Headlamp Vacuum System Problems
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
Headlamp Vacuum System Problems
The headlamp doors open very slowly; one opens slightly faster than the other. The speed at which they close is ok, however they close in sequence, not in parallel. I have rebuilt the actuators and the vacuum lines seem to be in good shape...so could it be something as simple as the check valve or do I need to think about replacing one or both of the headlamp actuator relay(s)?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,419
Likes: 1,555
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Too Slow!
I shot some penetrating oil into the relays, it speeds them up for a while, but new relays are a better fix. Also you can cut back the vacuum hoses about a half an inch to make a better connection. PG.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
From: Edgewood Kentucky
Your relays probably leak. They have a rubber "piston" in them and when the rubber gets hard they leak. Instead of buying new ones, I uncrimped the rod on mine, pulled the piston out and fabbed a new piston out of a 3/8" aluminum rod then fitted the new piston with o-rings. I can't believe how fast they work now. I did not take the diaphram apart on them because it didn't leak.
