Electric headlight door question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,956
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From: Camden SC
Electric headlight door question
I recently had the vacuum-based headlight door openers on my 73 replaced with electric door openers. The good news is that they work great. Doors open and close in about a second. However, I just noticed that when I activate my high beams, the doors close as if I have turned off the lights...
. Of course, I am bringing the car back to the mechanic who did the installation, but I'm not sure he will be able to figure out the problem. I'd like to bring him a solution. Any ideas?
. Of course, I am bringing the car back to the mechanic who did the installation, but I'm not sure he will be able to figure out the problem. I'd like to bring him a solution. Any ideas?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Don't know what system you have so I certainly can't give you wire colors or any precise information.
And I have no idea why you let someone else work on your car . But.
There is a wire that activates the opening of the doors. He has hooked it up to the low beam wire so when the low beams are on, that wire receives voltage and opens the doors.
He should have ran that wire to the power wire before the dimmer switch. Which of course is behind the dash and a lot harder to do correctly. He could also run that wire to the parker light wire but your doors would open if you only had your parking lights on.
And I have no idea why you let someone else work on your car . But.
There is a wire that activates the opening of the doors. He has hooked it up to the low beam wire so when the low beams are on, that wire receives voltage and opens the doors.
He should have ran that wire to the power wire before the dimmer switch. Which of course is behind the dash and a lot harder to do correctly. He could also run that wire to the parker light wire but your doors would open if you only had your parking lights on.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,956
Likes: 4,811
From: Camden SC
Don't know what system you have so I certainly can't give you wire colors or any precise information.
And I have no idea why you let someone else work on your car . But.
There is a wire that activates the opening of the doors. He has hooked it up to the low beam wire so when the low beams are on, that wire receives voltage and opens the doors.
He should have ran that wire to the power wire before the dimmer switch. Which of course is behind the dash and a lot harder to do correctly. He could also run that wire to the parker light wire but your doors would open if you only had your parking lights on.
And I have no idea why you let someone else work on your car . But.
There is a wire that activates the opening of the doors. He has hooked it up to the low beam wire so when the low beams are on, that wire receives voltage and opens the doors.
He should have ran that wire to the power wire before the dimmer switch. Which of course is behind the dash and a lot harder to do correctly. He could also run that wire to the parker light wire but your doors would open if you only had your parking lights on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,419
Likes: 1,555
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
There is a switch, you can also open them manually with the car off by pushing on the lever arm from underneath.
Manually Open & Close C3 Corvette Pop Up Headlights
Demo car is missing 1 spring.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,419
Likes: 1,555
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Hi LIE 2 ME
Trace the power wire that closes the light motors and connect it to constant power.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
All this makes me so happy I have the stock vacuum operated headlight doors. So simple, so reliable. And I can open them without having them on just to service or clean them.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Summerville SC
When I installed the elec conversion in my 78 a long time ago I also installed a headlight bucket switch from a C2. Constant power to the switch and then from the switch to the new motors. It might sound like extra work to open them up,, but I had a C2 for about 15 years and never thought twice about the procedure. They can be opened or closed anytime I want. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
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From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
It is not wired correctly- if the electric kit has only one trigger wire - it should go all the way to the dimmer switch...
It sounds as if it was just wired just to the low beam-
It sounds as if it was just wired just to the low beam-
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 55
Likes: 7
Use any source for constant power. The blue or trigger wire gets connected to the wire going into the dimmer switch that gets hot when the lights are turned on. Thats the way mine is wired. No need to get to the headlamp switch.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 189
Likes: 54
From: Orange Park, Fl.
This is the proper way to wire the electric motors and the way the instructions in my electric headlight motor kit says to do it. To leave the headlights up for servicing, you may elect to jump power to the trigger wire to raise them or use the mechanical drive wheel on the motor itself to spin the motor to the up position by hand...easy to do. Just spin the motor manually back to the closed position when done servicing. I really like the electric motor operated headlights. They pop up and go down much nicer plus I got rid of a whole bunch of rubber vacuum lines and actuators. Motors are easy to install and wiring very straight forward. Also, I would recommend getting the install instructions from whoever did the work so you know how to deal with any operation questions you have going forward. Maybe your install guy can show you where he ran the trigger wire.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Interesting that GM/Corvette chose to move from electric lamp buckets for the C2's to vacuum operated buckets in the C3's. Some think that was strictly because of cost. I believe that long term reliability was an issue, as well. Also, likely less expensive to repair a vacuum type system than electric motors. Just some thoughts....
Race Director
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Really never had any trouble whatsoever in my 77 until it was well over 40 years old. That's actually pretty reliable for a automobile.
Now, all my vacuum system rebuilt, holding vacuum like Fort Knox. All I'd great again. Hopefully I'll get another 45 years our of it. That's likely longer than I'll be on this planet.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
I'm sure there was an engineering "tug of war" in the Corvette design enclave about which way to go. In the end, the electronic systems won out. I'm not saying that was a 'negative'. I just think vacuum systems get a lot of bad vibes because of unjustified negative stigmas about them. It is just a simple way to power light-duty systems using existing engine-provided [vacuum] energy. Don't care for vacuum operated systems? That's OK, too.