C2 Headlights

[Jeremy Hedges]

I have a couple of problems with the headlights on my '65 Coupe. First just yesterday I tried to raise the headlight buckets and only the passenger one came up. I have had this back together and working correctly for about 6 months, just yesterday the driver side wouldn't work. I had the motors sent off to be rebuilt, new headlight switch, everything else was original parts refurbished. The passenger light also seems to be slower than before. Where should I start?

Also, this has always been a problem, when the high beam light indicator is on, in the cluster, the low beams are on and vise versa. What could I have hooked up wrong? Also when the lights are on the "Lights" indicator is blinking, shouldn't it just be on all the time the lights are on? What could be wrong?

Thanks for the suggestions.

Jeremy Hedges
#31711

[Joe C.]

Re: C2 Headlights

Jeremy:

The "lights" indicator blinks when the lights are turned on, and one or both buckets are not fully opened.
If you or somebody ever replaced the headlight pigtails (extensions), then they may have been incorrectly manufartured. If they were made according to the Chevrolet wiring schematic, then one side will be crossed. Lectric Limited makes them right, and there may be one other, in CA. Both pigtails should be exactly the same inside of the #1 (low) beam connector.
If you had the motors rebuilt, AND YOU ARE SURE THAT THEY ARE BOTH AOK, then your ball pivots may be binding, or not lubed properly.

Joe

[Jeremy Hedges]

Re: C2 Headlights

If I do pull out the headlight motor and test it on the bench, what is the proper way to do it?

[John H.]

Re: C2 Headlights

Connect a battery or DC power supply, ground side to the motor case, and apply power to each of the two spade terminals in the connector; one terminal will make it rotate one way, the other terminal will make it rotate the other way.

[Ralph E.]

Re: C2 Headlights

Jeremy,
Check the ground wires before you start taking things apart. You may have a weak ground.

Ralph #37280

[Stephen L.]

Re: C2 Headlights

Jeremy, there is also a possibility that the headlite motor case bolts have been tightened too much. This can cause the motors to bind and rotate at different speeds. Also if the main gear were not replaced with a new one, but simply "rotated" to a new working position you could have rotated it back into a worn spot while rotating on the bench. This gear only turns a partial revolution when installed in the car.....