C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

NO Lights!!

Old Jan 12, 2020 | 08:19 PM
  #1  
BLDun's Avatar
BLDun
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 487
Likes: 48
From: Ocala Florida
Default NO Lights!!

When I started my '76 this evening and pulled the headlight switch the interior lights sputtered and quit. The headlight doors do not open. I have no headlights, not tail lights and no gauge lights. I'm thinking it may be the switch.
Any thoughts?

Thanks
Barry
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2020 | 08:54 AM
  #2  
bazza77's Avatar
bazza77
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 633
From: perth western australia
Default

Did the engine starter work ok and engine runs alright ?

Did the light switch **** feel right when you moved it out ?

The vacuum switch is piggybacked onto the electrical switch body ,so if the innards came apart , it could have not moved the vacuum switch arm .

First thing I would look at (if the engine starts ok ) , is using the lights vacuum override and see if they raise up and down.

See how you go with these ideas !
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2020 | 11:59 AM
  #3  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,209
Likes: 9,347
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

I would start with a power probe and see if theres power to the switch. power in and no power out= problem solved
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2020 | 12:51 PM
  #4  
BLDun's Avatar
BLDun
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 487
Likes: 48
From: Ocala Florida
Default

It started up no problem. In fact I had my wife come to where I was and I turned on the parking lights and four way flashers and drove it home behind her car. The headlight doors won't open (converted to electric) and no headlights, no tail lights and no gauge lights inside. I'll have to take time to pull the dash a bit and check the power to the switch and from the switch!

Thanks
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2020 | 01:41 PM
  #5  
mysixtynine's Avatar
mysixtynine
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
Default

Almost sounds like your headlamp circuit breaker tripped and didnt come back?

I dont have a wireharness diagram for your year... but I would start there first because from the sounds of it your other lights are working which are on a different circuit/fuse than the headlights themselves.

With electric headlight motors installed... you also have to consider how that has been wired into the mix..

Last edited by mysixtynine; Jan 13, 2020 at 01:44 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2020 | 04:13 PM
  #6  
bazza77's Avatar
bazza77
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 633
From: perth western australia
Default

Originally Posted by BLDun
It started up no problem. In fact I had my wife come to where I was and I turned on the parking lights and four way flashers and drove it home behind her car. The headlight doors won't open (converted to electric) and no headlights, no tail lights and no gauge lights inside. I'll have to take time to pull the dash a bit and check the power to the switch and from the switch!

Thanks
Oh , might have been a good idea to mention the conversion first !

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To NO Lights!!



Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:35 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 11:09:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE