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Topic: headlight troubles

in Forum: C3 Body

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headlight troubles (1/11)
8/20/12 2:38am

daveo76
Former Member
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Vancouver, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 857

I've solved the majority of my restoration issues (clutch, air cleaner clearance, etc) but discovered a new one today. My 5 year old boy recently discovered Corvettes have pop-up headlights. When I told him ours does too he became pretty excited and kept asking me to try them out so he could see them in action. Imagine his disappointment when we started it up and the lights would come on but not pop up. I didn't have any time to troubleshoot today but any thoughts on where to start? I DID hook up the main line to the back of the manifold, but, now that I think about it, I didn't pay any attention to the orientation of the short piece of hose that has what I think is a one way valve? If I got that in backwards I'm guessing I'd get no action? The other thing I thought about is the two hoses that connect to the headlight switch - does it matter which way they're hooked up? Since the whole dash was off they've definitely been messed with since the last time this thing ran...

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1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

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Re: headlight troubles (2/11)
8/20/12 1:18pm

Adams' Apple

Lifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20129

Dave..."You've got MAIL!!" LOL

I sent ya Gilbert's excellent color coded diagram, along with some other stuff that should get ya flipping up/down in no time. Thumbs Up

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

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Re: headlight troubles (3/11)
8/20/12 1:40pm

crossfire1982
Former Member
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Cramerton, NC - USA

Vette(s):
black 1982 coupe slate gray interior, 350 crossfire, 1985 fuel pump, Steeroids R&P conversion

Joined: 8/22/2006
Posts: 1094

Try reversing the hoses on the headlight switch and see if that helps the situation. As far as the one way valve in the manifuld vacuum line goes, the single nipple end goes toward the manfiold and one of the two nipples on the other end goes to the headlight reservoir and the other to the heater controls (at least thats the way it is on my 82). I dont think it will matter which one of the nipples on the double side goes to which location, they share the same vacuum source.

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Re: headlight troubles (4/11)
8/20/12 2:45pm

dskopp
Limited Member
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Oak Creek, WI - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops, Going to remain as Stock as possible. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vetts Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!!

Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 1958

Adams' Apple said: Dave..."You've got MAIL!!" LOL

I sent ya Gilbert's excellent color coded diagram, along with some other stuff that should get ya flipping up/down in no time. Thumbs Up

Send that too me also Adam!! I can put it with the rest of the "Corvette fix-up" stuff I got!!

He should start at the front of the car and work back to determine the problem!!!

Dan da Man !! LOL

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(click to see a larger image)

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Re: headlight troubles (5/11)
8/20/12 6:31pm

rod7515

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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic

Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Just went thru this on my car and Joel sent me a great color coded diagram. I also followed the vacuum 101 troubleshooting guide that was posted and I had more than 1 bad part. I also ended up replacing a brand new headlight switch because the first one was defective. And yes it did make a difference if the hoses on the switch are backwards. Follow that diagram that Joel sent you and it will come to life for your son! Best of luck.
Rodney

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Re: headlight troubles (6/11)
8/20/12 10:25pm

Adams' Apple

Just so everyone knows, Gilbert sent me the color coded diagram. He did that hisself, and was kind enough to share with us. I'm just passing it along. Thumbs Up

Dan..."You've got MAIL!!".... Star

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Re: headlight troubles (7/11)
8/21/12 2:30am

Joel, thanks for sending and Gilbert thanks for the original post on this color coded diagram. Very helpful. I should be able to pinpoint the problem now. As for the suggestion to "start at the front" I think I'll start at the other end since the only things I messed with are the headlight switch, manual override, and manifold source vacuum. Hopefully it's one of those three, all those hoses in the front are too scary for me.

Chip, my car is the same as yours, but the part I was calling a "one way valve" is actually a filter according to Gilbert's diagram. Don't know if it matters which direction it's installed, but I guess I'll find out when I do my troubleshooting. My bet is on the headlight switch hoses now.

Thanks again for the help, guys.

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1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

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Re: headlight troubles (8/11)
8/21/12 7:30am

Adams' Apple

The filter is a small, round plastic piece, usually white(or tan, with age), with only one nipple on either end, and it does not really matter which way if fits into the vac. line.
The one-way valve is metal, usually silver, with one nipple on the intake end, and two nipples on the other side. The valve goes with the single nipple end connected to the filter, and the dual nipples going out to the car.

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Re: headlight troubles (9/11)
8/25/12 1:06am

Just to close the loop on this one - the two hoses on the headlight switch were reversed. Pretty easy to troubleshoot: override switch would pop up the lights, but when I turned on the main switch with the engine running I could hear some sucking going on behind the dash. Had the fun of taking all those pieces off around the windshield so I could pull the dash pad back enough to get to those two hoses. Started 'er up after that and we had pop up! Had to take it back out after all that to test. Smile

(and to go through the local drive in).

Thanks for the help on this one - that color coded vacuum hose diagram was and will be handy!

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1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

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Re: headlight troubles (10/11)
8/25/12 12:08pm

ROCKRDR
Former Member
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Lakeside, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1975 C3 Stingray

Joined: 7/23/2012
Posts: 126

Adams' Apple said: Dave..."You've got MAIL!!" LOL

I sent ya Gilbert's excellent color coded diagram, along with some other stuff that should get ya flipping up/down in no time. Thumbs Up

Could you send me one too... Party

Thanks

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1975 Corvette Coupe

My first Vette.....trying to fix stuff

My Project:

https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B6uOAIjGf3cWejQ5TjNkcVRybGs/edit

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Re: headlight troubles (11/11)
8/25/12 7:31pm

Adams' Apple

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