Headlight Headache..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 403
Likes: 7
From: Space Coast Florida
Headlight Headache..
Can someone please help me with my headlights.. I'm out of ideas. I'll start from the beginning; troubleshot the hosing, no leaks to tank. Tank had a hole, patched it. The relays then had holes, patched them. The actuators where rusty so I replaced them and before I replaced made sure that they worked by connecting hosing and nothing else to the new actuators. Then I connected the lights to the actuators and I'm back to ground 0. There's nothing left to troubleshoot.
I don't have a vacuum gauge to check however, I think the system works but the mech parts are rusted. Can rust parts be my problem here? So help me I will sand and spray the hell out of this thing to get 2 pieces of metal to go up and down... I have goals
Any help appreciated.
I don't have a vacuum gauge to check however, I think the system works but the mech parts are rusted. Can rust parts be my problem here? So help me I will sand and spray the hell out of this thing to get 2 pieces of metal to go up and down... I have goals
Any help appreciated.
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)
Headlight Headache!
Your headlight parts may need some oil but they should not be stuck closed, you can reach under your Vette and move them up and down a little. Don't push them up to far or they will stay up! Just move them a little to prove that they do move. Here's a vacuum troubleshooting guide, www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm the text is good but the diagram is incorrect at the headlight and pull down switch. If you check everything else and the headlights still won't work PM me your email and I'll send the corrected diagram. PG.
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Osage Beach MO
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,202
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 21,
You might want to get Dr.Rebuild's TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE. It allows you to test each component separately, so you can tell what components are working properly. You really do need a Mighty-Vac, or something similar, to work on the vacuum system. You need it to locate slow leaks.
Regards,
Alan
You might want to get Dr.Rebuild's TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE. It allows you to test each component separately, so you can tell what components are working properly. You really do need a Mighty-Vac, or something similar, to work on the vacuum system. You need it to locate slow leaks.
Regards,
Alan
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 104
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 1
From: Sydney
Hi 21,
You might want to get Dr.Rebuild's TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE. It allows you to test each component separately, so you can tell what components are working properly. You really do need a Mighty-Vac, or something similar, to work on the vacuum system. You need it to locate slow leaks.
Regards,
Alan
You might want to get Dr.Rebuild's TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE. It allows you to test each component separately, so you can tell what components are working properly. You really do need a Mighty-Vac, or something similar, to work on the vacuum system. You need it to locate slow leaks.
Regards,
Alan
Go with Doc Rebuild and their guide and you will be sweet!
Although, I still hate the stupid vacuum systems way too messy, vacuum lines and actuators everywhere instead of a few extra wires neatly tied up in the wiring loom, give me an electric motor any day, I still wonder why they went backward in design, C2 electric lights then C3 vacuum operated wtf (I have the frigging wiper door to contend with too!).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
You can forget all your headache you have if you remove all your vacuum lines and convert to electric actuators. The kit comes complete with everything you need to install it in only two hours. Check it out www.ECPB.biz see if you like it.
Last edited by Oldguard 7; May 14, 2009 at 04:44 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,504
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From: Butler Pa
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
You could still have a vaccum leak in one of the hoses going to the switch or the pull down by pass under the steering column. By pass it all if you want to know. Find the main hose that connects from the firewall area of the car and follow it to where it plugs in up by the head lights and unplug it. Get another piece of hose about 2 feet long and plug it into where that one mentioned goes then suck on it. It doesn't take much to move the headlights. You can also try blowing on it....there should be resisitance....if there isn't you still have a leak somewhere in the actuators or components at or near the headlights.
You may still need to trouble shot the follwing:
1)main hose from the front to the engine/firewall
2) The main valve on the hose just before it goes into the intake manifold
3)pull down switch under the steering wheel
4)headlight switch
5)other possible leaks can be in the heater/AC switch
I'm not sure what year your car is so thats all I can offer up.
Jim
You may still need to trouble shot the follwing:
1)main hose from the front to the engine/firewall
2) The main valve on the hose just before it goes into the intake manifold
3)pull down switch under the steering wheel
4)headlight switch
5)other possible leaks can be in the heater/AC switch
I'm not sure what year your car is so thats all I can offer up.
Jim
Last edited by jdp6000; May 15, 2009 at 10:32 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
you own a C3 half the car runs on vacuum !
go buy a cheap gauge, and trouble-shoot instead of guessing.
IF you can physically move the headlight assemblies smoothly with the car off,
and the vacuum lines dissconnected,then the problem is not rusted linkage,
most likely is the relays are leaking.
or a leak anywhere in the system
69VETT
go buy a cheap gauge, and trouble-shoot instead of guessing.
IF you can physically move the headlight assemblies smoothly with the car off,
and the vacuum lines dissconnected,then the problem is not rusted linkage,
most likely is the relays are leaking.
or a leak anywhere in the system
69VETT
Last edited by 69Vett; May 15, 2009 at 12:27 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
Never hurts to have a Chevy shop manual around to help you out, Bubba is the only one who knows enough to not have to use the factory service manual. Most of the metal linkage runs in Nylon bearings so I doubt the linkage is at fault unless you got the Vette from the bottom of a lake somewhere.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
THE ONLY place to get electric lights at is www.mcspeed.com an old neighbor of mine, moved to Ill. now....but he had a system set up for a couple hundred bux you convert to electric using Firebird motors from a junkyard....
it works well, seen a couple of them....
WAY before that, I went into fixed position lights...
it works well, seen a couple of them....
WAY before that, I went into fixed position lights...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
You can forget all your headache you have if you remove all your vacuum lines and convert to electric actuators. The kit comes complete with everything you need to install it in only two hours. Check it out www.ECPB.biz see if you like it.
