My 68 ford hide away headlights stopped opening. It use to be that I could turn on the headlights(switch)and the lights would come on but the doors would not open. Then I was able to grab the bottom of the headlight door and lift up. The doors would open fine. To shut them, all I had to do was turn off the lights and they would close by themselves. Now, they won't open at all, even if I try to lift them. I know it's vacuum, but I don't know where to start. Can someone please put me in the ballpark?
IF your headlamp doors are like the ones on my Thunderbird, it is vacuum that keeps them closed. If the vacuum is strong, you won't be able to open them by hand. It sounds like the vacuum part of the switch may have stuck in the 'closed' position. I don't know if yours has it, but my system has a twist type vacuum break under the hood to open the doors. It will keep them open, but at least you will have headlamps and no vacuum leak. Otherwise, you will have to take the vacuum lines off the motors behind the grill and seal the ends until you figure out why the vacuum isn't releasing.
Your Ford's vacum system should(?) be almost identical to the 67/68 Cougars of that era. Odly this is the first time ever I have heard of them not opening. I know on the Cougars that the design is to open if the vacum fails. You should be able to open the lite covers by diconecting the lines at the vacume bladder and with no vacum there should be nothing preventing you from opening them by hand. Look and see if something...stick, bolt, etc has jamed into something.
What a sissy headlight cover system on these cars! My first car was an Opel GT and it had a cool lever on the console you pushed forward to roll both headlights out of the fenders and turn them on. They looked like bug eyes sitting open on the fenders.
I just had a Lincoln with the same problem - mechanical linkage was wearing - adjusted and lubed it - 30 min., done!!
First thing is check the vacuum hoses. They may be dry rotted or cracked and it's letting air escape.
Usually, no vacuum and they stay open - safety issue! Only jammed mechanicals will hold them closed! Having to open them by hand should've been a attention getter!! By now, probably has bent linkage and/or elongated holes!
Then they would open, as I said and the other guys also....something is preventing them from opening,,,stick, nut ,bolt, mechanical.
The Cougars (69, 70) had springs which would open the doors if there was a failure of the vacuum system. The vacuum eventually bleeds off as the car sits and the doors open. Some of the other Fomoco cars used a dual action vacuum servo (T-bird, Mark III, and 67-68 Cougars if I recall). If your car has two hoses going to servo(s), it is this type. Look for a damaged hose or broken valve at the headlight switch.
Found my magnet!!! Guess I'm working too many hours these days. I could have sworn I checked to see if something was jammed in there. Na, 65 2dr... nothings bent. I don't tug on it, just a "little" help. Yeah it's time to go through the whole system. Sometimes a little outside input sets you on the right track. Thanks guys!
