C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
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Old Jan 8, 2009 | 02:14 AM
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well hello, my wife bought me a 76 stingray for xmas, i am having a problem getting the low idle past co imissions, and having problems w/ the head light open and close, if the head light is hooked up vaccum wise it closes. if it aint then it is opened, whats the matter, any advice would be appriciated.
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Old Jan 8, 2009 | 08:36 AM
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I think that's the way it was designed. It's a 'fail-safe' system. If the car loses vacuum the lights should open. It's the vacuum that holds the lights closed. This assumes (I know) every thing is hooked up and works properly.
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Alan
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Old Jan 9, 2009 | 02:00 AM
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We need just a little bit more information in your profile in order to do the best job of helping you.

Alan 71 is correct. And there are many "vacuum" threads here on the forum, just use the search feature. Quite a few diagrams/graphics available too. Doesn't need to be '76 specific, but you can ignore any "wiper door" references. That's where I had trouble, but got lots of help here. Good luck!

Last edited by Carl Granquist; Jan 9, 2009 at 02:02 AM. Reason: grammar
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Old Jan 9, 2009 | 07:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
I think that's the way it was designed. It's a 'fail-safe' system. If the car loses vacuum the lights should open.
Sorry to disagree, but that's a common misconception. There is no such fail safe design. It takes vacuum to open or close the lights. If the fail safe idea was true, the lights would open by themselves after the engine is shut down and the vacuum bleeds off.

For the OP- there's hundreds of threads here asking about exactly the same problem.

You probably have a large leak some where which may be affecting your smog readings.
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 12:52 PM
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I purchased a '76 back in Nov,. I had to go thru the entire vac. system and had to repair or replace everthing but the resevoir. I purchased a hand held mighty vac which is helpful to isolate problems.
Since you just purchased the car I would start with verifying all lines are hooked up correctly. Then check each component, relay, actuator, filter, check valve, hl switch, man. switch. Start with the easy stuff and move to the more complex.
Do an advanced search of headlight vacuum, there are some very helpful posts with color pictures. I never would have got my vac. system going without the help of the forum.
Good luck
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 01:14 PM
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Your wife sounds pretty cool! A vette for Xmas, nice deal. Good luck and enjoy it.
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 02:33 PM
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Check this out, from Volunteer Vette:

http://www.volvette.com/pdfspecs/HE99E.pdf

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