Left Headlight opens before Right side
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Goose Creek SC
Left Headlight opens before Right side
Hey Guys. I just watched a commercial for the 81. What I noticed was in the add, when they turned on the headlights, they both went up at the same time and lowered at the same time. Mine do not. The leftside will open first then the rightside will open. Rightside closes first and then the leftside. I must have a problem, however I'm not sure where or how to started looking to see if I have a problem. Any leads will be grateful.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
That's not uncommon. About the only requirement the feds gave for concealed headlights was that they had to be open within a specified amount of time...don't know what that figure was, though.
For a commercial you can bet Chevrolet made sure they opened together...even if they had someone under the hood turning a crank that opened them.
For a commercial you can bet Chevrolet made sure they opened together...even if they had someone under the hood turning a crank that opened them.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
The lights raised and lowered simultaneously and virtually instantaneously when the cars were new. You could also leave the car for a few hours/overnight and the lights would still raise without starting the engine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,417
Likes: 1,554
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
A lot of times the seal in the actuator is the problem
To test the actuators go here:
http://www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm#actuator
The relays can be the problem too.
To test them go here:
http://www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm#relay
There is a "Sticky" up top in you want more information.
To test the actuators go here:
http://www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm#actuator
The relays can be the problem too.
To test them go here:
http://www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm#relay
There is a "Sticky" up top in you want more information.
Last edited by Peterbuilt; Dec 4, 2011 at 06:04 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Ontario
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 260
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
i have the same deal with my headlights... right comes on after the left.
the one issue with mine is that the right headlight isn't fully open (the bottom edge is slightly lower than the top of the opening on the bumper). this causes the lamp to shake more than the left, especially on the bumpier 'truck lane' on the freeway.
when i last poked my head around under there i noticed that the rod connected to the actuator wasn't fully extended (left side was) and i haven't gone back in there to figure out how to make it extend.
if it makes you feel a little better, do the "cheat" i sometimes do: i pull the manual override switch to make the housings come up, -then- i pull the headlight switch to turn on the lamps...
the one issue with mine is that the right headlight isn't fully open (the bottom edge is slightly lower than the top of the opening on the bumper). this causes the lamp to shake more than the left, especially on the bumpier 'truck lane' on the freeway.
when i last poked my head around under there i noticed that the rod connected to the actuator wasn't fully extended (left side was) and i haven't gone back in there to figure out how to make it extend.
if it makes you feel a little better, do the "cheat" i sometimes do: i pull the manual override switch to make the housings come up, -then- i pull the headlight switch to turn on the lamps...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Goose Creek SC
A lot of times the seal in the actuator is the problem
To test the actuators go here:
http://www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm#actuator
The relays can be the problem too.
To test them go here:
http://www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm#relay
There is a "Sticky" up top in you want more information.
To test the actuators go here:
http://www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm#actuator
The relays can be the problem too.
To test them go here:
http://www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm#relay
There is a "Sticky" up top in you want more information.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Goose Creek SC
Thanks, if you haven't seen it on You Tube, the 1981 Corvette commercial shows the head lights. Mine too are like yours. At least it sounds fairly typical. I'll do the test that Pete supplied. Thanks again.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,103
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From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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My 68 does it too
Glad its expected after 43 years.
I get a left than a bang and the right appears.
Facinates the HID driving lights BMW types
It's all part of that great GM feeling we get each time we drive.
Merry Christmas from thee Marshal
Glad its expected after 43 years.
I get a left than a bang and the right appears.
Facinates the HID driving lights BMW types
It's all part of that great GM feeling we get each time we drive.
Merry Christmas from thee Marshal
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
Hey Guys. I just watched a commercial for the 81. What I noticed was in the add, when they turned on the headlights, they both went up at the same time and lowered at the same time. Mine do not. The leftside will open first then the rightside will open. Rightside closes first and then the leftside. I must have a problem, however I'm not sure where or how to started looking to see if I have a problem. Any leads will be grateful.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 34
From: Ontario
JMO Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 140
From: Western New York
Gee, all these years I was under the impression that the lights that open at the same time are the ambidextrous model. If your right headlight pops up first, then you must have gotten one of the rare right-handed Vettes. If you ever sell on E-Bay, you can list it as rare and ask $10,000 over book price.
Duane
Duane
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Goose Creek SC
Gee, all these years I was under the impression that the lights that open at the same time are the ambidextrous model. If your right headlight pops up first, then you must have gotten one of the rare right-handed Vettes. If you ever sell on E-Bay, you can list it as rare and ask $10,000 over book price.
Duane
Duane
