66' Coupe Head Lights - NCRS Discussion Boards

66' Coupe Head Lights

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  • Daniel S.
    Infrequent User
    • July 30, 2008
    • 19

    66' Coupe Head Lights

    Hello folks,

    I am Dan and reside in northeast Tennesse near Cumberland Gap. I have had several older vettes through the years, but, just recently a NCRS member.

    I recently picked up a 66' Coupe, Rally Red, 4sp/Air/Side Exhaust/Knockoffs.

    This car had many years of restoring and very well done. I am having a difficulty with the up/down of the headlights. They open up just fine, but, do not store. They worked 4.0 when I bought the car. So, a couple of cycles of the lights and now having the "Stow" difficulty.

    Any suggestions for a look at the difficulty would be appreciated as I do not have a Maintenance manual as yet. By the way, the manual movement of the lights by the knob at the light housings works OK. Thanks, Dan
    Last edited by Daniel S.; August 6, 2008, 03:30 PM. Reason: spelling correction in title
  • Dan H.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • July 31, 1977
    • 1369

    #2
    Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

    Hi Dan, there is an article in the restorer about cleaning the up/down headlight switch contacts, may be just what you need!
    dan
    1964 Red FI Coupe, DUNTOV '09
    Drove the 64 over 5000 miles to three Regionals and the San Jose National, one dust storm and 40 lbs of bugs!

    Comment

    • Thomas R.
      Frequent User
      • March 1, 1992
      • 30

      #3
      Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

      Dan

      Easiest way to check the dash open close switch is to remove it. Carefully seperate the switch from the contacts. Jumper the open
      close with a wire. If it works then you need to clean up the contacts
      on the switch contacts. BE VERY careful if you disassemble the contacts
      as the two clips are easy to brake if you don't take it appart correctly. You will have a very difficult time findin g these clips as no one stocks them anymore. If you brake them you option is $80+ for a new switch

      Tom

      Comment

      • Daniel S.
        Infrequent User
        • July 30, 2008
        • 19

        #4
        Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

        Is it possible that I may have "Burnt" the down/stowed side of the switch contacts by holding the switch in the down position too long? If so, will I be able to clean it up? Do you know if this switch is available? Thanks so much for the info, Dan.

        Comment

        • Thomas R.
          Frequent User
          • March 1, 1992
          • 30

          #5
          Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

          Dan

          You can purchase the part from many places, a few are

          http://www.corvette-paragon.com/
          http://www.corvettecentral.com/catalog.htm
          http://www.licorvette.com/

          You are better off fixing yours, as the replacements are offshore repro's.

          Most of he time you can simply burnish the contacts and reassemble.
          (Just LITELY sand or file the contacts) Be careful with the clips as the break easily and are not available in after market.

          There is a trick to depressing the tab and slipping the contact block apart.

          If you remover the switch the metal part will split from the connector on the harness. You can jumper from center to either side and the lights should open and close. If this happens the switch is the problem. The contacts are contained in the metal portion.
          This is where you have to be careful with the clips.

          When assembled, If it seems sloppy and will move when the switch is activated you may have to shim under the clips to make the contact block tighter. I had to do this. I used a piece of plastic toothpick under the clip on top of the block. If its tight, put the connector back on and it should work

          Tom

          Comment

          • Daniel S.
            Infrequent User
            • July 30, 2008
            • 19

            #6
            Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

            Very good info...........thanks... This is my first request for help via NCRS tech forum as I am a new memeber of NCRS. It is a comfort to have a tech source of "practical tech experience". Again thanks, Dan.

            Comment

            • Mike M.
              Director Region V
              • August 31, 1994
              • 1463

              #7
              Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

              A word of CAUTION for anyone working on HL motors.
              Maintain that short grounding screw, the one that goes through the lead, star washer and bracket.
              An overly long screw will invade the windings and fry the motor.
              HaND

              Comment

              • Dan H.
                Extremely Frequent Poster
                • July 31, 1977
                • 1369

                #8
                Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

                Hi, need some clarification on the details of the up/down HL switch. In the Fall 2007 article on how to clean the contacts in the switch by Angelo Finateri, I notice there are two different lengths to the chrome toggle/levers pictured. I have an old 64 switch, it has the 'short' lever. The one with the 'long' lever is for what years? Service replacement? Is the short version correct for 63/64 cars? Thanks in advance!
                Dan
                1964 Red FI Coupe, DUNTOV '09
                Drove the 64 over 5000 miles to three Regionals and the San Jose National, one dust storm and 40 lbs of bugs!

                Comment

                • Daniel S.
                  Infrequent User
                  • July 30, 2008
                  • 19

                  #9
                  Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

                  First Look at HL Open/Close switch and wiring complete.

                  #1- Found Yellow eclectical wire/harness lead to black housing of Open/Close Switch has been HOT. The black housing is distorted/melted where the Yellow wire enters. All else appears OK.

                  #2- Manually closed the HL Buckets, then, opened electrically OK. Not able to close buckets electrically.

                  Seems I have power to the switch and a good Open side of the switch. Any ideas on finding the electrical Ground, etc, that would cause the HOT wire? I have cycled the HL' 3-4 times since buying this car a week ago. This Coupe has had an extensive restoration process in recent years and appears very professionally done. Everything else works 4.0 Would holding the Switch too long in Open/Close position cause this situation? Previous owner installed all Halogen lamps. Would this install require too much amps?

                  Any help appreciated! Thanks, Dan

                  Comment

                  • Mike M.
                    Director Region V
                    • August 31, 1994
                    • 1463

                    #10
                    Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

                    Dan,
                    keep the one you have, all the Mid-Year toggles were the same length, short.
                    The switches with the longer toggles are re-pops and will result in a judging deduction.
                    HaND

                    Comment

                    • Dan H.
                      Extremely Frequent Poster
                      • July 31, 1977
                      • 1369

                      #11
                      Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

                      Thanks Mike, just what I needed!!!
                      Dan
                      1964 Red FI Coupe, DUNTOV '09
                      Drove the 64 over 5000 miles to three Regionals and the San Jose National, one dust storm and 40 lbs of bugs!

                      Comment

                      • Daniel S.
                        Infrequent User
                        • July 30, 2008
                        • 19

                        #12
                        Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

                        I have found my HL Harness Connector at the HL Open/Close control switch to be partially deformed/melted from an over heat situation on ONE pin. I am not sure as yet of the reason for the overheat. I just wonder if holding the Open/Close switch too long in position would cause this?

                        If I must get a replacement harness connector, does it wire all the way back to the firewall? Is there another connector at the firewall that takes the wiring on to the Headlights?

                        If I get lucky..... maybe all I will need is the connector and not the Open/Close control switch. The control switch and harness connector pictoral on this site was most informative. Thanks for all the help, Dan

                        Comment

                        • John H.
                          Beyond Control Poster
                          • December 1, 1997
                          • 16513

                          #13
                          Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

                          Dan -

                          The switch connector gets power through the red wire (from the circuit breaker mounted on the hinge pillar above the kickpad), and the other two wires (yellow for "up" and dark green for "down") go through the instrument panel harness, through the fuse block, and through the outboard multiple connector on the engine side of the fuse block. If your harness connector for the switch is shot, Lectric Limited now offers it as a repair part, with red/yellow/green pigtails on it for splicing to the existing mating wires in the harness.

                          Comment

                          • Daniel S.
                            Infrequent User
                            • July 30, 2008
                            • 19

                            #14
                            Re: 66' Coupe Head Lights

                            Thanks so much... Great info... Today, got a wiring diagram and a "trons/wrench" friend did some troubleshooting. Red/hot and green/up circuits seem fine. HL motors appear recently reworked and all wiring/connectors seem fine to firewall. I'm hoping to restore/replace connector which is distorted/melted on the Yellow lead and clean contacts in HL Control switch and hopefully clear the problem.

                            Lectric Limited is a great contact. I have seen different colors on the "harness connector" as posted on pics this site. Dan

                            Comment

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