First corvette
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 9
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First corvette
Finally had the means to buy my first corvette 1975 crate engine 4 speed headers. I am taking care of the safety stuff first. When I turn on the headlights I have to rotate full ccw to light up the dash lights, also the high beam and brake indicators are on even though the low beams are on and brakes are fine. Any thoughts on this?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 4
From: Okinawa Okinawa
First of all, congrats on the car. Need some photos to show it off.
Not sure what rotate full ccw is. If you are talking about rotating the headlight ***, it should rotate all the way right to keep the dashlights on and as you back it off, they get dimmer.
Sounds like you have a ground somewhere that isn't grounded. If that isn't it, remember that you are talking about 40 year old wiring. Inside the car should be okay, unless previous owner cut and spliced the wires wrong.
The brake light comes on for two reasons. First, the emergency brake is on. Make sure it is all the way down. Second, there is unequal pressure in the proportioning valve located about 1 1/2 feet down from the master cylinder on the frame. You may have a bad valve or just need to bleed the brakes.
Not sure what rotate full ccw is. If you are talking about rotating the headlight ***, it should rotate all the way right to keep the dashlights on and as you back it off, they get dimmer.
Sounds like you have a ground somewhere that isn't grounded. If that isn't it, remember that you are talking about 40 year old wiring. Inside the car should be okay, unless previous owner cut and spliced the wires wrong.
The brake light comes on for two reasons. First, the emergency brake is on. Make sure it is all the way down. Second, there is unequal pressure in the proportioning valve located about 1 1/2 feet down from the master cylinder on the frame. You may have a bad valve or just need to bleed the brakes.
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
First Corvette
Thanks Scott for the reply. My boss walked up on me while I was typing, we had a major breakdown I had to fix took a couple hours. anyway good tip on the brakes. My parking brakes don't work. I just finished having the rear leaf replaced as well as all of the rear bushings. Shocks were original replaced with AC Delcos. Finished the front wheel bearing inspection repacked bearings. Next parking brake repair. I purchased a new headlight switch. BTW there are a lot of wires disconnected and bundled up. I have a schematic on the way so I can make sense of what was done. Fortunately I am an electronics tech so if I see a schematic I can usually figure things out. Pictures soon!
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)
Hi and Welcome!
My headlight switch works like this:
With lights on turn clockwise to dim,
turn full counter clockwise and interior lights come on,
turn cw past " detent " and dash lights are brightest.
High beam indicator on could be a bad switch or crossed wires at the dimmer switch, you have a lot of loose wires so you'll have to dig in.
Here's a schematic:
http://www.vetteprojects.com/bmv/mis...tte%201975.pdf
Parking brakes, here's one of many who to's.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/tech...brake-rebuild/
Regards, Pete.
With lights on turn clockwise to dim,
turn full counter clockwise and interior lights come on,
turn cw past " detent " and dash lights are brightest.
High beam indicator on could be a bad switch or crossed wires at the dimmer switch, you have a lot of loose wires so you'll have to dig in.
Here's a schematic:
http://www.vetteprojects.com/bmv/mis...tte%201975.pdf
Parking brakes, here's one of many who to's.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/tech...brake-rebuild/
Regards, Pete.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,559
Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Congratulations on the new Corvette.....I'm only a couple months ahead of you.
There was a loose/cruddy ground wire connection at the horn relay mounting bracket that caused my headlights/dash warning lights/turn signals to do all kinds of weird things.
There were 10 snipped/re-routed/jumped/etc wires throughout the wiring harnesses that I have just "ironed out" after deciphering my wiring diagram from Senior Member "pappawana".
Keep at it/buy some advil/take some breaks.....
"You can do-it!"
There was a loose/cruddy ground wire connection at the horn relay mounting bracket that caused my headlights/dash warning lights/turn signals to do all kinds of weird things.
There were 10 snipped/re-routed/jumped/etc wires throughout the wiring harnesses that I have just "ironed out" after deciphering my wiring diagram from Senior Member "pappawana".
Keep at it/buy some advil/take some breaks.....
"You can do-it!"
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 4
From: Okinawa Okinawa
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
the dash lights are NOT super bright like the new cars, so having to turn them up all the way is normal, if you want them half-way bright that is. The red brake light may be caused by an unbalanced proportion switch. If, the brakes were worked on and bled, you may have to stomp hard on the brake pedal to "adjust" the switch. Sometimes a couple of hard stomps will be needed. Just like using a BFH to do work on these cars is sometimes needed. After all, they are not like the new ones.
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)
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