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Headlight change

Old Mar 26, 2006 | 07:24 PM
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Default Headlight change

I'm sure there's a simple answer to this question, but I seem to be too dense to find it! Want to change out my stock headlamps, all 4, to halogen. I can raise the headlights and then turn off the engine but naturally, when I push in the switch to shut off the juice, the lights go down. If I keep them in the up position, the lamps are lit. So, do I use the manual override under the dash? My manual says that if I do this, then I need to take the car to a certifed Chevy tech to hook it all up again. That seems extreme but probably SOP for when the car was new. I don't really want to start pulling on connectors while they're hot so what is the magic trick to doing this? Both my shop manual and Chilton's are no use. Help!
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 08:03 PM
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on mine I turn off engine with lights on, then turn the lights off nad they stay up.

Mike
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 08:32 PM
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under the dash there is a lil black switch, pull it down, then turm off the engine
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
under the dash there is a lil black switch, pull it down, then turm off the engine

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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
under the dash there is a lil black switch, pull it down, then turm off the engine
Thanks. There are actually 2 switches, 1 for each side. The manual says to disconnect the vac hose from the actuator before pulling the switch. Are you saying that I can just pull the switch with no evil consequences?
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 10:17 PM
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the lil switch I am talking about is there to lock the headlights in the up position. So nothing evil that I know of
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 10:25 PM
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One switch is for the wiper door, the other is the headlight buckets.
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
the lil switch I am talking about is there to lock the headlights in the up position. So nothing evil that I know of
Nothing evil will happen. It's a vacuum bypass switch. This will work assuming bubba didn't re-route your vacuum lines.

Last edited by shafrs3; Mar 26, 2006 at 10:29 PM.
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 11:10 PM
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Thanks everyone! I'll give this a try. So far, it looks as if Bubba hasn't done much to this car. But, you never know!
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 11:25 PM
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If your looking for better brighter lights, you might also think about MADs upgrade kit. It uses 2 relays and a new power feed to the lights to eliminate the voltage drop in the stock wiring harness
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Old Mar 26, 2006 | 11:27 PM
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If your looking for better brighter lights, you might think about MADs upgrade kit. It uses 2 relays and a new power feed to eliminate the voltage drop in the stock wiring harnes
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Old Mar 27, 2006 | 03:01 AM
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Either:
1) use the override and then shut the car off OR
2) turn on headlights, shut off car, turn off headlights

Both will stick the headlights in the "up" position - without vacuum, they're not going down.
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Old Mar 27, 2006 | 07:24 AM
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Originally Posted by alanbl
Thanks. There are actually 2 switches, 1 for each side. The manual says to disconnect the vac hose from the actuator before pulling the switch. Are you saying that I can just pull the switch with no evil consequences?

close, depending on your year, one is for thge wiper door, the other is for the lights, and you dont need to have the engine on to use either switch.
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Old Mar 27, 2006 | 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by sweethence
close, depending on your year, one is for thge wiper door, the other is for the lights, and you dont need to have the engine on to use either switch.
I'm fessin' up. I'm an idiot who did the same thing that I sometimes bitch about other people who think it's easier to just throw out a question on the web/forum because they're too lazy to do their own research. Well, last night I read through the owners' manual thoroughly and whaddya know, there in black & white are clear instructions for using the switches under the dash to raise the headlights and the wiper cover. And, thanks Sixfooter, I'm going to look into the MAD upgrade.
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Old Mar 27, 2006 | 07:47 PM
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Since my car is a POS at the moment, I just reached under the bumper and pushed up on the headlights
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