C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

HEADLIGHTSWITCH or Something Else?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 17, 2008 | 08:33 PM
  #1  
wro87's Avatar
wro87
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 857
Likes: 1
From: Morrisonville Illinios
Default HEADLIGHTSWITCH or Something Else?

Ok! My son just got back and when shut the car (71') down and turn lights off the parking lights would not go out! We started the car and when the switch was pulled the headlights would not open(were on) could only get them to raise by using the override and still when all shut down the parkinglights would still not go off, finally just took battery cable off. It does seem like the switch is not going all the way in to the off position ( yea 37 years old and just can't believe the switch would go bad now). Need a NEW Switch?

Thanks Gang wro87
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2008 | 08:44 PM
  #2  
...Roger...'s Avatar
...Roger...
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Default

Sounds like the switch pulled apart inside.
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2008 | 08:46 AM
  #3  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,200
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi WRO,
If you end up repairing or replacing the switch MAKE SURE you notice the position of the 2 vacuum hoses on the ports, so you can put them back the same way.
If you think the switch is untouched I like to know what are the positions you find and is there a small piece of black tape wrapped around the 2 hoses close to the ports.
Thanks,
Alan
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2008 | 07:02 PM
  #4  
wro87's Avatar
wro87
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 857
Likes: 1
From: Morrisonville Illinios
Default

Alan71 I will check the switch out for you no problem and will let you know what is holding it together.
And it does seem that the switch is not going all the way back in so it might have came loose but we can not pull the ****/shaft out either.
NOW is there ANY SIMPLE way to pull the switch WITHOUT taking most of the dash apart?

thanks gang wro87
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2008 | 10:00 AM
  #5  
jdp6000's Avatar
jdp6000
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by wro87
Alan71 I will check the switch out for you no problem and will let you know what is holding it together.
And it does seem that the switch is not going all the way back in so it might have came loose but we can not pull the ****/shaft out either.
NOW is there ANY SIMPLE way to pull the switch WITHOUT taking most of the dash apart?

thanks gang wro87
If its anything like the later C3's. There is a button on the switch which has to be pushed while pulling the ****/shaft. This pic is from an 82 with a dimmer but you can see the button in the picture to the right and to the right of the vac hoses connections.

[IMG][/IMG]
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2008 | 10:01 AM
  #6  
jdp6000's Avatar
jdp6000
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Default

You can also pry the switch open, clean it up and reposition everything. If nothing is broken it will work again.

Jim
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2008 | 11:12 AM
  #7  
...Roger...'s Avatar
...Roger...
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Default

Its most likely the tiny tab that moves the vacuum part of the switch.You can see it in this pic.It goes in a hole or groove in the electric part of the switch and slides back and forth with the shaft and ****.
EDIT-THE HOSE NIPPLES ARE POINTED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.Use this pic only to view the tab.This is one of the switches that made it to the market with the vacuum valve mounted BACKWARDS.Below is a pic that shows the difference.Sorry I dont have a pic of the tab on a good switch.


Last edited by ...Roger...; Oct 19, 2008 at 11:21 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2008 | 12:54 PM
  #8  
wro87's Avatar
wro87
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 857
Likes: 1
From: Morrisonville Illinios
Default

Thanks Gang for all the help! I started another thread to see if more simple way to take the dash apart? I will post the results!

wro87
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To HEADLIGHTSWITCH or Something Else?

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:29 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE