Headlights won't go down!
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Headlights won't go down!
After never having any problems with my 81' Vette's headlights all of the sudden last night they decided not to go down.
Any suggestions on how to get them "down" at least before I tackle the whole problem?
Thanks!
Ken
Any suggestions on how to get them "down" at least before I tackle the whole problem?
Thanks!
Ken
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Actually just disconnecting the vacuum lines won't make them go down. There is an actuator that pushes a spring loaded leg out of position allowing the lights to lower. You have to have just as much vacuum to lower them as you do to raise them.
If they won't lower that means that either there is a vacuum leak, or that either the relays or actuators are bad.
If they both exhibit the same symptom then it's probably a leak in the system or the switch.
If they won't lower that means that either there is a vacuum leak, or that either the relays or actuators are bad.
If they both exhibit the same symptom then it's probably a leak in the system or the switch.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Vac. on the actuator makes them go down. Vac. removed makes them go up.
So if UKs problem is on the small hose side of the system then he is lacking in vacuum at the actuator.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
That is correct.
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: Warrenville IL
A default 'safety' mechanism is that if the vacuum fails the lights will open. Thus the simplest explanation is that vacuum holds the lights down. If your lights won't go down, you likely don't have any vacuum.
