Head Light Stuck
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Sterling Heights Michigan
Head Light Stuck
I am replacing the seals on my Actuators and have finished the passenger side. While working on the driver side the headlight is stuck(locked) in the up position and it will not budge. I have removed both vacuum lines and it still wont budge. I also hooked everything back up(springs/actuator rod etc..)started the car and it still won't come down. The pull down switch under the dash is pushed in so I know that is not the problem. What am I missing here? How do I get this thing to come down?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
The mechanism will not easily pull down, if you have the vacuum disconnected. It will pull down, but you have to use a fairly good sized set of channel-loks to grab the linkage and pull in the right direction for the headlight bucket to overcome the over-center spring load. The easiest way would be to put a direct vacuum line on the "down" side servo fitting. You don't need both hoses hooked up to get the bucket to go either up or down; as long as you put vacuum on the "down" fitting on the servo, the bucket will go down. (unless there is a linkage failure, that is)
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Sterling Heights Michigan
Still a little confused on your solution. I have everything hooked back up on this headlight. I'm not sure which fitting on the actuator is down. When I started the car should this problem of being locked in corrected itself? Also if I remove all 4 springs will this let this headlight come down. Sorry for the confusion on my part. This is the first time that I have had this issue so I am a little lost here.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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You can try to pull down on the elbow/knee joint to close it.
The rear (red) nipple will close the light if the mechanics are good.
The rear (red) nipple will close the light if the mechanics are good.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,110
Likes: 4,171
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi md,
Pete's instructions are good but don't pull at the point he shows with the arrow. That's where the PLASTIC headlight warning switch is, and it's VERY easy to break the switch.
Pull down on the rod the four springs are attached to.
Regards,
Alan
It's in the center of this picture behind the black switch
Pete's instructions are good but don't pull at the point he shows with the arrow. That's where the PLASTIC headlight warning switch is, and it's VERY easy to break the switch.
Pull down on the rod the four springs are attached to.
Regards,
Alan
It's in the center of this picture behind the black switch
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Sterling Heights Michigan
Thanks very much guys for the tips. Pulled on this twisted a little to the right and down she came. Learn something new everyday. Now the fun begins. Replaced the actuator seal on the drivers side and now going to put it all back together. Hopefully this fill fix the headlight issue and they will both go up and down properly.
Thanks again for the tips.
Dave
Thanks again for the tips.
Dave
