70 Hideaway headlights just started working. . . kinda

[smithenhiven]

When I bought my 70 Charger, the seller told me the hideaways didnt work.  I didnt care about that too much, and figured I'd get to that eventually as I really didn't plan on driving the car at night anyway, and if I did I'd just hand crank them open.  Which is what I've done on the few instances I had it out at night.

Low and behold, out of the blue, the hideaways decide they'll work, but only when turning the lights off (if I hand crank them open and turn on the lights, they'll then go down when I turn the lights off).

I assume this tells me the hideaway motor is good, what should be my next thing to check to make them open with the light switch.  Are there separate open and close relays, or is it the same relay. 

Thanks

[DAY CLONA]

Don't assume the motor is good, it could have pitted contacts, or gear issues, either replace the motor, or have it rebuilt, have the dash switch rebuilt, check all the wiring, replace the relay with a modern upgrade

[70 sublime]

Before you get too fancy take the wire off that powers the head light door motor
Take a test light and ground one end of test light to the car and see if you have any power in one of the two wires going to head light motor ( there will be power in one wire when the lights are off)
If that shows you have power turn the head lights on and you should have power in the second wire going to head light motor
If this works wiring harness is all good

Inside the gear box part of door motor there is a big white plastic gear and some bump stops that open the circuit when it gets to the end of the travel ( doors open or closed)
There are two strips of brass at each side of this circuit that can get crusty and do not make good electrical contact

You said it has started half working after you have been cranking it by hand so I am guessing crusty contacts are the problem which can be cleaned up with a bit of sandpaper
If you do open it up for a look see be very careful as things can fall apart when you open it up and you will not know where they go back together
It is a fidley job so take your time because if you bend them the wrong way there will not be enough spring left in them to make good contact