1969 Cougar. I turned the vacuum switch on my headlight covers to check if they would open correctly and they remained closed. I am assuming I have the springs clocked backwards. Do I install the spring and arm assembly with the light covers raised up or down. Or do I have to flip the arms 180 degrees.
The headlight covers operate correctly with vacuum but I imagine it is putting a lot of strain on the rag joint and vacuum motor. And no lights if it fails!!
The springs should be under full tension with the doors closed, and then light tension with the doors open. It’s those springs that pulls the doors open with no vacuum.
You can also move the spring bracket to lessen the tension with doors closed. Now the springs provide assistance opening the doors, but not enough to pull the doors open. So now the doors stay down even with vacuum loss.
FYI, What will often fail and cause the headlight doors to open on 1969 and 1970 cougars is the vacuum check valve. Hoses can also leak down slowly causing the doors to open when the springs are correctly installed. The headlight switch can also cause a vacuum leak. If any of the leaks are small enough your engine will still run as it should. But if you have a big leak it needs to be delt with. In the case of Ginger, the check valve has had a small leak for some time. That will not cause a engine problem on its own,
Agree - same problem on my 70. Another common leak source is the actuator itself.
I somehow have my doors setup with the tension opposite of normal. Not sure how I managed that but I do need to correct it.
Thanks for the reply Neil. I am holding 18” vacuum steadily so I do not think I have any glaring leaks. My problem is that if I do get a big leak my headlight covers will stay down. I somehow installed the springs/arms backwards. Not sure how I managed to do it.
Easily done. Dont ask me how I know - lol!