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If any of you have headlight problems feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] for help. I fully understand how they work and will be glad to help you get yours working right again.
Headlight Problems
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My problem is [ excuse the terminology] when the headlights are hooked up to the vaccum source in the engine compartment, the lights stay down, but when i unhook them at the little silver colored disk that has one in and two out, the come up. I figure that this means that the switch thats connected to the headlight switch is bad, but im not for sure. I would have emailed ya, but figured that wouldnt help the next guy that used the search engine.
Thanks in advance.
Blue
Thanks in advance.
Blue
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Go ahead and e-mail me as I can send you AutoCad drawings of the system along with detailed instructions how the system works. I prefer to work one-on-one outside of the forum for things like this.
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Alright.
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I read your post again and now I am getting the picture a little better. When you remove vacuum from that "little disc" that allows the spring-loaded spool inside to drop and reroute the vacuum to the front side (the open side) of the headlight pots. That's perfectly normal.
So what exactly is your headlights doing that you think is wrong?
The actuator relay valve under the nose is the valve that determines whether your headlights are lowered or raised and the headlight switch controls that actuator relay valve. When the headlight switch is turned OFF vacuum is sent to that "little disc" (lowering the headlights) and when the headlight switch is turned ON it cuts off the vacuum going to the "little disc" (raising the headlights).
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Toobroke is right, if you eliminate vacuum to one side of the spool ,the other activates .. these things really aren t that complex, if you understand that vacuum is used to both,pull them open and pull them closed
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They dont come up unless i unhook it from it from the disk. I figure that its the headlight switch causing this, from the auto cad drawing if im correct, once you pull the switch it cuts the vaccum just like disconnecting the hose from the disk. Thoughts or corrections?
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Yep, I have a gut feeling the two little hoses going thru your firewall got switched so your "hot" hose is going to your override valve instead of your headlight switch (I sent you an e-mail).
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Vacuum Hose Routing And Marking Those Hoses
For those of you who have ever had vacuum hose routing problems I suggest putting a dab of paint on the ends of hoses that join together so you'll always know which hoses connect together. I just soak the end of a Q-Tip with spray paint then dab some paint on the hose ends. I also marked my headlight switch's nipples with red paint on the incoming nipple and blue paint on the outgoing nipple as well as marking the hoses that go to those nipples. Then once marked you'll always know where the hoses go.
I also put a wrap of 1" wide masking tape on the larger hoses that go to my relay valves; marked "top", "middle" and "bottom" so when I have them off for any reason I'll know right away how they go back on.
For those of you who have ever had vacuum hose routing problems I suggest putting a dab of paint on the ends of hoses that join together so you'll always know which hoses connect together. I just soak the end of a Q-Tip with spray paint then dab some paint on the hose ends. I also marked my headlight switch's nipples with red paint on the incoming nipple and blue paint on the outgoing nipple as well as marking the hoses that go to those nipples. Then once marked you'll always know where the hoses go.
I also put a wrap of 1" wide masking tape on the larger hoses that go to my relay valves; marked "top", "middle" and "bottom" so when I have them off for any reason I'll know right away how they go back on.
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The Actuator Relay Valve And How It Works
The "actuator relay valve" under the nose has a spring-loaded diaphragm at the top that is controlled by the little vacuum hose that attaches to it. When vacuum is applied to that diaphragm it lifts the internal spool up and connects the middle hot hose to the top hose that goes to the rear of the headlight pots (closing them). Then when vacuum is removed from that diaphragm the spring pushes the spool down and connects the middle hot hose to the bottom hose that goes to the front of the headlight pots (opening them). And it's the headlight switch that controls the vacuum going to that top diaphragm. When the headlight switch is turned ON vacuum is supplied to the diaphragm and when it's turned OFF that vacuum is cut off (and bled off inside the switch).
The "actuator relay valve" under the nose has a spring-loaded diaphragm at the top that is controlled by the little vacuum hose that attaches to it. When vacuum is applied to that diaphragm it lifts the internal spool up and connects the middle hot hose to the top hose that goes to the rear of the headlight pots (closing them). Then when vacuum is removed from that diaphragm the spring pushes the spool down and connects the middle hot hose to the bottom hose that goes to the front of the headlight pots (opening them). And it's the headlight switch that controls the vacuum going to that top diaphragm. When the headlight switch is turned ON vacuum is supplied to the diaphragm and when it's turned OFF that vacuum is cut off (and bled off inside the switch).
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lets not forget the Override switch under the steering column ..it activates headlight open/close without turning on lights at all
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Keeping Your Headlights Clean
The purpose of that override valve is to open your headlights to clean them without having to deal with the heat. As the headlights of these C3's remain closed most of the time they get real dirty without your knowing about it and then they don't shine nearly as bright as they should when you really need them.
It's always best to wash your car with them open so they don't have the chance to get dirty without your knowing about them being dirty.
The purpose of that override valve is to open your headlights to clean them without having to deal with the heat. As the headlights of these C3's remain closed most of the time they get real dirty without your knowing about it and then they don't shine nearly as bright as they should when you really need them.
It's always best to wash your car with them open so they don't have the chance to get dirty without your knowing about them being dirty.
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Havent had w chance to **** with it, spending time off working at the wifes flower wholesale, with valentines day im busier th a n a cat covering crap on a marble floor, then back to work for two weeks at a 110 hours a week. So im not ignoring ya Steve.
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damn Blue, how big is that pile of money you have, now? you know, all work and no play , makes your pee pee go away! LOL!
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The purpose for the headlight/wiper door override is for people that live where it snows in the winter to keep them from freezing in the closed position, when its below freezing you keep them open..
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it was originally called by GM as the Headlight/Wiper Service Switch .. intended for servicing or cleaning H/L and Wipers.. tho, using it to prevent icing up in frigid climates would certainly seem to be a good idea ...
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Headlight Override Valve
I doubt that would be the whole reason but that certainly would be one of the reasons.
The override valve allows you to:
1. Clean the bulbs while they are cold
2. Allow replacement of the bulbs
3. Allow adjustments to be made to the opening/closing mechanism without having to deal with hot bulbs
4. Prevent snow/ice from freezing them in the closed positions
Did I miss anything?
As far as the wiper door override valve goes I have found it's handy to keep the wiper door open during rainy weather so you can get the wipers going immediately to avoid the several second delay.
I doubt that would be the whole reason but that certainly would be one of the reasons.
The override valve allows you to:
1. Clean the bulbs while they are cold
2. Allow replacement of the bulbs
3. Allow adjustments to be made to the opening/closing mechanism without having to deal with hot bulbs
4. Prevent snow/ice from freezing them in the closed positions
Did I miss anything?
As far as the wiper door override valve goes I have found it's handy to keep the wiper door open during rainy weather so you can get the wipers going immediately to avoid the several second delay.
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No pee pee still there and working fine. Up here it's best to make hay while the suns not shining. That way you get to drive the vette when the it is.
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Hi,
My headlights dont come up either. The lights come on but dont open. My bigger problem is no blinkers. First I had one blinker working,so I changed several bulbs then no lights! Found a blown fuse and now all lights work but no blinkers. any advise will be greatly appreciated.
My headlights dont come up either. The lights come on but dont open. My bigger problem is no blinkers. First I had one blinker working,so I changed several bulbs then no lights! Found a blown fuse and now all lights work but no blinkers. any advise will be greatly appreciated.
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