1981 Headlight replacement

[Jim C.]

My father-in-law needs to replace a headlight on his 1981 Corvette. What's the process? When the car is running, and he activates the headlights, they pop up as expected. When he turns the car off, the headlights automatically retract into the nose. Does the car need to be running when he replaces the headlight? Thanks for any info you can provide. I'll pass it along.

Jim C.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1981 Headlight replacement

My father-in-law needs to replace a headlight on his 1981 Corvette. What's the process? When the car is running, and he activates the headlights, they pop up as expected. When he turns the car off, the headlights automatically retract into the nose. Does the car need to be running when he replaces the headlight? Thanks for any info you can provide. I'll pass it along.

Jim C.

Jim------


Unless something changed in very late C3, the headlights should not retract when the engine is turned off. In any event, there is a valve ("push-pull switch") located under the lower dash in the vicinity of the steering column. You should be able to pull this valve and the headlights should open without illuminating. However, this relies on there being residual vacuum in the vacuum reservoir tank.

[Keith B.]

Re: 1981 Headlight replacement

I suggest your father n law buy a owners manual for his car. Beside telling you how to change light bulbs there will be other usefull info