Aussie79

Recently I replaced both vacuum relays and fitted new seals and boots to both actuators to fix headlights that wouldnt go up at all. Worked a treat.

However, about two months later, drivers side headlight is MUCH slower to rise than the other, so I borrowed vacuum guage and clamps, hoses and fittings and tested the entire vacuum system to find the source of the lazy motion, no fault found, all hoses and check valves working perfectly.

Then, for no reason at all, I decided to remove the filters from the bottom of the relays and sprayed some WD40 in to the sliding shaft of the units and voila, the headlights both go up quick and together, turns out it is a lazy or dragging plunger in the relays.

How cool is that? Give it a try if your vacuum appears good and your relays are in good condition but headlight(s) are lazy.

Cheers, Dennis.

Aggitated Monkey

This does work and I posted the WD40 trick and was flamed. I have sprayed ww40 into the ports on a few Corvettes and it has worked. I sprayed the one I have now when one light was slow and the other just didn't come up. Now they pop like new and that was back in October when I sprayed them.

Tim81

Thanks for the tip, My left side is slow coming up I'll give this a try...

SH-60B

Great, I'll try it too!

OzzyTom

They say you can fix 60% of mechanical issues with duct tape and a can of WD40....

Good ol' Ausie ingenuity

Might give it a try on my lazy left light too.

69Myway

This stuff will fix anything!

I had a riding lawn mower that wouldn't get out of 5th gear. Frustrated me to no end, so I parked it by the street with a FREE sign on it.

My neighbor took it and put it in their yard.

Later that night I saw them driving it around (slow) clearly in a lower gear.

My OTHER neighbor had come over and saw it - showed them how to spray the shifter input with WD40...and problem solved. I had to see it once a week mowing their lawn while I was begging and borrowing mowers to get back in business.

I now keep a bottle on the shelf at all times!

10caipirinhas

Yeah......but.....for a more permanent fix that will be utterly impervious to being broken down by all foreign substances you should use Vegemite in place of WD40.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

buffaloc3

thank's for the tip

Alan 71

But can you buy vegemite in the United States? I heard it's against the law to ship it by land, sea, or air.
Regards,
Alan

Aussie79

Sorry yours got flamed and mine didnt, I dont understand why anyone would flame a genuine handy hint that works. The only further suggestion I have on this hint is that maybe WD40 isnt a long term solution, if it gets slow again in the future I will try a silicon based spray as it may deliver longer lasting silicon to the plunger. Vegemite may work but how do you stop the ants from moving in????????

Dennis.

Mike Ward

I remember the other post- it suggested spraying WD40 inside the pneumatic chambers of the actuators, not inside the mechanical section of the relay. Apples and oranges.

thatcorvetteguy

You forgot bailing wire and silicone.

snoopykissedlucy

Am I the only one that is mad that a can of WD40 now costs $5 at walmart instead of $3 because of their new fancy spray tube that cant be lost.......crappy marketing genius!!!

I've been looking for the old cheap cans....nowhere to be found.

...Roger...

Your tip works very well and your correct the wet silicone spray (not dry)is a better long term fix. WD is a great cleaner !
(Spraying WD in the vent hose of the vacuum switch under the left wiper arm is a must when testing that part of the system.)

...Roger...

I wonder if the newest no-loss tube has something to do with spray back getting in someones eyes. With the original cans you could slightly press down and control the flow but then they went to cans that would blast as soon as you touched the button (probably so you would use more product).
I started buying WD by the gallon and using my own method of delivery,much much better and cheaper.

larryg3

Thanks Aussie for the Tip. I will certainly give it a shot.

hugie82

Plus silicon won't beat up the rubber hoses and seals IMO.

Aggitated Monkey

Mike Ward - Yes, you were the big flamer on my post as you normally do. I didn't want to call you out in this thread. I stated that I like to spray all of the ports. The actuators have seals that can benefit from some lube. You just like to discredit anyone you choose to lash out at. If the lube doesn't fix the problem then no loss; it can be replaced.

You however just throw parts at every problem and insult everyone who you disagree with and that’s not hard to do.

One of the best improvements this forum could ever make is to add you to the band list. You sir are extremely condescending.

Aggitated Monkey

No problem, some just like to be diffucult regardless. I like the silicon idea and if mine get stiff again I going to try it. Your handy hint could save some one some $$ in parts replacement that is not needed. Thanks Dennis

Mike Ward

Here's the thread where I supposedly 'flamed' the poster. If any of you find this beyond your tolerance level, please please block me.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...s-already.html

BTW- you made no mention of spraying all the ports, just the two ports of the actuator. WD40 is NOT a rubber conditioner.