Hi all,
Have a problem, one of my head lights wont pop up. I can see the the actuator trying to push it up but of corse it not. I oiled everything I could. I looked for vac leeks cant find any. Been at this for two days now.......Help me (I see Vac hoses).

 

It is probably a vac leak. If you have a vac pump check the headlight actuator. The relays also develop leaks as does the tubing. Swap the hoses from the headlight that works to the one that doesn't. Be sure to plug the hoses you remove from the non functioning actuator. If the same headlight still doesnt work then replace the actuator or install a seal kit in the one you have.

 

just a simple suggestion if you don';t have a vacuum gauge (and since you didn't specify the year, i'm not certain your car will be equiped with 2 vacuum relays to be able to try this). if you have a later C3 with 2 vacuum relays (mounted up under the nose between the headlight actuators) simply switch the vauum leads from the relays to the headlight actuators, if you have the same result only now it is reversed to the other headlight, the vacuum relay is probably bad. if there is no change, there is a vacuum leak at the headlight actuator. this can manifest itself in a couple of ways. first the hose going to the actuator may have deteriorated where i joins the actuator nipple and i causing a leak. the most simple solution is to trim the end of the hose a bit. secondly, it might be the actuator seal itself. the easiest way to inspect this is to remove the grill on the side of the actuator and work inside that compartment. you can slide the accordian boot forward to inspect the seal to see it's condition. if it needs to be replaced it is simple to do. just remove the 2 shorter springs and clevis pin and drop the actuator rod and remove the clevis itself ( it unscrews). then simply slide the boot of and remove and replace the seal. screw the clevis back onto the actuator rod, and reset the clevis pin. third if the seal looks to be ok and there isn't a hissing noise or visible tear or hole, it could be the actuator bladder itself (not repairable, just replaceable). in this case the actuator needs to be replace completely. my suggestion should that be the case is to be real careful if you buy a repro actuator. the one i used broke down after less than 60 days (and of course the waranty is only 30 days). they are made is china for the most part and are crap in everyway (except what they charge for them).

hope that helps you out a bit.

 

Where do you suggest we buy from as I'm looking at this same situation?

 

Thanks going to try this this weekend. Keep you posted.

 

You probably have the same problem, I dealt with over the weekend: bad seal in actuator. Good way of testing is to use a vacuum guage connected to intake manifold and start crimping vacum hoses. The hose at the front of the actuator lifts the headlight. if you can get underneath and pop the headlight assembly up and it retracts OK I would say 90% chance of seal leak. The seals are called "Witches Hats" and are about $10 from suppliers, and an hour to 2 hours labor to remove actuator and replace seal (remove actuator, put into center area with hood closed and have a helper carfully open hood while you work it out WITHOUT scratching paint on your hood. I hope you don't have a 68-72, I am still fighting my wiper door but, have almost won that battle! Good luck.

 

Ok, Had a vac leak. Now the head lights dont go up at the same time or down. The head light I was working on works great. the other well is the slow one. How can I get them in sync. Oh, I have 1981

 

If the slow headlight in the one that had the vacuum leak, you may have to change the vacuum switch to get them in "time".

 

Hum, It was the one that was working well befor I fixed the one that was bad. The switch is the one under the steering wheel?