My Headlights keep poping up
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 264
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From: Maricopa AZ
My Headlights keep poping up
My Headlights keep poping up when I turn the Vette off. They used to work just fine and now just started this. Would this be a problem with a bad phematic diafram? If anyone has had this problem what did it take to fix it?
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,461
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
Re: My Headlights keep poping up (Zane)
it's been a while since i had to screw with the vacuum system but the words "check valve" keep jumping out at me. have you checked it yet? for some reason, it's the only thing i can think of that would cause something like that. if they are both coming up then it's got to be the check valve or one of the switches (headlights or override).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,721
Likes: 108
From: Canada
Re: My Headlights keep poping up (clutchdust)
it's been a while since i had to screw with the vacuum system but the words "check valve" keep jumping out at me. have you checked it yet? for some reason, it's the only thing i can think of that would cause something like that. if they are both coming up then it's got to be the check valve or one of the switches (headlights or override).
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw GA
Re: My Headlights keep poping up (Zane)
There is a round silver metal "T" by the brake booster and carb. This is your backflow preventer. Check it out, this may be your problem. One of the vac lines goes to the intake, the other goes to the dash and the third goes to the hd. lights.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 1
From: South Alabama
Re: My Headlights keep poping up (corvettemack)
There is a round silver metal "T" by the brake booster and carb. This is your backflow preventer. Check it out, this may be your problem. One of the vac lines goes to the intake, the other goes to the dash and the third goes to the hd. lights.
[Modified by Cajun75, 10:46 PM 12/15/2002]
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,461
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
Re: My Headlights keep poping up (corvettemack)
There is a round silver metal "T" by the brake booster and carb. This is your backflow preventer.
J/K no flames please :p:
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 386
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From: Niedernhausen, Germany
Re: My Headlights keep poping up (clutchdust)
Note that the headlights were designed to come up by themselves as soon as vacuum in the system disappeares. If the checkvalve is bad, vacuum will be "resovled" by air entering through the engine. Of course, vacuum leaks can occur on other locations as well...
The fact that your headlights come up by themselves actually means two good things: 1) The springs are not tired 2) The mechanism works very good.
As most of the older Corvette have tired springs and/or jammy mechanisms, a vacuum leak will not "show up" by opening headlights - the springs (that shall open the headlights when vacuum is gone) are just not strong enough to overcome the mechanism resistance and weight of the headlights.
The fact that your headlights come up by themselves actually means two good things: 1) The springs are not tired 2) The mechanism works very good.
As most of the older Corvette have tired springs and/or jammy mechanisms, a vacuum leak will not "show up" by opening headlights - the springs (that shall open the headlights when vacuum is gone) are just not strong enough to overcome the mechanism resistance and weight of the headlights.
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 530
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From: Lewes, Delaware
Re: My Headlights keep poping up (Zane)
http://www.parts123.com/PartFrame.as...rvette_Central
Part number 443037. Corvette Central. My right front would pop up when I shut her off. This check valve straightened me right out..... :smash:
Part number 443037. Corvette Central. My right front would pop up when I shut her off. This check valve straightened me right out..... :smash:
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Niedernhausen, Germany
Re: My Headlights keep poping up (Zane)
Yes, the white thing is the filter - these things tend to have cracks were they are glued together thus creating another vacuum leak. Wrapping with scotch tape will help here.
BTW: For the check-valve you can buy one of the valves which is used in the brake-booster-line on most modern cars. These are much cheaper and well enough for the purpose. There are even some with two connections (just ask a local parts dealer). If you can only find one with one in and outlet, a tee will help.
BTW: For the check-valve you can buy one of the valves which is used in the brake-booster-line on most modern cars. These are much cheaper and well enough for the purpose. There are even some with two connections (just ask a local parts dealer). If you can only find one with one in and outlet, a tee will help.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Re: My Headlights keep poping up (V8yunkie)
Note that the headlights were designed to come up by themselves as soon as vacuum in the system disappeares. If the checkvalve is bad, vacuum will be "resovled" by air entering through the engine. Of course, vacuum leaks can occur on other locations as well...
The fact that your headlights come up by themselves actually means two good things: 1) The springs are not tired 2) The mechanism works very good.
As most of the older Corvette have tired springs and/or jammy mechanisms, a vacuum leak will not "show up" by opening headlights - the springs (that shall open the headlights when vacuum is gone) are just not strong enough to overcome the mechanism resistance and weight of the headlights.
The fact that your headlights come up by themselves actually means two good things: 1) The springs are not tired 2) The mechanism works very good.
As most of the older Corvette have tired springs and/or jammy mechanisms, a vacuum leak will not "show up" by opening headlights - the springs (that shall open the headlights when vacuum is gone) are just not strong enough to overcome the mechanism resistance and weight of the headlights.
If this is so, why don't the lights pop up on all C3s some time after after the motor is shut off? The vacuum (even on PERFECT cars) doesn't last forever. :confused:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Re: My Headlights keep poping up (V8yunkie)
"Note that the headlights were designed to come up by themselves as soon as vacuum in the system disappeares. "
I disagree - they were designed to go whichever direction the vacuum pulls them - with a complete absence of vacuum, they will stay wherever they were put. To prove it, just unhook both vacuum lines on one side. You will find that 1the lights will stay up or down, whereever you put them.
[Modified by pws69, 2:54 PM 12/18/2002]
I disagree - they were designed to go whichever direction the vacuum pulls them - with a complete absence of vacuum, they will stay wherever they were put. To prove it, just unhook both vacuum lines on one side. You will find that 1the lights will stay up or down, whereever you put them.
[Modified by pws69, 2:54 PM 12/18/2002]
