Maco Shark

I have an 82 that I just got. The right light comes up correctly, however the left will not, it only moves about an inch. I know that there is a vac. leak somewhere, but I cant hear it with the engine running. Does anyone have a clue before I start slinging money at it? thanks in advance.
Randy :D

Shark Racer

Replace the seals on the vacuum actuator. Very easy job.
http://www.zip-products.com/Corvette...FBA9702A1EFBFC

DMONSVETTE

This might help if you do it yourself.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2002...s/lights-1.asp
:seeya

thomar2k1

I have a similar problem with my '74, except my headlights won't open for about 5-10 minutes after turning them on (they don't close for about 5-10 minutes as well) , I'm suspecting a switch problem, but looking for any additional insight.

Thanks!

Corvette ED

On 80-82 cars one of the problems is that the vacuum storage tank gets pin holes in it and the tank leaks vacuum. This tank is located between the lights and looks like a coffee can. Start the car and turn the lights on, take your hand and feel around the rim of the can for vacuum leaks.

If you find any you can either replace the can, GM still sells it $69.00 list price or remove the can from the bracket and put a bead of JB Weld around the lip. This will stop the leak and the lights will work again.

goinbroke

thomar2K1......your problem sounds very much like what I encountered on my 74......they would open and close, but it took awhile. I rebuilt both my relays and that solved the problem. I went ahead and replaced the check valve also.

Maco Shark

Thanks for the info guys. I was sorting through this and was thinking, if the canister was leaking, wouldn't both headlamps be slow to open? I was leaning towards the big actuator leaking. With the engnine running it is too noisy to hear a leak and when you cut it off, it is gone before you get back out there. Just thinking that it could be the actuator. Anyone think that too? :confused:

red79c3

i's start with inspecting your hoses. if they look shady thn replace them. from there i'd look into your seals. just start inspecting everything and see how it looks.

Older Than Dirt

It could be the actuator relay. Swap the three larger hoses around from one relay to the other. They are colored coded so make sure they're on the right ports. If the problem shifts to the other headlight it's a bad relay. If not it's a bad actuator.

Maco Shark

Here's what I found:
did some trouble shooting before I started. the left headlamp was almost non working, I removed the actuator and found it to be leaking, looks like that zip products 20 buck kit is the ticket to making them work again.
Thanks to all the posts and input :D
Randy

Augie 79

I just found this out a couple weeks ago, if you take a lenght of fuel hose and put one end up to your ear, and put the other end in places you suspect a vacuum leak. It works great, you can hear the leak load and clear. Good luck

80TPIVette

I agree with just about all the replies on this thread. In my case, I replaced all the hoses and check valves to start with. That way I knew those would not be the issue. I troubleshot and found a bad relay. Replaced it only to find out the actuator was also bad. Replaced the actuator and found that now I had a really good system on the RH side. The actuator that was on the LH side looked fairly new so I figured it was ok. N O T!!! It's one thing or another. If you replace just a boot or a seal like I originally started to do, you find out that once you do that, the next part in the system needs replacing too. Bite the bullet. If the stuff looks old or suspect, replace it all.

Enad

Randy,

Good advice all around. :cool: This link goes into some detail about how the system works and some fun things I've done.
http://members.surfbest.net/danespac...lact/index.htm
Dane

Maco Shark

The results are in. I took the droopy headlight actuator off and sure enough, the teepee was torn. I called zip products and in two days and 26 bucks later, my headlight is jumping up just like the other one. If anyone is going to do it, it is a simple operation. Beware novices. Zip offers nothing but the parts, absolutely no instructions.
Thanks to everybody for the input on this little project.
Randy :cheers: :thumbs:

Kid Vette

Glad to hear you got 'em workin' again. Here's an excellent link to help diagnose Corvette vacuum systems: http://www.corvette-101.com