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Old May 23, 2005 | 09:10 AM
  #1  
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Default C3 Headlights

I have a 76 C3. When the car is running, the headlights operate properly. When I shut it off, either one or both pop up. Anyone have any ideas?
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Old May 23, 2005 | 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by ajstr1265
I have a 76 C3. When the car is running, the headlights operate properly. When I shut it off, either one or both pop up. Anyone have any ideas?
You have a vacuum leak somewhere in your system. Vacuum holds the headlights down, when you lose vacuum they come up. When your motor is running it's producing enough vacuum to hold the lights down, but when its shut off the system leaks and eventually the lights pop up.

Use this great troubleshooting guide to help you figure out where the problem is:

http://209.183.231.72/corvette-101/vacuum.htm
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Old May 23, 2005 | 11:03 AM
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Old May 23, 2005 | 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by TheKomoman
You have a vacuum leak somewhere in your system....


Public Enemy #1: vacuum relay leaking
Second Suspect: Bad check valve
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Old May 23, 2005 | 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by TheKomoman
You have a vacuum leak somewhere in your system. Vacuum holds the headlights down, when you lose vacuum they come up. When your motor is running it's producing enough vacuum to hold the lights down, but when its shut off the system leaks and eventually the lights pop up.

Use this great troubleshooting guide to help you figure out where the problem is:

http://209.183.231.72/corvette-101/vacuum.htm
True - sounds like a vacuum leak or faulty component, but the headlights
actually stay down by themselves with no vacuum applied. They also
stay up with no vacuum applied. So, when the car is turned off,
some vacuum is "sneaking" into the "goes up port" of the actuator.

I agree with the last post ... a leak inside the relay would do it.
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Old May 23, 2005 | 03:02 PM
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THanks for all of the help. I actually looked in the Doc Rebild cat. Under the check valve part listing it said this will cause the headlights to pop up when the car is turned off. So I will try the least expensive first. Thanks again for everyone's help
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Old May 23, 2005 | 04:00 PM
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Test the check valve. Put the single nipple in your mouth and suck. Then blow. It should be impossible to one or the other (can't remember which). If you can suck AND blow, it's broken.

No jokes...
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Old May 23, 2005 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by NHvette
True - sounds like a vacuum leak or faulty component, but the headlights
actually stay down by themselves with no vacuum applied. They also
stay up with no vacuum applied. So, when the car is turned off,
some vacuum is "sneaking" into the "goes up port" of the actuator.
there is not constant vacuum on the lights. only to open and close.
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