70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

[Mark Z.]

Digging through some old parts and found this plastic tee in a Delco bag with Part# 4919991 and it says Check Valve under it. Looked in AIM but could not find it nor on the car. I did write on it years ago 70-71 vette.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

It, like many other parts, is not in the AIM because it arrives at St. Louis as part of an assembly. In this case the headlight washer hose assembly.

[Alan S.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

Hi Mark,
When you said 'check valve' I thought of the part just past the filter as the vacuum supply hose comes from the intake manifold. But the valve on my 71 is a TRICO part and has part number P-85595-67 on it , so I'm not sure just what you've found.
Perhaps the valve came in a DELCO bag and # when bought over the counter.
Regards,
Alan

[Mark Z.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

here is a pic

[Kenny C.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

I believe that this is the check valve tee that feeds the windshield wiper washer nozzles from the pump or at least I have one like it on my 69 in that location. The only difference is mine is all black.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

That is the T behind the headlamp washers. It IS a check valve and prevents (when it works) the washer fluid in the long hoses from the pump to the headlamps from draining onto the grilles when the headlamps are lowered. Try to pass a PV without them. They were on late 1969s to the end of the headlamp washer system around the start of 1971 MY (Model Year).

[Mark Z.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

Thanks for the assist. Looked at it in the daylight and found them on each headlight bucket about six inches behind the nozzles.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

Ah yes, good info. ALL the OEM ones I have seen ARE ALL black. given where they are installed I suspect one could make the replacements black in may ways without attracting the attention of the judges.

[Joseph M.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

Does anyone know who may have these t's available. I have them on my 70, but one broke. Tx

[Dick W.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

I think that the valve is being reproduced by some of the Camaro folks. You might want to do a little research

[Pat M.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

Interesting, I believe all the ones I've seen are all white (the center section for sure), but yellowed with age.

Terry you are right you need them to prevent backflow for PV, but I found that they only do a marginal job by themselves, and I tried several. In my experience the little umbrella valves in the washer pump must also be firm to really do a good job.

[Mark Z.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

Mine are white in the center (actually yellow with age). I have had the car since 74 so I guess they could have been replaced before I got it. They do have that sealing tape around the connections, though. I know the washers work but have never really checked to see how much fluid comes out after the headlamps close. Something else to put on the 'to do' list.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

Good point on the valves in the pump. After 22 years mine (both the check valves and the umbrella valves) worked fine, but I wouldn't bet on them now. I'm glad THAT part of life is done with.

I guess I'll have to go out to the garage and refresh my memory on the color of them. I'm sure if they were white to start with they have turned yellow -- all the white plastic seems to do that.

[Greg H.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

That is the T behind the headlamp washers. It IS a check valve and prevents (when it works) the washer fluid in the long hoses from the pump to the headlamps from draining onto the grilles when the headlamps are lowered. Try to pass a PV without them. They were on late 1969s to the end of the headlamp washer system around the start of 1971 MY (Model Year).

So in PV how is this evaluated? When you run the washer for the windshield it always comes out the headlights at the same time, so are they looking for a continued drip which would cause failure?

[Pat M.]

Re: 70-71 Hdlamp Washer Tee

After you lower the headlights they look to see if there's what is considered "excessive" dripping. I don't know exactly how they determine that, but I can tell you that my system used to leave a puddle about the size of a softball below each headlamp before I tightened it up. Now it leaves 2-3 quarter size puddles per side, and it passed PV like this.