Before I mess with it how does it work.Do I push up on it or maybe pull down?Also what is the purpose of it.Does the car have to be running before I mess with it.Do the lights have to be up or down?Just explain to me everything.My owners manual is not in the car.(it's the original one)So I have it safe at home.I haven't reall looked at anyway.Is there a section in the manual that explains it.I know those manuals don't always give you all the info thanks.Oh by the way I drove the vette to work today.Thats for all of you that read my thread about the water in my oil. 

Pulling the switch down will raise the lights independent of the headlight switch.  If you pull the switch with the engine shut off nothing will happen (in my experience) but as soon as you start the engine the lights will pop up.

I pulled mine and nothing happened?I think I pulled the right thing.It's right down by the steering colume to the right side?

Is there just one stalk there or are there two?  On "The Toy" there are 3 (left one for the headlights, middle one to reset the trip-odometer, and the right one for the wiper door [wiper doors disappeared after 1972]).  If there are two stalks I would think that the left one would be for the lights and the right one for the trip-odometer.

I probably should try mine to see if it works. My understanding is that if you turn on your headlights and they don't come up, this is a way to manually get the lights up.
I believe the lights are "spring up", "vacuum down".
So if the headlight switch is faulty, this manual switch will allow the lights to pop up.

The override switch on my 78 is on the left side of the steering colum.  If it is working right the lights will pop up (when the engine is on for vacum) but the lights will not come on.  It is used to rise the lights during the day when it is snowing so they won't freeze, and when you wash the car.

Only one switch under the steering column on an '82 if I recall correctly.  The owners' manual states: "To raise the headlights without turning them on, pull down on the manual control knob located beneath the steering coulmn.  The headlights are designed to remain up until the control knob is returned to the normal position for automatic operation."

[QUOTE=dwright]I probably should try mine to see if it works. My understanding is that if you turn on your headlights and they don't come up, this is a way to manually get the lights up.
I believe the lights are "spring up", "vacuum down".
So if the headlight switch is faulty, this manual switch will allow the lights to pop up.[/QUOTE] They are actually vacuum up and vacuuum down.  The springs just assist and help the locking mechanism work.

Well I must have a vacuum peoblem,because nothing happens.I have to turn on my lights  go to the front of the car and manually pull them into the upright.What do ya think about that???

on my 75 the switch for headlights is right under steering column and trip odometer is to the left. do the headlights go down by themselves. go to corvette-101.com. was sent there when i had a problem with mine and the vacuum troubleshooting section is the best around.