Headlights Don't go Up
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 783
Likes: 38
From: Mankato Mn
Headlights Don't go Up
I just bought a 1980 vette with some issues. The one I'm starting with is, the headlights don't come up. I got them to come up once by pulling the overide but now that does'nt do anything either. I put a vacuum gauge at the T at the headlight relays & do have vacuum there. I don't have a manual for an 80. Is the system different from my 68 & 76 vettes ? Any ideas where to start trouble shooting ?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 22
From: Yooperville MI
If you have a hand vacuum pump, you can diagnose the actuators by connecting a hose to the vacuum port on the bottom of the headlight actuator (the bottom port opens the headlamps, the top port closes the headlamp) and see if you can pump each headlamp open manually. If you can't open them with vacuum, the actuator shaft seal is probably worn out and leaking. The seal costs about $10 at the Vette parts distributors. A lot cheaper than buying new actuators. Just be carefull disassembling the retainer that holds the seal in place, the tabs that are bent over are fragile. Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Remove vacuum at the T and this tells the lights to come "up"--providing you have vacuum at the yellow striped center hose on the relay.
