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76 Headlights keep poping up

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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 11:06 AM
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Default 76 Headlights keep poping up

One of the small problems I have with my newly accquired 76 Coupe is with the pop-up lights staying up all the time. I can close them manually (I do this correctly by reaching underneath and gently pulling on the center bar till they close on their own) with the car off, but then as soon as I crank the engine they pop back up on their own without the light switch being on. Anyone else had this problem? Seems like there should be an easy fix if I just knew what to do.
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by MattCrunk
One of the small problems I have with my newly accquired 76 Coupe is with the pop-up lights staying up all the time. I can close them manually (I do this correctly by reaching underneath and gently pulling on the center bar till they close on their own) with the car off, but then as soon as I crank the engine they pop back up on their own without the light switch being on. Anyone else had this problem? Seems like there should be an easy fix if I just knew what to do.
Not an easy fix. It's hard to diagnose this from sitting here at my computer. You need this: Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual It will tell you everything about the system, and you should be able to fix it from there. There's quite a few things that need checking.
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 11:25 AM
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are you sure the override has not been pulled down?

it's a little black **** that is next to the reset **** for the trip-ometer (or what ever that thing is called)

push it up or pull it down with the engine running and see if that solves your problem.

hope this helps....

Mike.
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 11:58 AM
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I had a problem with the headlights popping up when the car was shut off. I went to my DR. Rebuild catalog and found there is a small check valve that needed replacemnt. Dr. Rebuild's catalog has a lot of helpful hints and is a good resource.
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 12:07 PM
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I haven't had a problem with my headlights (yet), but I came across this link a while back: http://corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm

Hope it helps.
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 04:36 PM
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check the over ride switch for sure. it would be the easiest of solutions. i beleive it should be in the up position to be shut, and pulled down to over ride the system and open the headlamp doors (this feature exists so that the lights could be washed without running the car or turning the lamps on, assuming enough vacuum had been built up. when new, you should have been able to raise the headlamps about twice before expending the pent up vacuum. i would be surprised if you could still do that, but it really doesn't matter at this point, lol). the check valve could be defective, or it could be that someone installed it backwards. either way, it's a pretty inexpensive repair.

if neither of those provide a solution, it is possible that the vacuum relay connections are crossed and the system thinks the "closed" position actually has the doors open. the relay is (are) located mounted between the headlamp doors under the nose and is most easily accessed by opening the hood and working from the top. again, that's a pretty simple and cost free repair.

it is almost impossible however to give you an absolute answer, but i hope some of this starts you out in the right direction.

steve
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