another headlight question

[klb76]

I have been trying to get my headlights to work for two days now and I am still stumped. I have used both the corvette 101 vacuum troubleshooter and the L81 vacuum troubleshooter. My question now is, Is there a way that my headlights could be "locked" up? If not is there any way of getting them down without using the vacuum system? I realize there is a ton of info on both this site and on the internet regarding this issue, but I can't seem to find an answer to this one.

klb

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I've got a link to a page here that has an excellent vacuum explanation that helped me troubleshoot mine. The vacuum diagram was missing last time I checked but I had printed it so I was able to scan it and it's on this page as well.

 

[klb76]

Yeah that is the troubleshooter I got from the L81 site. Although I didn't have the diagram. One thing I've noticed is when I pull down on the manual overide I hear a hissing sound, right around the lamp switch. Is this normal, it only lasts for a second or so.

klb

 

[klb76]

Alright hopefully as I fill in some more info someone will be able to chime in... I found how to get the headlights to unlock, I have to wedge a cats paw in there and get it started then it works fine, both lights go up at the same time and come down at the same time. The only problem is sometimes when it goes up it locks itself into place again and I have to wedge it a little... still got a small leak in the actual pull switch I believe, when I blow into the line that goes to it I can hear it a little. However I do have an extra switch so I will just change that out when the dash comes off next. Any ideas on how to keep it from locking in the up position?

 

[Bob Chadwick]

As I recall the hissing is the valve releasing the vacuum so that the lights will come out. Sorry I can't check as I have the gauges out of the car with the battery disconnected.

 

[klb76]

Well I finally got the things working, they were locked at the top of the actuator adjustment.... seems like the last owner figured it would be easier to keep them up then try to adjust them. So now I have them going up and down, although they really only work on slight throttle. I believe this is a combination of the actuators leaking slightly and also with a larger cam I don't get as much vacuum. But with a couple of adjustments I will have lights that work again, hopefully I will get to it tommorow evening sometime

klb