HEADLIGHTS POP UP ON HARD ACCELERATION
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Little Rock Arkansas
HEADLIGHTS POP UP ON HARD ACCELERATION
I GIVE UP! WHEN EVER I DECIDE TO CUT LOOSE AND BLOW A CAMARO AWAY, MY HEADLIGHTS POP UP UNDER HARD ACCELERATION AND THE REV'S ARE HIGH. ANYONE HAVE A CURE FOR THIS?
Pro
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 724
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
Re: HEADLIGHTS POP UP ON HARD ACCELERATION (rparkervette)
right off the top of my of my head it sounds like your missing or defective check valve somewhere. I'm sure someone will chime in that knows for sure.
[Modified by Robd, 12:50 PM 3/26/2003]
[Modified by Robd, 12:50 PM 3/26/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,407
Likes: 2
From: Carmichael CA
Re: HEADLIGHTS POP UP ON HARD ACCELERATION (rparkervette)
Sounds like a vacuum storage problem. The vacuum system which includes a line from your manifold to the storage cannister located at the front (the long 5" diameter tube below and in front of the radiator) which includes a check valve to prevent leakage of vacuum back to the manifold (this check valve may be the problem) and then distributed out to headlights, HVAC controls, etc. Manifold vacuum drops to nothing when you have the throttle wide open. If the check valve is bad then the vacuum system will suck air/fuel mixture from the manifold...bad news cause this will corrode the inside of the vacuum system.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Re: HEADLIGHTS POP UP ON HARD ACCELERATION (Rockn-Roll)
I had mine pop up at about 115 MPH. Always thought that it was high speed air the sucked 'em up (or blew them up) since they didn't do it immediately on acceleration.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,128
Likes: 3
From: Deltona (son of Deland and DAYTONA) FL
Re: HEADLIGHTS POP UP ON HARD ACCELERATION (rparkervette)
Man you must be LAUNCHING it! I thought I was doing good to make my passenger side floor mat fold over backward :jester
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: HEADLIGHTS POP UP ON HARD ACCELERATION (rparkervette)
Check your vacuum hose routing and make sure the head light hoses connect to the manifold. Bubba who owned my car before me had my head lights hooked to the PCV line and when ever I would accelerate, my head lights would "wink". As soon as I let off the gas, they would go back down!! Drove me nuts trying to find the problem. Finally, I bought all new hoses and the instructions showed me the problem. Lights work fine now.
Just another idea to check out. Jason
Just another idea to check out. Jason
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 752
Likes: 31
From: Melbourne Australia
Re: HEADLIGHTS POP UP ON HARD ACCELERATION (rparkervette)
This has been discussed on the forum before....
At WOT there is no vacuum to keep the lights pulled down. The vacuum to do this is stored in the vacuum reservoir. As has been said earlier, the check valve stops vacuum from dropping in the reservoir when vacuum is zero at WOT.
If the check valve is ok, then there is probably a vacuum leak after the reservoir, perhaps in the headlight actuators or vacuum relays or even wiper door system. If the headlights won't open after engine is stopped for a while, that's a sign there's a vacuum leak you'll need to find.
You might need to rebuild or replace vacuum actuators or relays. There are some troubleshooting guides that you can find by searching the forum archives.
Good luck,
Joe
At WOT there is no vacuum to keep the lights pulled down. The vacuum to do this is stored in the vacuum reservoir. As has been said earlier, the check valve stops vacuum from dropping in the reservoir when vacuum is zero at WOT.
If the check valve is ok, then there is probably a vacuum leak after the reservoir, perhaps in the headlight actuators or vacuum relays or even wiper door system. If the headlights won't open after engine is stopped for a while, that's a sign there's a vacuum leak you'll need to find.
You might need to rebuild or replace vacuum actuators or relays. There are some troubleshooting guides that you can find by searching the forum archives.
Good luck,
Joe
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,508
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Re: HEADLIGHTS POP UP ON HARD ACCELERATION (rparkervette)
This happened to once also. One of my headlights will also pop up unless I relieve the vacuum (turn them on then off) when I shut off the car. I'm pretty sure it is the check valve there in my case also.