Headlights Won't Go Down
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Headlights Won't Go Down
I finally pulled the 'Vette out of the garage after 1 1/2 years of sitting. I put the new battery in, primed it and once the carburetor got fuel it fired right up. I was very surprised I thought I would have all sorts of problems with it but I didn't. I forgot what 600 horsepower felt like....WOW!
Now to my problem. It used to be the headlights wouldn't pop up. Well out of curiousity I pulled the switch to see if they would come up and they did! Now they won't go down. How the heck do you get the lights to go down? Thanks in advance!
Now to my problem. It used to be the headlights wouldn't pop up. Well out of curiousity I pulled the switch to see if they would come up and they did! Now they won't go down. How the heck do you get the lights to go down? Thanks in advance!
Last edited by bence13_33; Apr 21, 2007 at 05:11 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The knees in the linkages that swing the headlights up are locked, like a double jointed gymnast's knees. The vacuum controlled headlight actuator pushes that knee forward unlocking it, when the switch is pushed back in.
There is a bypass switch that will cut off vacuum to those actuators, so check and make sure that switch is not bypassing the headlight system.
Also, what kind of vacuum does your motor produce...or better yet, not produce? With no vacuum in the system, the headlights won't go back down. You may also have a leak, if your engine is producing enough vacuum.
There is a bypass switch that will cut off vacuum to those actuators, so check and make sure that switch is not bypassing the headlight system.
Also, what kind of vacuum does your motor produce...or better yet, not produce? With no vacuum in the system, the headlights won't go back down. You may also have a leak, if your engine is producing enough vacuum.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 658
Likes: 0
From: east rutherford new jersey
The knees in the linkages that swing the headlights up are locked, like a double jointed gymnast's knees. The vacuum controlled headlight actuator pushes that knee forward unlocking it, when the switch is pushed back in.
There is a bypass switch that will cut off vacuum to those actuators, so check and make sure that switch is not bypassing the headlight system.
Also, what kind of vacuum does your motor produce...or better yet, not produce? With no vacuum in the system, the headlights won't go back down. You may also have a leak, if your engine is producing enough vacuum.
There is a bypass switch that will cut off vacuum to those actuators, so check and make sure that switch is not bypassing the headlight system.
Also, what kind of vacuum does your motor produce...or better yet, not produce? With no vacuum in the system, the headlights won't go back down. You may also have a leak, if your engine is producing enough vacuum.
i just ran into the same problem, tonite.
they went up and down ok the first time, but afterward, 1 headlight (passenger) wouldn't go down.
how would you manually realease the 'knee' to get it to go back down?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
You have to reach through from under it, by removing the front grills or from under the car through the holes in the nose. Just grab the bend, and pull forward. Watch your fingers, as they close like a pair of scissors.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
you don't have to remove the front grills... there are two large openings underneath the grills... just reasch up there and pull down on the springs.. that will bring the headlights down. should take you less than 5 seconds per headlight
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
OR you all could just say BAG it, and tear out 500 lbs of operating healight assy's and do what I did....see site....it's late Camaro bulbs with Eckler's sugar scoop trays....and closed in openings....
save about 400 lbs....
whatEVER....
save about 400 lbs....
whatEVER....
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: east rutherford new jersey
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 658
Likes: 0
From: east rutherford new jersey
done. damn. i've never been so happy to see something up all night go down so easy.
i just 'tugged' on one spring a bit, and down it went, after a little puff of air.
bence13-i hope you have the same luck.
i just 'tugged' on one spring a bit, and down it went, after a little puff of air.
bence13-i hope you have the same luck.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Columbia Missouri
