Headlight Maintenance Switch??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 854
Likes: 7
From: dudley ma
Headlight Maintenance Switch??
The maintenance switch, can they go bad? My head lights work but not the main. switch. Checked and looks like hoses are in the correct locations.
Thank you
Thank you
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
yes the switches below can go bad but there is not much too them.....they just route the vacuum. my guess is the hoses from that to the headlight are reversed.....if the headlight switch makes the lights go up and down i bet the hoses are reversed
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
As Bob said.. Make sure the hoses are in the correct place. The over-ride switch is supposed to block the vacuum from moving forward.
Here are the vacuum schematics.... You'll love them..
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=280
Here is a page that shows what each part does on the car and how they function.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=218
Yes even the over-ride switch can be fixed. If you take out the switch from the dash and pull hard enough downward the **** and blocking plate will come out. This plate has a large O ring on it and there is supposed to be grease on here. If the grease has dried out, just lube it up and install it back. Check to see if it is blocking vacuum and re-install. If this fails..... I have a bin full of new ones.
Willcox Inc.
Here are the vacuum schematics.... You'll love them..
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=280
Here is a page that shows what each part does on the car and how they function.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=218
Yes even the over-ride switch can be fixed. If you take out the switch from the dash and pull hard enough downward the **** and blocking plate will come out. This plate has a large O ring on it and there is supposed to be grease on here. If the grease has dried out, just lube it up and install it back. Check to see if it is blocking vacuum and re-install. If this fails..... I have a bin full of new ones.
Willcox Inc.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Sep 29, 2009 at 09:51 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
If the headlamps are coming up the hoses at the switch are good to go. If they were backards at the switch you'd probably hear a vacuum leak around the area of the switch.
You might just have a bad over-ride switch but if you look at the page on the small parts and how they operate you'll see you can do a blow test on this switch and see if it's working.
Then either try to fix (it might break) or replace.
Willcox
You might just have a bad over-ride switch but if you look at the page on the small parts and how they operate you'll see you can do a blow test on this switch and see if it's working.
Then either try to fix (it might break) or replace.
Willcox
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
Correct me if I'm wrong but...the override switch "is not" to raise the lights and have them come on. It's purpose is "while the lights are already up and on", you pull down on the override switch, then turn the car and headlights off. The switch is to keep the headlights in the upright position even after you push the headlight switch to the off position.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,423
Likes: 1,558
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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If you pull down the override switch the lights will pop up but the bulbs will not light up. You do not have to pop up the the lights with the headlight switch first.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
The purpose of the override switch is to be able to change lamps when one burns out or to leave the lights UP (even with car off) in icy conditions so that they don't freeze in a DOWN mode. [Not that my car is EVER going to see ice again!! 
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