1970 Headlight Vacuum Issue
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 43
Likes: 4
From: Albany, NY
1970 Headlight Vacuum Issue
Hello and Happy New Year from NY.Looking for help with the driver's side headlight on my 1970. I replaced Actuators and Relays. The Passenger side goes up and down. A note, when up, it isn't "locked", I can gently push it down.
The Drivers side seems to be having trouble, it gets stuck going up and it won't go down. I can gently free it up and it rises up, so I assume it is getting vacuum. When up, it is "locked" and I can only get it down by going underneath using the manual way. When I do that (car running), it goes down by vacuum like the other side . Is this locked position normal? I'm thinking there is some sort of adjustment needed.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
John
The Drivers side seems to be having trouble, it gets stuck going up and it won't go down. I can gently free it up and it rises up, so I assume it is getting vacuum. When up, it is "locked" and I can only get it down by going underneath using the manual way. When I do that (car running), it goes down by vacuum like the other side . Is this locked position normal? I'm thinking there is some sort of adjustment needed.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
John
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Sounds like you have almost no vacuum as in "vacuum leak" You have replaced the actuators and relays. Does your wiper door open and close properly or is it the same? If it's both you have a leak in a primary hose or the tank. Isolate the two systems, make sure your check valve holds vacuum and work your way out from there. One other culprit is the headlight switch as it controls vacuum to the doors and is prone to failure/leaks so if your wiper door works normally concentrate there.
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Jan 2, 2020 at 02:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 43
Likes: 4
From: Albany, NY
Hi. Thank you for the response.
Yes, I also replaced the actuator and relay on the wiper door. It works fine now. The headlight switch was also replaced. Would you rule out a vacuum leak? My mechanic thought the headlight relay was bad, but I vacuum tested it and it was ok.
It seems like the drivers light gets stuck. I'm wondering if it is out of adjustment when I installed it?
When you say isolate the two systems, do you mean wiper door vs headlights?
Yes, I also replaced the actuator and relay on the wiper door. It works fine now. The headlight switch was also replaced. Would you rule out a vacuum leak? My mechanic thought the headlight relay was bad, but I vacuum tested it and it was ok.
It seems like the drivers light gets stuck. I'm wondering if it is out of adjustment when I installed it?
When you say isolate the two systems, do you mean wiper door vs headlights?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,235
Likes: 943
From: Lake Tahoe, CA
Hello and Happy New Year from NY.Looking for help with the driver's side headlight on my 1970. I replaced Actuators and Relays. The Passenger side goes up and down. A note, when up, it isn't "locked", I can gently push it down.
The Drivers side seems to be having trouble, it gets stuck going up and it won't go down. I can gently free it up and it rises up, so I assume it is getting vacuum. When up, it is "locked" and I can only get it down by going underneath using the manual way. When I do that (car running), it goes down by vacuum like the other side . Is this locked position normal? I'm thinking there is some sort of adjustment needed.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
John
The Drivers side seems to be having trouble, it gets stuck going up and it won't go down. I can gently free it up and it rises up, so I assume it is getting vacuum. When up, it is "locked" and I can only get it down by going underneath using the manual way. When I do that (car running), it goes down by vacuum like the other side . Is this locked position normal? I'm thinking there is some sort of adjustment needed.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
John
https://www.corvette-101.com/vacuum.htm
This may help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,235
Likes: 943
From: Lake Tahoe, CA
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Hi. Thank you for the response.
Yes, I also replaced the actuator and relay on the wiper door. It works fine now. The headlight switch was also replaced. Would you rule out a vacuum leak? My mechanic thought the headlight relay was bad, but I vacuum tested it and it was ok.
It seems like the drivers light gets stuck. I'm wondering if it is out of adjustment when I installed it?
When you say isolate the two systems, do you mean wiper door vs headlights?
Yes, I also replaced the actuator and relay on the wiper door. It works fine now. The headlight switch was also replaced. Would you rule out a vacuum leak? My mechanic thought the headlight relay was bad, but I vacuum tested it and it was ok.
It seems like the drivers light gets stuck. I'm wondering if it is out of adjustment when I installed it?
When you say isolate the two systems, do you mean wiper door vs headlights?
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Jan 2, 2020 at 07:57 PM.
