DIY headlight actuator fix
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 19
From: Manhattan Beach Ca
DIY headlight actuator fix
I bought two actuators and for a while they worked fine then all of a sudden I started getting the lazy eye syndrome on one so did some tests and found one leaking.
I bought the repair kit which is just new rubber seals for the outer area but it doesnt fix the main diaphram. So I decided I'll cut it open since I read someone doing that before and see if I can fix. Using saw I made nice cut on back side and when openned sure enough diaphram had several holes like dry rot or something. These are new so must have been china crap or just sat on a shelf for many years, who knows.
Used some 3M window seal black stuff in orange tube to repair damage then sealed and taped the two halfs back together. Now it works perfect.
And another thing I noticed is the engine seems to idle better so these leaks can cause unnoticed problems that are hard to diagnose.
I bought the repair kit which is just new rubber seals for the outer area but it doesnt fix the main diaphram. So I decided I'll cut it open since I read someone doing that before and see if I can fix. Using saw I made nice cut on back side and when openned sure enough diaphram had several holes like dry rot or something. These are new so must have been china crap or just sat on a shelf for many years, who knows.
Used some 3M window seal black stuff in orange tube to repair damage then sealed and taped the two halfs back together. Now it works perfect.
And another thing I noticed is the engine seems to idle better so these leaks can cause unnoticed problems that are hard to diagnose.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
After a short discussion as to how I was testing the actuators and came to the determination they were both bad, Norm replaced both of them and sent a shipping label to send the others back at no cost to me. The new ones worked great. I did have to purchase the new ones and then recieved a refund after they recieved them, this took another call to confirm the actually got them back. Willcox does have some of the best customer service I have ever dealt with!
Mike
Mike
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 19
From: Manhattan Beach Ca
Another interesting discovery, now my run-on after shutdown is completely gone.
So when the question is asked "what causes run-on", in my case it's a vacuum leak. Don't know if that makes sense but it happened.
So when the question is asked "what causes run-on", in my case it's a vacuum leak. Don't know if that makes sense but it happened.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Last week we installed a vacuum pump in the receiving and shipping area.
All actuators, relays and other vacuum parts are now tested before shipment in an attempt to keep defects to a min. If the manufacturer won't test these prior to sending them to us, we will.
We feel that taking 5 extra minutes before shipping will save time and money for both you the customer and us the vendor... (not to mention the headaches). On a sad note.. I wish I had thought of this years ago.
Willcox
All actuators, relays and other vacuum parts are now tested before shipment in an attempt to keep defects to a min. If the manufacturer won't test these prior to sending them to us, we will.
We feel that taking 5 extra minutes before shipping will save time and money for both you the customer and us the vendor... (not to mention the headaches). On a sad note.. I wish I had thought of this years ago.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Oct 10, 2012 at 02:59 PM.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
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It does make sense if the wiper door is not moving far enough to break the contact on the limit switch.
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From: Okinawa Okinawa
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From: North tonawanda NY
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 19
From: Manhattan Beach Ca
Update:
Unfortunetly the repair would only hold for a few weeks so I broke down and bought new ones from Zip. Turns out these bad ones were most likely NOS (new old stock) that had been sitting for years rotting the salesman told me. Sounds exactly right so try and beware if buying new ones. ZIP ones are perfect so far.
Unfortunetly the repair would only hold for a few weeks so I broke down and bought new ones from Zip. Turns out these bad ones were most likely NOS (new old stock) that had been sitting for years rotting the salesman told me. Sounds exactly right so try and beware if buying new ones. ZIP ones are perfect so far.