Head light actuators
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
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Head light actuators
Hi there My name is Scott and I"m new to the site. I have a 1979 L82 corvette I have been restoring I should have called her Christine it seems that this car is possessed. I replaced both of the actuators and actuator relays and everything was working. I started the car today only the right side comes up. I tried to manually to bring the left side up it will only do that when you disconnect the vacuum line. When you reconnect the vacuum line it goes down while the head light switch is on. Any Ideas?
Last edited by rcnut79; Dec 29, 2009 at 05:15 PM.
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
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Hey Scott, welcome to Corvette Forum. Try looking at www.corvette-101.com for some troubleshooting ideas on relays. You could also try running both lights off of the one relay that controls the headlight that is working. It would also confirm that the other actuator is still working correctly. You would need a few T's to do this but it would get you by until you find the problem with the other relay.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
I just checked out that web site. Thanks again I'll have to do some trouble shooting tomorrow. Man I thought my 72Chevelle was a pain to work on this car is a hole new learning curve. Thanks again for all your help.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,118
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From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Hey now and welcome back.
I just went through the headlight ordeal this past mild winter and mine now jump up out of the nose. (Relay)
I have 1 relay for '68 so its pretty easy.
I would run a longer hose from known good side green over to green striped line at unresponsive actuator. Disconnect green line at head light actuator and plug in jumper line. This line you can either tee into the green line on known working side or disconnect green from working side and verify other side rises. If it does time for a new relay for the bad side.
If not you maybe able to rebuild the actuator if it will retract on its own.
If retracting is also a bust you have to replace the entire actuator.
the retracting side is not rebuildable by you it is internal.
There is a seal and a boot that can be replaced by you for the opening side.
Green opens, red closes, yellow is vac source, lil line on top of actuator part of relay is also vac source.
Wilcox has all the stuff and great and I mean great tech support on his site.
Also (Relay)red on top,green on the bottom, yellow in the middle.
Think traffic light!
Hope this helped
Marshal
I just went through the headlight ordeal this past mild winter and mine now jump up out of the nose. (Relay)
I have 1 relay for '68 so its pretty easy.
I would run a longer hose from known good side green over to green striped line at unresponsive actuator. Disconnect green line at head light actuator and plug in jumper line. This line you can either tee into the green line on known working side or disconnect green from working side and verify other side rises. If it does time for a new relay for the bad side.
If not you maybe able to rebuild the actuator if it will retract on its own.
If retracting is also a bust you have to replace the entire actuator.
the retracting side is not rebuildable by you it is internal.
There is a seal and a boot that can be replaced by you for the opening side.
Green opens, red closes, yellow is vac source, lil line on top of actuator part of relay is also vac source.
Wilcox has all the stuff and great and I mean great tech support on his site.
Also (Relay)red on top,green on the bottom, yellow in the middle.
Think traffic light!
Hope this helped
Marshal
Last edited by marshal135; Aug 6, 2012 at 05:38 PM. Reason: Additional Info
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,118
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From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Alan71,
I guess he took our advise and ran with it
I was wondering on a side note.
Has the NCRS approached you yet to use your car as a teaching tool
for restoring a 71?
I remember going to motorcycle rallies and they always had guest speakers who taught about tech/restoration stuff.
I crossed over to C-3's from the 2 wheeled world.
Again, I always enjoy the infinite # of pics you have from the resto process of you 71.
Marshal
I guess he took our advise and ran with it
I was wondering on a side note.
Has the NCRS approached you yet to use your car as a teaching tool
for restoring a 71?
I remember going to motorcycle rallies and they always had guest speakers who taught about tech/restoration stuff.
I crossed over to C-3's from the 2 wheeled world.
Again, I always enjoy the infinite # of pics you have from the resto process of you 71.
Marshal