Can headlight doors open on their own?

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Sanitarium 73

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2003
Messages
89
Location
Hamilton, Ohio
Can the headlight doors open partially on their own? I noticed that mine were partway open earlier today. The car doesn't get driven (running poorly) but it is periodically started up. Thanks.

Jim
 
Yep.

The doors are held closed by vacuum, and opened by springs. So when you have a little vacuum leak someplace, the vacuum leaks out overnight, and they open a little.

At least that is how this cougar guy understands it. I don't have to deal with the damn things on my car. ;)

Mike
 
Dude,
The headlight doors are a really cool feature of these cars. Also the biggest pain you could ever imagine. Mine used to work great, then after I rebuilt my engine, they started acting up, and got worse. First they would leak, then close partially while I was driving with my headlights on, then just stay open, then close when I "gunned it." I have asked this question on different forums, including this one, have done what I have been told everytime, and mine still don't work right. For all I know I have fixed the initial problem, but another one was created since that probelm started. Kind of a chain reaction if you know what I mean. My next step is a smoke machine. Will post what I found after that.
Chris
 
Mine did the same thing and was remedied by a new headlight switch. Most of the hidden headlight people I talked to locally feel that is the weak link. I still want electrics just to get rid of those jumbo vacuum lines and vacuum motors and the big can hidden in the left front fender.
 
Hey guys,
And if anyone needs any of those stupid vaccum canisters behind the grill, I have couple of good ones. I just love that my whole hometown knows i collect t-birds and will just give me thier parts that they have sitting around ... whether I want them or not!

Lee
 
Lee, that actually seems very cool! I wish people would 'donate' parts to my cause! If anything, you could sell those extra parts for a small profit...

Jim
 

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