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

1980 C3 Headlight Issue

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 10:11 AM
  #1  
Nick Papageorgio's Avatar
Nick Papageorgio
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Omaha NE
Default 1980 C3 Headlight Issue

Hello All! New Guy here.....just bought (saturday) a beautiful red 4 speed C3. Will try and post pics later. Very pleased with it, runs strong, but seems like every time I get into it I find some minor thing that's not working.

Only one of these items is a safety issue: When I pull the headlight switch all the way out, the lights pop up, but neither the brights or the dims come on. All four lights are completly dead. When I pull the turn signal lever to turn on the brights, the outside bright lights come on, and the dim lights glow faintly.

I would appreciate any ideas you guys would have. I'm not a good electrical guy, but I think I'll replace all four lights, just because they're old, and then maybe the headlight switch, the bright/dim/turn signal switch, or maybe the headlight relay if I can locate it.

Thanks for your help
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 01:17 PM
  #2  
bruiser's Avatar
bruiser
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 120 Days
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 269
From: S.E. MI
St. Jude Donor '15
Default

Check the grounds and connectors for the headlights.
The switch is probally not bad since the lights come on. There is no relay for the lights.
http://www.europeancorvette.com/phot...77/Page010.jpg
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 02:09 PM
  #3  
Ak. Mal's Avatar
Ak. Mal
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Default

Originally Posted by bruiser
Check the grounds and connectors for the headlights.
The switch is probally not bad since the lights come on. There is no relay for the lights.

And that's the biggest reason the headlight switches burn out. All the juice to the bulbs pass through the switch.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1980 C3 Headlight Issue





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:10 AM.

story-0
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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