting'?
Was the headlight opening/closing normally before you replaced the vacuum hoses?
Are you CERTAIN the hoses are routed correctly?
Why did you decide to replace the hoses?
Is the car you're working on a 72?
Regards,
Alan
