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Can I manually open up the headlights?

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Old Mar 12, 2011 | 10:23 PM
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Default Can I manually open up the headlights?

Until I can get them fixed, can I manually keep the headlights up? They won't open and close by them selves, if I pull them up as soon as I start the car they retract.
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Old Mar 12, 2011 | 11:04 PM
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You could disconnect the vacuum lines from the actuators so they don't close when you start the car.
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Old Mar 12, 2011 | 11:07 PM
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Make sure the manual over-ride switch is pulled down so the lights stay up or disconnect and plug the vacuum lines to the headlights. When you put them up they will stay.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 12:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Raphiki
Make sure the manual over-ride switch is pulled down so the lights stay up or disconnect and plug the vacuum lines to the headlights. When you put them up they will stay.
and where might this manual over-ride switch be located?

Thanks!

Last edited by Snoopysvet; Mar 13, 2011 at 01:09 AM.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 05:30 AM
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The manual over ride switch is directly under your steering wheel. Look up under there and you can feel it. Pull it down and your lights will stay up when you turn the lights off.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 07:42 AM
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i have a 1980 that i have to manually put the headlights down...you have to crawl under. reach your hand up the right side of each light and you will feel a spring- next to the spring is a release lever-gently pull it toward you and that releases the light- a pain in the a** but works. good luck...rs
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 07:44 AM
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sorry, just saw you wanted to open lights...i use a thin screwdriver and pull up on the headlight...
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Frogday
You could disconnect the vacuum lines from the actuators so they don't close when you start the car.
This will create a severe vacuum leak.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 10:45 AM
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With my vast array of tools I found a easy way ..

Last edited by U17; Mar 13, 2011 at 11:09 AM.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 11:37 AM
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You guys are funny... screwdrivers and crawling under the car, etc?

I haven't yet tackled the vacuum system on mine yet...

So to open the headlights, I reach under with one hand, push up, and it latches open (no vacuum connected that I know of).

To close, I again reach under with one hand, while squatting in front and facing the headlight, pull the little pivot bar back, and lower the headlight back down to the closed position.

You can do both while squatting in front of the car, and without tools or magic.

However....I still need to get it all working.. have all new hoses and such, but haven't diagnosed each and every part of the system yet. It was too cold in the winter when I was home on block leave to tackle that project.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 12:07 PM
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You can reach under and pull forward on the linkage and then pull the over-ride switch in the dash down.

This should hold them up. The picture below was for something else, but where it says push is the correct place only you'd want to pull instead.


Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Mar 13, 2011 at 12:11 PM.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 02:01 PM
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Heres a link with a photo of the headlight assembly that will go with the illustration and drawing Wilcox Corvette posted.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...placement.html

Look for the photos that Alan 71 posted. They show the assembly from the bottom side looking up.

kdf
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
You can reach under and pull forward on the linkage and then pull the over-ride switch in the dash down.

This should hold them up. The picture below was for something else, but where it says push is the correct place only you'd want to pull instead.

Not to hijack this thread, but somewhat on topic. My left headlight vibrates slightly when open. Where, in this picture is the adjustment screw to tighten it up a bit.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 07:28 PM
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#8 is it.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by petes74ttop
#8 is it.
Thanks. Will crawl under the car and adjust. Assume once the light is up, just snug up the screw.
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