65 headlight limit switch wiring

[John S.]

_{Just removed headlight motors, cleaned & regreased gear assemblies.
Can anyone confirm the wiring of the limit switches. It appears there is
an electrical connection lug at each end of the switch but mine do not
have wires attached to the one end.
Thank you
John Simon 41628}

[Russ S.]

Re: 65 headlight limit switch wiring

Check your wiring harness for a cut off wire. You may need to unwrap it a little ways back.

[Dale M.]

Re: 65 headlight limit switch wiring

John, My '64 has two wires to both headlight bucket limit switches. Looking at my wiring daigram, one side is a ground wire and the other wire must be from the dash to the warning light. So when your turn on the lights and one of the limit switches is grounded, then the warning light comes on indicating the headlight buckets are closed.

Check to see that there are two terminals on the limit switch, but like Russ stated, the wires may have been cut off or hanging somewhere under the front of the car. Hope you have a good mirrow to see under the front where all the stuff is located. I just saw a '66 a few weeks ago with some of these wires cutt off. Don't know why anyone would do this unless they got pinched in something.

[John S.]

Re: 65 headlight limit switch wiring

Thanks so much Dale and Russ.
There is only one wire to one end of each of my switches, and although the headlights open and close properly I haven'f verfied the dash indicator is working. I'll do that tomorrow. There is a short wire coming out of the harness that isnt connected to anything, but it would be a stretch for it to connect to the top, unused lug on the limit switch.

Thanks again to both of you.

[Dale M.]

Re: 65 headlight limit switch wiring

It looks like someone just cut the wires off close to the harness. I would assume that you warning light for the headlight buckets not open will not work. All the limit switches control is the warning light. Is this true on both sides? Can't understand why anone would cut these wires. If if the limit switch quite working you could just unplug one or both wires.

We all wished the limit switch could control the opening and closing of the buckets, as this is the problem with destroying the gears. After the headlilght open or closes and you are still pressing the switch, the motors are still operating as hard as they can aginst the gears. This condition also happens because both headlight never open/close at the same rate.

Good Luck.

[John S.]

Re: 65 headlight limit switch wiring

It looks like someone just cut the wires off close to the harness. I would assume that you warning light for the headlight buckets not open will not work. All the limit switches control is the warning light. Is this true on both sides? Can't understand why anone would cut these wires. If if the limit switch quite working you could just unplug one or both wires.

We all wished the limit switch could control the opening and closing of the buckets, as this is the problem with destroying the gears. After the headlilght open or closes and you are still pressing the switch, the motors are still operating as hard as they can aginst the gears. This condition also happens because both headlight never open/close at the same rate.

Good Luck.

THANKS, really appreciate all your help.
I checked again today with a good mirror and there are only wires to one side of each limit switch, and no dash indication or open/closing.
There are short wires coming out of the wiring harness with connectors although the wires are very short. I'm assuming they should be connected to the unused lugs on the limit switches, see attached picture.
THANKS again for your help
John

headlight motor limit switch.JPG

[John S.]

Re: 65 headlight limit switch wiring

BINGO! I attached the two short hanging wires to the ends of the limit switches and now have the red "lights" warning on the dash. I have owned the car 11 years and done lots of things to it but never knew of the lights not open indicator. Getting the short wires attached was a real struggle even with a good mirror. And in the process one of the wires that WAS attached broke off so I had to solder a new connector to it.
Thanks so much Dale and Russ

[Dale M.]

Re: 65 headlight limit switch wiring

John, Its really feel good when you fix something like this. The electrical issues on these cars can really be difficult. Why would anyone cut these wires? I have replaces most every wire on my '64 and now everything seems to always work. I have a friend in electronics and from his recommendation I useRadio shack's Cleaner and Lubricant (#6400148) on every connection. My dash lights are now very briight.

Great going. Dale

[John S.]

Re: 65 headlight limit switch wiring

Dale, you are so right about the good feeling when we have fixed and issue with our older Corvettes. Fortunately one of the things I have done is had my dash rebuilt by a guy in Tenn so the lights are all working well. But thanks for the Radio Shack Cleaner & Lubricant tip.
Take care Dale
John