Help! 81 Headlights

[macneil82]

My driver side headlight is froze in the up position and I can't seem to release it, passenger side goes up and down fine. Is there a schematic anywhere? I would like to understand the workings of and possibly rebuild it.

 

[6880 Mike]

Headlight door operation (up/down) is 100% vacuum. Pull down gently on the center link, and the door will come down.

 

[macneil82]

headlight froze

No luck, I'm wondering if assembly is seized, I'm told it has sat up like that for a long time.

Headlight door operation (up/down) is 100% vacuum. Pull down gently on the center link, and the door will come down.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

If you look at the assembly from under the car, you can see it a lot better. I would guess that the linkage is rusted in place. Some PBBlaster sprayed on the hinge points might loosen them up.

 

[macneil82]

Headlight Down!!!

Thanks guys for the help!
Once I looked underneath (as suggested) and saw where/what the assembly turned on, I sprayed some penetrating oil on each side (and also on/in the knuckle).
I waited a couple of hours, went out and gently (as suggested) pulled on the knuckle. There was a litlle bit of play in the knuckle, pushing and pulling on the knuckle and the headlight assembly worked, it broke free. It had to have been in the up position for quite a while.
A success story.

Thanks again!

If you look at the assembly from under the car, you can see it a lot better. I would guess that the linkage is rusted in place. Some PBBlaster sprayed on the hinge points might loosen them up.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Glad it worked out for you. There is a lot of knowledge here in the L81 Forums. Welcome.

Tom